Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-08-28
Dark Darrell's Bride.
CHAPTER Iv.-ooNTNuEp.

al cannot help it," said lima. "Why,
Sir Philip, look as much country gem
tleman as you dov
Miss Durnlord glanced hastily at her
niece; her Transatlantic freedom Of man
ner somewhat disturbed the good lady's
equanimity; but it was so free from
Transatlantic forwardness, so child-like
and charming, that no one could misintcr-
pref it; and Sir Philip Darrell was the
last man TO be anything but pleased by it,.
lie laughed and said
"No, no, Miss Durnford, rather for mo
"'Fifty years of Europe, then cyclic OF
Cathayp"
$50 Cumberland Is Cathay, and your
splendid ancestral home PRISON."
"Ah," said Darrell, carolessly, though
again with the tone of bitterness lima had
noticed before-"a short life and merry
one"
al should say long life and good
one" replied Miss Durnford.
"Long life? Defend me from itv' As
he said the words he caught fieeting look
from llma's brown eyes, u look SO full of
pain and unconscious pleading that
quick flush crossed his cheeks, and he bit
his lip; but, recovering himself, and with
. total change of manner, as il to dismiss
an Improbable subject, he asked lima If
she would like to go over the Court.
"Oh, SO much ~ she said eagerly. "My
cousins say it has such lovely pictures,
aud all sorts of beautiful things"
"You must honor me then, and your
aunt and cousins will, l hope, favor my
poor house also. You will hear some dis
mai stories of the cavaliers and ladies you
will see in the picture-gallery. We have
always been turbulent set, and"
He stopped abruptly, and added, turning
to Miss Durnford, "Perhaps you would
kindly let me know in Il day or two, what
day would suit you-all days are alike to
me-"
"But indeed, Sir Philip, you must not
make me fix day" was the reply.
"You will, l am sure; it would be so
kind of you"-and he spoke in his most
winning manner. "Thanks. One of the
gardeners has been raying over some rare
eXotics. l forgot what he called them
You must please choose as many of them
rs you like, l remember your old weak
ness for Out-of-the-way flowers"
"lou left orders with your bcad-gar-
dener for my fancy to be gratilied," said
the old lady. "No, no, Sir Philip; cam
not encroach any more Oh your kindness.
Why l have whole range of flowers that
are admired by all which came from your
hot-housesw
"Have you? am so glad. l wish you
had Il dollhouse full. | must see to 1.-THE
more the merrier. Why should the flow
ers waste their sweetness OH the desert
air!"
There were tears in Miss Durnford's
eyes as she thanked her guest; but more
than one cause made the tears rise. 1t
was not that in any case Sir Philip would
not have been equally lavish; but there
always seemed lack OF that interest
in anything belonging TO him which q
mau would feel in what lac looked to en-
Joy for lifetime; he always spoke as "a
mere wanderer through tins brief exist
snce. There was always that under-cur-
rent of feeling which, put into words,
would have been, "What are these things
to me? l have no hold OH them. l do not
care for them; let me give them while
they are mine to give"
"Would any day this week suit you, Sir
Philip" asked Miss Durnford, rising from
the table.
"Certainly, and the earlier the better
for my pleasure, L mean, not my conven-
lence."
"Friday?" Darrell bowed.
"Then," he said, 81 will call at the
Larches and pay my devoirs; they will not
mind the forenoOn-but will they have
breakfasted?"
"Oh, yesw
will walk up, II you will allow me to
leave Hassan with you little longer"
"With the greatest pleasure; and hope
you will give us some more of your compa-
ny when you return for him."
cit is very good of you TO tolerate such
scapegrace as am" replied DARRELL
"I shall be most happy"
lima had intended to run over 30 the
Larches that morning, having been re-
quested TO do so by her cousins; but now
she must give that up, US she could not in
trudo oh Sir Philip-it would be rude,
though she was sure lie would not mind
Miss Durnford however who was wo-
man OF great common sense, came to the
rescue. She regretted that lima would
have to meet Sir Philip Darrell ut all;
but, rs it was impossible to prevent this,
she would not run the risk Of some blunt
remark from Roland or Rose, betraying
that lima as expected, and thus giving
the impression that she wished TO keep
Darrell and lima apart.
"Ilma," she said, al have asked you TO
60 to the Larches this morning. Sir Phil
lip will, L am sure, be happy TO escort
you"
Sir Philip bowed, and said he should be
indeed happy; but the troubled look in his
eyes deepened as lima hurried away for
her hat; and, though the next moment
he turned to Miss Dnrnford with some or
binary remark, he was saying tn himself:
81 must be true-true too the vow
whatever the cost. Heaven knows what
ii may Dev