The morning call., 1891-10-04

OH lOOllSn Ilttlb JBiuP! L L III
| right. But why do you treat him so rudely,
| then? He will never care Tor you ms long
| as You do that. Be civil and agreeable to
him, and make yourself as nice as possible,
! and perhaps 1t may come to something IN
| the end | will help you, If you like. Now
l come to think of it, it would be a capital
match, really, for everybody. You see,
| dear and Maud was growing quite ami
mated over her castles in the air might,
| really, expect to make much better mar
everything desirable. l would come and
| stay with you, and then should have
| chance of meeting some baronet, or hon0ra-
! able, or some title. A title l must haveW
| she concluded. decisively.
at would be charming. indeel," said /,
| drily Very charming and probable, but
} for one little dfficulty-we each dislike the
| other intensely"
''NonsenseF' she laughed. II don't believe
that, now, bitl You don't, am sure; and
J as for GuS-oh here he comes! | declare
| I'll propose my plan to him, and just hear
what he'll say to It.
In my confusion and horror 1 really
| thought she meant it.
Maud. Maud! for PHYS sake don't! Oh,
| If you do, | shall hate you forever and de-
| clare l shall run away, or kill myself!
| Maud, darling, promise me you wontI Pm
| sure IN never speak to you again if you
| dol"
| "What startling adjuratiOns and threatsw
| laughed the low, Careless VOICE knew so
well. What evil is Miss Willard meditat-
| ing Nora? I'm sure l hope she wont COM
nit it. if such awful consequences are bound
| to ensue!
| Maud laughed heartily
ut was only fright was giving Nora"
| she continued "Pl tell you, il she will
| give me leave"
MAY hear, Nora?" turning to me with
| that provoking, amused smile.
No, you mayn't. Ii is nothing to you,
| and consider it very inquisitive of you to
| ask"
81 beg your pardon a hundred times"
was the deferential answer.
| Then Maud laughed again, and l could
| stand no more.
/ whisked out of the room, and re-entered
| it no more while Mr.. Lorraine was there
You surely didn't tell him any nonsense,
| Maud? | inquired, half-deiantly. half-im-
| pl0ringly; but Maud was in a horribly teas
| ing mood and she would only laugh
| provokingy and say: II wont tell you
! what said to him; and you must wait till
this evening and hear from himself. Now.
what will you give ME to be DEAR consid-
crate sister. and contrive to efface aunlie
and myself for an hour or so, while you two
| arrange matters?'
Il will efface myself instead, thank YOU
| | wont stay at home this evening II that de-
testabIe man is coming proving round
| again"
SO marched forth in my dignity the mo-
| mpnt | could escape from the tea-table, and
| | walked on and on in the cool, balmy even
| ing air, through the winding, narrow, dusty
! lanes, thinking, thinking, thinkingl
My thoughts were far from pleasant ones.
| but they were so engrOSsing that was quite
! unconscious of how quickly and far l was
walking until something or another startled
me back into remembrance, and, perfectly
| astonshed at the distance l had achieved,
turned to retrace my steps.
| Long before | reached hume twilight was
! beginning to herald nights approach; but
| the idea Of being alarmed, or even uneasy,
| just because | was all alone in quiet lane
| good distance from home, never once en-
J tered my head.
| Maud, perhaps, might have been beset by
many vague doubts and fears regarding
| tramps or gypSies, or tlpSy hOme-rrturning
| wOrKmen, or even undeniable thieves or
| garrOters; but il there was one thing l
| prlded myself upon 1t was my eourage-and
| then | was so used to roam about the coun-
| try bv myself.
So, on | went, buried in thought again,
aud never heard the footsteps behind me
| until they were even by my side, and the
| rough, uneducated voice (itly matching the
| rough aud rather unpleasant looking per-
| son to whom it beiOnged) was asking, or
! rather demanding, little pecuniary assist
| ance.
In spite of my Wanted courage, I'm
afraid | looked a trifie dismayed.
| lie was such an undeniable tramp, could
| hope for no redeemlng gypsy pollteness or
| tipsy weakness, or anything but rude,
| brutal strength and mpudence.
| Feeling rather ashamed OF my cOwardce.
put my hand in my pocket, to try the con-
cllatOry power Of cOpperS, and, alasl l
| found no purse. | remembered had lett it
at home.
- would give you something, for you
certainly look very poor" | began, in as
firm yet withal as friendly a tone as could
manage to raise, " bat have forgotten my
purse. and really | haven't Il penny with
me"
Then, more Familiarity. " Come, now, that
CANNON wont do for /; just hand out your
tin ike good girl-or do you want me to
| help YOU Olt?
Aud he actually dared to stretch a dirty,
! huge paw toward my pocket. l shook my
d'ess in an indignation quite overpowering
fear, Looked at him, and walked haughtily
on without deigning to take notice or make
| any reply.
My companion laughed coarsely and
| loudly.
" Come on, out with it," and the dirty
hand came heavily on my shoulder.
| stopped and looked him full in the face.
:" | wouldn't give you emmy if my
pocket was filed with money. You might
steal it, perhaps. [ dare say you are strong
wont find farthing about me, and I'm
glad of it. How dare you doubt my word.
| indeed
His great, heavy face looked astonishc d
for a moment, and then, as L turned away,
he broke out in admiration, by ingoi
you're a good plucked 'un; and for such a
bit of thing, tool | tell you what, you may
keep your tin, my grill III let YOU off with
a kiss instead, for you amt half u bad
looking"
But in the midst of his hoarse laugh, in
horror and disgust unSpeaha0le, | wrenched
myself with superhumau strength from tho
arm trying to encircle my waist, and ran, as
| never ran before or since, as l never
imagined | could run.
could hear the heavy steps fast sounding
behind me, and so close that again and
again / thought all was over; yet still on
flew, past the low, green hedges and through
the thick dust, until my heart seemed burst
ing. my breath falling and darkness CON-
ing over my sight. Then, in my blindness,
dashed against something whether
hedge, or tree, or living thing l did not
know only knew that it stopped me, and
the heavy feet were nearer and nearer.
Then for moment or so all was blank.
Only for moment, l think, my hearing
came back, and l heard sounds of strug-
gle; then my sight, and | saw two figur es
who were wrestling within few feet of
where / lay.
One was the dirty stalwart frame of my
late admirer; the other, tall, well-kut,
muscular frame, in dark blue serge dress
lying at my feet, recognized at once.
AS quickly sprang up, the brief contest
was decided; the ruffian went down with a
thud and Mr.. Lorraine turned to me, calm
and unrufied, but strange to say, anxious.
Are you better?-are you sure"
'Oh, I'm quite well. But yOu-are you
hurt?"
mot at all. I should have enjoyed it If
my opponent had been degree cleaner"
He took off his loose coat, and shook il
| 4 ,,aiu In mol hAu nj oh ic
hat and said, langhingly indicating the
fallen foe, who was sinking subduedly
away: "What shall we do with him-givt
him in charge, or let him disappear? Dc
you think he's had enough?"
ION, yes-auite. Let him go by all
MEANS" L cried eagerly.
swell, so ne shall then; and he may BIZ
thankful for his easy let off. 1t Is a jolly
lot more than he deserves. Now, are yot
sure he went on in an unaccountably
anxious, almost tender tone, you're al
right? Wouldn't it be better for you to res
little before you walk homer"