The rustler., 1891-11-06

tain Charter were ~ odd ~ shr i.
thourhs Lena. on Hruri nowwn's arm.
and ! am surc he i not old ui all !
dout t-riieFs h. has ons gray hair IN
biz had
Henri noWcu's hrst remark sh- did
not hear. and shc had to ask him g. rc-
peat r.
Mrs. Fredcriclss your rranddaurh.
Ter h charming said the captain. after
dinner
The two younger people had gone
oui into the grounds.
Capt Charter. I formed NV grand
daughter myself rutortsd Mr. Fred-
ericks. dryly.
The captain laughed
You are right That is reason
enough You have made her a charm
ing girl; you viii make her a charm.
ing woman. For some man she VIII
make an adorable wife. ana In her
later years she will be what you are
now
ssNo. not quite" said the old lady.
scrcnelv. Lena il a woman made for
love. ] was a woman made for rule.
for command am n tyrant Oh ]
know H. and ] choose 90 be-. ] have
yet o. find anyone who can manage
my affairs land even those Of few
othcrsl a. satisfactorily as myself
But Lena Is different She l. very
| tender blossom She viii never care
10 be- "A iyrant She will live for her
| husband for his love. She will only
develop into all nature intended her
| for under those conditions Therefore
IL Is very necessary 10 find an cNcep-
tional oak for my exceptional vine.
Dropping all metaphor, the husband
who is to be worthy Of Lena must not
be the first chance suitor. II your
nephew pleases me, concluded the old
lady. fastening her bright, piercing
eyes with masterful and humorous
challenge on the captains face, II may
capture him for her"
Henri is an excellent fellow" said
the captain, with some emotion.
lie glanced through the window at
the two young people pacing slowly up
and down in the moonlight
IL wonder what he is talking 20 her
about, thought the captain. Ellis col
lege races, probably"
Lcna's grandmother, in her turn,
watched her companions unconscious
face moment.
well, we'll" she said, 1--WE shall
see!"
But Capt Charter, don't know
why"
'You don't know why should com
plain?' said the captain, gently. II
was many evenings since the evening
OF his arrival. and IL was he now who
was pacing in the dusk by Lena's side.
Conscienee-stricken, he told himself
that ne had no right thus TO monopo-
lize that place. Where was Henri, his
nephew?
"Ah! well. he resumed, ''you casnot
say that you always treated my
nephew lsiudly-as kindly as he would
wish" He was trying TO smile, but
: his heart was heavy. II seemed al
ways to be so now.
Lena. with downcast eyes, made ne
answer.
perhaps you will say" continued
the captain, still with his forced light
ness. that you have not known him
long enough TOTO learn TO think oi
him as he would wish. But"
do you think one must know at
, person long time to-care in thai
way?" asked Lena, casting rapidly 4
sly glance upon him.
"No!-I-think day-an hours
: often enough-oftss too much If 1t II
To make the unhappiness of whole
life" The poor captain paused
What, what had he been saying? Des
perately he strove to gather himself to
, gether. The odor of roses and new
. mown hay was in the air, and the
rustic of Lena's white dress upon the
gravel of the park made his pulses
beat. Wildly he threw himself bacl
into the way OF duty But that mus
not be with poor Henri, hope. lfyo,
, could learn 10 care even a little fo
him, the rest might come in time.
Helplessly he fioundered on. Lena
who a moment before had flushed lik,
n rose, had now turned pale as ghos
, under cover of the glosming. When
the next time, they reached the end o
the walk, she left her companion an'
entered the house.
Her grandmother was sitting In thu
. great armchair under shaded lamp
, reading Herbert Spencer.
5 "Where have You come from?' sh
said. "But | know. | should do bet
ter to ask where young Mr.. Bowen Is
? You have been walking with the un
! Gle, instead. Why was that?"
3. The old lady's tone had never beel
! more autocratic, and her eyes ha'
A never had more arbitrary and sarcas
a tic CLEAN Lena began 20 tremble
Her tense nerves gave way.
"Grandmamma," she cried, ''yoI
have no right-no no right-to MARI.
S me against my will"
: Her blue eyes were flashing like dia
. monds behind the sudden blindin
. tears OF rebellion.
Tut tut What's this? Who, pray
y is trying to marry you against you
L will? Are you not very fond of thi
IL l.. a.