The morning call., 1891-12-30
BY STRATAGEM.
CHAPTER II-CoNCLUDED.

her health, and proved herself very chatty,
agreeable parsonage.
Keith smiled cynicaly when he saw her
slip her hand through his fathers arm as
he stood summing himself in the window,
and begin to talk to him of the old times
when both were young. This clever widow
contryed to make her conversation SO In
teresting that Mir. Lorrim0re neglected his
faVo.ite pursuits to listen to her, and when
he did go TO bis study, Mrs. Burton carried
her work asket there, too.
She looked back to say lew words TO her
daughters. .,
you will not mind my leaving you. OF
course you will want TO explore the country.
You are always sucu walkers. daresay
your cousin Keith Will be your guide"
This is throwing both the denoiSelles at
my head with vengeance! muttered
Keith To himself. "But allonS! they shall
be fooled to the top of their bent 1t is only
for six days; after that-it will be my
turn"
With these thoughts in his head he played
the gallant cavalier TO the sisters, escorting
them morning after morning 10 the prettlest
spots in the vicinity, driving out after
luncheon with them and their mother, and
reading and chatting, or singing In the de-
liciOus twilight Of the May evenings, with
ready acquicscence in every arrangement
they suggested.
1T was quite too pleasant" Mona de-
clared, guShing!y. She was more foreign
than English in her manners, emphasizing
whatever she said with lively gestures and
calculations. England must be deteStable
in the winter; but ", and in this dear,
hOmelike house, and IN such agreeable So
ciely, why, il was adorabe.'
And then she kissed The tips OF her fingers
to Keith, laughing mefrily as he laid his
hand on his heart and made her theatrical
bow In return for her praises of the Cedars.
Aveline was graver than her sister, and
II O tituinp when he
was encouraging Mona to talk in this style,
and shook her head at the pretty coquet;e.
las If it were always summer and sun
shine anywherel 1t Is very ME here, and
mamma is glad she remembered Mr. Lori
mer's invitation, and awaited herself OF it;
but suppose We shall only stay till we see
whethe.-"
But sign from Mona made her stop short
and reddel furiously, much to keith 5
amusement. Aveline had habit of think
ing aloud, which sometimes betrayed her
into revealing what had passed at the fam
lily consultations.
"You have not told u.s." said Mona, has
teDing 10 introduce another topic, 'ff there
are any races. or ruins, or shoW-houses In
this neighborhOod. Take US TO see them all,
will you, mon cousin? By moonlight, and
IN drag, as If we were herones In novel.
Remember, this is our first visit to England
since we were wee children, and we want
TO see everything"
You foolish chaterbox," smiled Mrs.
Burton, indugently. She had just entered
the room to search for a book in which
there were some passages she had volun-
teered to copy for Mr.. Lorrimore. on
must not impose too much on dear K-ith's
good nature. he does not know how de-
lighttul it is for you to be domesticated
with one whom you can regard as brother"
II Keith LOrrimore laughed cynically at
this speech il was not till he was alone.
This maneuyerlng mother is showing
her hand already" he said. The sooner |
can be Induced II turn my fair sister Mona
Into bride the better she Will ike 1t; and,
il am. lot very much mistaken, she has de-
signs upon my dear. simple-minded dad for
herself. Bah! why is there no sincerity in
WomanH
Then he soothPd himself with a cigar and
thought OF Aveline.
NOW, there is gin whose natural ten
denotes are good. l am sure. She, with her
gravely opened ewes, and the deep bushes
that betlay her whenever Mona or her
mother say something more polite than
true. might have become a charming
woman under other circumstances. | Won
der whether the other two snub and lecture
her after she has done her best to spoil
tLeIr gameY
1t MAS with his face averted from those
questioning eyes that Keith broke in upon
the gay chatter at the breakfast-table one
morning TO read aloud paragraph in one
of the daily papers;
1--WE are sorry to say that the rumors of
the insta bilitv of the firm of Caring Broth
ers are not without foundation. There was
great excitement in the city yesterday in
consequence
"Why father, this concerns you. Oh! why
did you not listen to me when | begged you
not TO risk your all in their hands!'
q Mr.. LorrlmOre r0se-sat down again
shaded his brow with fingers that trem bled
yisibly, and when Ayeline laid her hand on
his sleeve, broke away from her to hurry
from the room and lock himself in his
study.
don't ask me to come outp he entreated.
when bis son followed him there Make
what excuses you like for me, but don't
compel me to take an active part in this
piece Of treacbery."
''of what, sir? Aren't you taking a
strange view OF q stratagem employed for
your own relief? Do you wish to be welded
by widow whether you will or mop"
Certainly not!' was the emphatic reply.
Neither should like to see you, nv boy,
sntrapped by that giggling, flirting, soul
less Mona, who yawns behind her fan when
only too glad to be rid of our female plaques,
though | have no fault to find with little
Aisle, and Mrs. Burton has effected some
much-needed reforms in our household. Do
what you like. only let me keep in the back
ground"
Accordingly Keith announced on the NOR
row that his father refused to see any one
and. as the news OF Caring Bros failure
was now confirmed, great CONSERVATION
was visible in the countenances of the widow
and her daughters.
Does II mean utter ruin to your father ?"
Mrs. Burton quered.
There may be dividend Of half a crown
In the pound by and by" answered Keith.
evasively.
And in the meantime?"
I'm the meantime" he repeated. 81 must
go back to my regiment. The Cedars must
be let or sold, and we must hope that when
all our liabilities are paid there may be a
small surplus"
Mrs. Burton asked no more, but went
away. and her daughters followed her; nor
did Keith See either Of them again except at
meals. when Aveline and her mother were
silent and constrained, and Mona inclined
TO be tretful. They must have passed much
OF their time in writing letters. which Ave
line carried to the post herself, and she
watched so eagerly for the coming of the
letter-bag that Keith curled his lip in dis
gust.
u suppose they are hunting up their
other friends and trying to find new ground
on which to plant themselves. How will
they look when they discover that my
fathers actual losses are under five hun
dred pounds. and that it was not sinking
snip after all that they were in such hurry
10 fUrsake?"
For the Burtons were packing their trunks
and making preparations for departure,
Keith growing more oddly savage and i'll
humored with every additional proof he
received that they intended bidding a speedy
farewell to the Cedars.
On Aveline was imposed the task Of tell
ing him that the day and hour was fixed.
We have taken a rice old -fashioned
house at Chelsea" she added, land, thanks
to some friends who have settled down In
the neighborhood, we have the promise of
SIX pupils to begin with. All l forgot to
tell you that mamma and l are going to
open school, Mona does not like It. but
then her marriage is fixed for August, and
she will live at Lyons, where Adolpbe. her
betrothed, holds a responsible post in silk
factory"
Keith bit his lip. Then Mrs Burton had
not been throwing Mona at his head. In
this he had done her injustice.
But why keep school?" he asked, aud
Avelne smiled.
Partly for occupation, partly to make
money; and, Cousin Keith, you must help
US to persuade your father to go and live
with US"