The Lamar register., 1892-04-02

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som leaf and fruit forms a charming
ornament for a ludy's hair. So at
least thought Captain Mark Brett,
thought he was man not given to
thinking about such things.
Mark had been spending a good deal
OF time in this garden OF late. His
quarters we're hard by that is to say,
within a ride-and Mrs. Darlington 5
lodge gates had opened to him aud
closed behind him oitener than any
one cared to count since his battery
had been sent 70 the fort on the hill
e year before.
Now he stood still and looked
around. Every one else had gone
within doors, and he. too, was going
directly. He was engaged to dine
with the Carringtous. mother and
daughter, and there was going to be
something Of dinner party, but his
dress clothes were being already laid
out IN the little room over the porch,
which had become IN n manner his
own on these occasions, and he was
never long over his toilet. lie could
naord few minutes to stand still
and think
There was the house-a cory. ample.
comfortable house With his ewes he
took in the deep-thatchei roof aud
the stacks of smoking chimueys which
had an air OF joyous preparation in
the cold departing light. There were
the stables. With his ear he noted
the cherry sound OF ringing hoofs and
busy voices, giving token OF brisk
prosperity and abundance. On every
Hi1c we're trim hedge and shaven turf,
while from tho flower gardens gleam-
ing pAnes showed where the rows OF
greenhouses and wineries had caught
the last rays OF the sinking sun.
How jolly, how awfuly Jolly it all
is," murmIEed Mark to himself
In point OF fact, Captain Brett $
'all' was nt the Identical moment
reeping from behind the above-men-
toned lattice, watching his antics a.
closely as the waning light permitted
her to do. She had thousht-no mat
ter what she had Jhought-ius. before
dressing time.
What il she had been out with
Mark. stroling hither and thither in
the dark Nobody had objected. Her
mother vas Marks best friend.
And the poor old lady wants some
body here to look after things most
awfully," Mark now proceeded to
ponder. "She Is too rich TO be easy
in her mind in this big house at nights.
with nobody but servants. / would
be the very one for her would look
after everything. And / would be as
good TO her as possible-,or she IS un-
commonly kind to mt, and l am as
fond OF her as / can be. We should hit
IT, OIL together tirst-rhte. As for
Edith be paused AS for Edith:'
another pause If only people would
not think am after Edith's money
he said. slowly.
He was well aware that this was
inst what people would think-what
many people were indeed already
thinking.
lie was poor man and Edith
Carrington was an only child.
Edith was a cherry. little, plain girl.
with pleasant ways and an active,
energetic mind. For some time after
she and Marx had become acquainted
no thought ot the heiress as posi-.
ble sweetheart or wife had ever enter
ed the old soldiers mind.
he had begun by trotting over to
Tile Hatch once a week orso, because
country neighbors were rare in the
part where she was quartered, and
because he was a sociable man, and
liked a welcome chat and change from
the monotony OF barrack lie.
This was in the springtime OF the
year.
Then came autumn and the short
ening OF the daylight. BY that time
Mark had begun TO look lealously at
any third person who might be
guest beneath the thatched roof,
which had become to him a loadstar,
and toward which his thoughts were
continually straying, in whatsoever
direction his feet might be turned II
the guest CHANGED to be young man
and relatives of this kind were
forever turning up at The Hatch
Captain Brett would retire within
himself, be taciturn, and watchiul and
uncommunicative.
Tonight, however, as he mused all
alone in the dusk outside OF the swift
is lighting rows oil WINDOWS ne IelI
that his time had come; he must do
something, make some effort to find
out how the land lay at once within
the next few hours. He could go on
no longer as he was living. A young
fellow, one OF Edith's innumerable
cousins-confound these cousins-was
20 arrive the very next day, and a
dozen others were to follow for the
Christmas week. He must be before
hand with them. Yet how to 90
straight at the terrible question, yea
or nay?
Then he looked up and looked
again at the arbutus tree. and a
happy thought inspired his breast.
What in the world is he doingz
wondered Edith from her window
She herself was all in a hustle to be
dressed and down before the other
people arrived -neigobors were occa-
sionally unpunctual, especially If they
had far to drive on a dark night, and