Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-27
CHAPTER XVI.


eacn sentence TO n1u WORDS TO express Lnen,
he became much more communicative, and
kindly feeling rapidly expanded into genu-
inc friendship. He liked to talk about his
sweetheart, and he found me an attentive
and sympathetic listener. l wanted to
know all about Judith Bell. l was eager to
sound the depth of their mutual attach
ment and ascertain the probable outcome
of this love affair. The aspect of kavanagh's
plan for kidnapping Gordon was consider
ably altered by its bearing upon Judith.
We had agreed that Gordon himself would
willingly accept the part assigned him. But
these arguments seemed to lose their force
now that another was concerned. Knowing
how should feel the loss of Taras, could
not be Indifferent to the anxiety and pain
to be inflicted on Gordon's sweetheart, even
though that anxiety might end so soon.
But for all that never wavered in the de
termination to play out my part. No con-
sideration of friends or self could turn me
from my purpose.
Gordon saw kavanagh frequently, but he
had little to report except that the detec-
tives were closely watching Rudersdorf,
who as yet had not left the neighborhood
of Shadwell, where he had taken lodgings.
Whether this was true or not l had no
means of knowing, for kavanagh still kept
away, though a week had passed since our
last interview. The suspense of these days
was hard to bear, but incidentally learned
a fact from Gordon, which explained and
excused his pOstponing the final act to the
last moment possible.
DO you see Miss Bell very often?"
asked Gordon one day.
Not half so often as l should like to, |
assure YOU he replied, and then, rather in
consequently, as it seemed to me, he added,
you see, she's such brick of girl"
is that any reason why you should not
see her if she's engaged to youE'
We'll, that's provisional sort of affair,
you know. 1t all depends on the success
of the pottery, hang it, though of course
it's bound to succeed. You see, the old
colonel has stuck all his capital into the
concern. 1t wasn't much, to be sure, but
it's all he has. Well, if he gets a jolly good
income out of it, Judith will be my wife.
If he doesnt-well THEREAFTER pulling his
beard reflectively for n minute in silence
well, then we shall be married all the
same, only it will be a deuce of a bother"
Il don't think l quite understand"
Its like this, mademoiselle, don't mind
telling you, because you are the last one in
the world that would betray the confidence
of a friend. The fact is poor old Bells had
a rough time of it, and through trusting
one COMPOUNDED kind friend and backing
bills for another has got his finances into
such muddle that l doubt if he would
have $50 year to live upon if all his pre-
ciuus bonds and securities and shares were
put in the market and realized. We'll, You
know, he doesn't know that, and heaven
forbid it should ever come to his ears. 1t
shant if can have il hand in cooking his
accounts, You may be sure. But the deuce
of it is the old boys as proud MS I.ucifer,
and it would Just break his heart il he
found ont one day that he was subsisting
on any ones generoSity-a sort of peusioner,
don't you know. And-well, that's how it
is, don't you see"
NO, don't quite. How does that affect
your marriage with Miss Bell
why, Judith knows how matters stand,
though the colonel doesn't. You ladies are
such a lot sharper than we at seeing right
into things She knows that if this last
venture of her poor old dads breaks down,
he must learn the truth, and-well, she's
got bit of the coloners pride in her
straight back, too, bless her! and she won't
marry me before she is certain that l am
not to be saddled with her father. It's con-
founded nonsense of course-we're bound
to marry because we couldn't love anybody
else-but honor her for it, you know. She
is brick
But still, if you love each other, it seems
natural that you should want to see each
other sometimes, even if you can't marry"
| said, thinking of Taras.
''Oh, we do sometimes, but not every day
not even once a week. 1t isn't practical
BILE, because, don't you know, Judith isn't
exactly free. knowing the critical state of
their pecuniary resources, she took an en-
gagement as nursery governess; that will
show you what capital sort of girl she is.
This is quite between you and me, for the
colonel. with his awfully narrow ideas
about class and that sort of thing, would be
Mortified at the notion of his daughter earn
ing her living"
But how is it kept secret from him."
''Oh, that's easy enough! He supposes
that she is staying at Sydenham on visit
with Mrs. kavanagh, who is an old friend"
Mrs. Kavanagh!' exclaimed in aston
ishment.
Mrs Charles Kavanagh-Barry Kava-
uagh's sister-in-law," he explained
Il did not know that he had any rela-
tives living in London"
That's not bit surprising. kavanagh's
such an awfully rum, taciturn fellow in
some matters You never know what he
feels or thinks or knows or does or any
thing about him. must have known him
: couple of years and with some degree of
intimacy before discovered and then by
accident that his mother was living"
rs she living nowi'
''Oh, dear, yes. She resides with the fam
lily at Sydenham. It's odd, isn't it? One
would think he had no one dearer to him
than Taras and me. 1t seems so natural to
talk about people you love, and believe
Barrys a most devoted son and brother
know he spends couple of days week at
Sydenham. | suppose it S the logical out
come of his confounded rationalism."
After hearing his could not expect that
kavanagh would take the final step one
moment before Rudersdorf's patience had
been stretched to the utmost limit
One morning, it must have been the 9th
of November, Taras, looking at the paper,
said: There's to be large display OF fire
works at the Crystal palace tonight. Shall
we go and see it?"
l acceded joyfully to the proposal
Then I'll knock off at lunchtime," said
he, going to the window and looking out.
I'VE may as well take advantage of this
sunny day. We may not get many more
To my oversensitive ear there was some
thing terribly prophetic in that phrase, and
indeed there seemed to be touch of sad
ness in his voice as if some sorrowful prog
nostic were passing through his mind.
l looked forward to our spending the
afternoon and evening together alone, but
Taras, finding Gordon with me when he
came down from his work, asked him to
stay to lunch and go with us, doubtless
thinking to add to my pleasure. Gordon
accepted the invitation with vexatious
alacrity. hated him for coming between
me and Taras, but my vexation wore off
before we reached the palace
l had never been there before and the
| beauty of the grounds, the flowers and
creeping plants in the building and the
music charmed my senses and quite re-
/ stored my good temper. Gordon was par
ticularly good humored and lively, and his
mirth was infectious; the solemn diners
and severely correct walters seemed quite
scandalized by our gayety at dinner.
| We saw the fireworks from the upper
terrace. There were a great many people