The sun., 1894-12-09

|
not always desirable for = young lady. Tn,
things which che had not were very many
Sine had not society; she had not for
tune; she had not any assurance Of future
means Of livelihood; she had not high hops
OF procuring for herself position in life by
marriage; sho had not thnt excitement and
pleasure in life which sho read Of in such book
as found their way down TO oxney Colne par.
sonage. 10 would be easy 20 add TO the list of
the things which she had not; and this list
against herself she made out with the utmost
vigor. The things which she had. or those
rather which she assured herself Of having,
| were much more easily counted. She had the
birth and education of a lady. the strength OF a
| healthy woman, and n will of her own. Such
was the list as she made It out for herself. and
| protest that assert more than the truth in
saying that she never added to IL either beauty,
| wit, or talent.
began these descriptions by saying that Ok
ney Colne would. of all places, be the hest spot
from which tourist could visit those parts of
Devonshire, but for tho fact that he could obtain
| there none of the accommodation which tour
| lists require. A brother antiquarian might. per-
haps, in those days have Done SO, seeing that
| there was, a. have said, spare bedroom at
| the parsonage. Any intimate friend Of Miss lie
| Smyrgers might be as fortunate. for she was
| equally well provided at Oxney Combe by which
Smyrger was not given to extensive hospitality.
and IL was only TO those who were bound to her.
either by ties OF blood or Of very old friend
ship that she delighted to open her doors. As
! her old friends were very few In number. as
those few lived A. q distance. and as her near
est relations were higher in the world than
she was. and were said by herself TO look down
upon her the visits made TO Oxney Combe were
few and far between.
h., rt.t, IL, n
such a visit was about TO be made. Miss lie
smyrgcr had a younger sister, who had inher-
tied property in the parish of Oxney Colne
equal to that OF the lady who now lived there;
but the younger sister had Inherited beauty
also. and she. therefore. in early life. had found
sundry lovers. one OF whom became her hus-
band. She had married man even then well to
do In the world. but rich and almost
mighty; a member of Parliament a Lord OF
this and that board. man who had n house in
Eaton square. and park In the north Of Eng
land: and in this way her course OF life had
been very much divided from that of our MISS
lie SmyrRer. But the Lord Of the Government
Board had been blessed with various children;
and perhaps II was now thought expedient to
look after Aunt penelope's Devonshire acres.
Aunt Penelope was empowered to leave them to
whom she pleased; and though 1t was thought in
Eaton square that she must, as a matter OF
nevertheless n little cousinly intercourse
might make the thing more certain. l
will not say that this was the sole
for such n visit. but In these days
visit to he made by Capt. Broughton to his
aunt. Now Capt. John Broughton was the second
son OF Alfonso Broughton of Clapham Park and
Eaton square, member Of Parliament, and Lord
OF the aforesaid Govern nment Board.
And what do you mean TO do with him 2"
Patience woolsworthy asked OF Miss lie Smyrger
when that lady walked over from the Combe TO
say that her nephew John was to arrive on the
following morning.
do with him? Why. shalt bring him over
here to talk to your father"
He'll be too fashionable for that, and papa
won't trouble his head about him II he finds that
he doesn't care for Dartmoor."
Then he may fall in love with you. my dear"
well yes; there's that resource at any rate,
and for your sake dare say should be more
civil to him than papa. But he'll soon get tired
OF making love. and what You'll do then oan-
That Miss woosworthy felt no interest In the
coming OF the Captain will not pretend to say
The advent OF any stranger with whom she
Of interest TO her In that secluded place; and
she was not so absolutely unlike other young la
would be the same to her as the advent OF some
patrisrchaMi 4 paterfemilias In taking that out;
never said to herself that she iespised thoss
things from which other girls received the ex-
Ssd
stand that very little OF such things would
come her way, and that II behooved her TO live
To live happily if such might be possible-with-
out experiencing the need of them. She had
heard. when there was no thought of any such
visit to Oxney Cone, that John BrouShton was
handsome, clever man-One who thought much |
Of himself, and was thought much Of by others
n great heiress. which marriage. however. had
not taken place through unwfilingness on his
more mark In the world than the ordinary Cap |
tain OF ordinary regiments
Capt. Broughton came TO Oxney Combe, stayed |
there a fortnight-the intended period for his !
projected visit having been axed a. three or !
way back TO his London haunts. the time OF |
the year then being, the close Of the Easter holt
should retSn SG nc to hsq in hs he
And assuredly shall lie happy to see you,
John-if you come with certain purpose. IL |
you, you have no such purpose you had better re-
81, shall assuredly come" the Captain had re-
The summer passed rapidly by. and very little |
was said between Miss lie smyrger and Miss |
respects--nsy. l may say. as u all ordinary mat |
tiers, no two women could well be more In
and more than that, they had the coHr-
age each to talk TO the other with absolute |
a courage in which dear friends often fail. But. |
nevertheless; very little was said between them |
about Capt. John Br9ughton All that was said
John says that he shall return here in Au-
gust" Miss lie Smyrger said, as Patience was
sitting with her in the parlor at Oxney Combe |
on the morning after that gentlemsn's deDArt-
uIe;,
He told me % himself" said Patience; and
as she spoke her round dark eyes assumed look
OF more than ordinary self-will. II Miss La
Smyrger had Intended To carry the conversation
any further. she changed her mind as she looked
at her companion. Then, as l said, the summer
ran by, and toward the close OF the warm days
OF July Miss Le Smyrger, sitting in the same
chair in the same room, again took up the con-
versAtion.
Il got a letter from John this morning. He
says that he shall be here on the 3D."
Does heg"
He is very punctuAl TO the time he named"
Yeas fancy that he is punctual man" said
!" hope that you will be glad TO see him." said
Miss lie Smyrger.
" Very glad 10 sec him." said Patience
with bold clear voice; and then the converse
tiOn was again dropped, and nothing further
was said TIL after Capt. Broughton's second ar
rival in the parish.
-Four months had then passed since his depart
ure, and during that time Miss woOlsworthy
had performed all her usual daily duties In their
accustomed course. No one could discover that