The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-01-13
THE OLD

, ever. She was so Very happy in the society
of Captain Romilly (who still carried his
arm in a sling, looking somewhat pale
from the effects of his late academy hap
| pier, in fact than she had ever been before:
and she was fairly dreading the hour when
he would have to take his leave Of her and
Ravens Court.
But the gallant captain still fingered I'M
der its roof, apparently reluctant to quit it.
Arm-in-arm with his hostess, he would
wander about the gardens, the park,
through the wood, and along the banks OF
syllable ofiove. And Lady Dovetree was
contented with this, and asked forn no more.
She would have kept the Captain by her
side for years. had She but had the power to
do so. She did not think Of him in any
other light than that Of pure friendships;
! she dared not do so. Had she but been ten
years younger, or he as old as she herself,
perhapsshe might have permitted her feel
! ings towards the captain to have taken a
| different form. AS it was, she continued
to be watchful over herself, watchful Of all
her words and looks.
Now, ever since the Captain had been
her guest, Squire GatcliiIe, at Lady Dove
trees especial invitation, had likewise been
q guest at Ravens Court. where he con.
trived to plunge himself deeper than ever
in love, and in mad jealousy besides. Yes,
Squire Gatclitfc's brain was full OF suspi-
cion; and he watched his cousin and the
handsome Captain every hour of the day
crossing their paths in the morning. over
taking them in the midday, and pounc-
ing upon them in the dreamy twilight,
when the plants and the BIRDS were closing
their weary eyes in rest.
1t was a lovely day near the end OfJune,
and Ravens Court was radiant with flowers.
Squire Gatcliffc was on the watch, as usual.
standing ut ali open French window, his
eyes fixed on W figures III the garden be-
You'd.
"Ah." he sighed within himself fthey
are not in love with each other, l know
signs! See how she is looking into his face!
Did she ever look at me i'll that way? No!
l wonder whether the Captain knows her.
age? What a syren she is, to he sure! She
has fairly cheated him out of his heart,
with her soft words and %glances! l never
knew u woman with such a winning voice,
and such q pair of fascinating eyes as she
has! Plague take the fellow, why did his
horse fling him across her path? wish
he'd broken his neck instead OF his arm,
that l do! To thus fall in low with a man
ten long years younger h herself! Well,
thought it ofyou! But III put an end to
all this, never fear!"
Andin an angry turne, he flung himself
in one Of the window reccsses, where he
lay completely concealed by a voluminous
velvet curtain.
Squire Gatcliff had u little scheme in his
head, and he had sent ior his daughter to
assist him in carrying it into execution.
Alice Gatclitf was so young and so pretty,
he thought. that she had only to show her
face to the Captain and Lady. Dovetree
would be entirely forgotten by him. LAY,
ay," said the Squire to himself, alice
shall come here and eXtinguish her lady
ship at once!!"
= The Squire was SAFELY reckoning upon
his daughters youth. He knew that all
the charms of q woman OF forty would tade
considerably when placed in ~juxtaposition
with those belonging to one who had only
just counted her twentieth year. Alice
Gatclitfe was expected to return home this
very day.
The Squire was still lying hidden behind
tain Romilly entered from the garden.
Lady Dovctrce had a bouquet in her hands,
and was looking very beautiful and happy.
"Oh, Captain!" she said. pressing the
flowers to her lips, and signing gently; ~
wish it could always be June!"
$50 also do !, Lady Dovctree-provided
I could always be here, and by your side!"
he answered very tenderly.
you would, l fear, some day become
quite weary of Ravens Court, and its mis-
tress!"
Say not so! l feel that l could exist here
forever, WItlOuL u SluSlC VIIOUSjlV VI any
other spot on earth, or any other WON Ell in
the world han YOURSELF"
''Thank you tor that very pretty speech,
Captain ROmilly, but you are q soldier,
and as such, are learned i'll the art OF gal
lantry."
no sYSu accuse me of ''"ttery' Lady
81 make no accusations at all, Captain
she replied, i'll some confusion OF
mind.
Then there ensucd a slight but embarras.
LADY Dovetree, said the Captain. sud-
denly breaking the silence that had fallen
upon them, II have 10 been under your
hospitable roof six weeks"
"Six weeks! Is it really SO long? 1t
does not seem more than a day since that
vicious horse of yours flung you at my
lodge gate"
"Vicious horse. Lady Doyetree! That
horse was an angelina, no, / don't exact,
ly mean that-but he was y right good
beast, and l feel asif / could hug him for
that lucky throw of hist"
Throw OF you, you meant" laughed
II was saying that I have been here just
learned to love dislractedly.
At this moment the We vet curtain was
agitated, and Squire Gatcliffe's face peeped
forth.
"You look surprised, Lady Dovetree;
can it be possible that you have Jailed to
perceive my love and adoration?"'
.sYour love and alteration, Captain! For
whom?"
.:Can you ask thst question:"
~ have done so, and you haveperversely
answered it with another" she returned,
dropping into a chair, and absently pulling
q rose to pieces. "You are delivering
yourself in most incomprehensible Ian
guage . to-day. Captain Romilly," she
ad :esSs:l laq i apesE palmer, Lady povetreeq
Shall 1 frame my speech in bSolder sylla-
bles?"
She trembled, and her checks paled.
What did he mean? asked her now faster
throbbing heart, as she continued to pluck
the luckless rose leaf by leaf.
"You would not serve q human heart
ate. that cruel fashion. Lady Dovetree:
you would be more merciful to man than
you are now to those poor f1owersf" he
said, approaching her chair, and leaning
over the back OF it.
She started up, and threw her bouquet
away; then looking into his face, she arch
" asked him i fhc knew what quarter the
moon was in?
plague take the moon, say II" he
fretfully rejoined. II beg your pardon.
Lady Dovetree; l hardly know what l am
saving"
she answered, taking up q book OF engrav- |
ings. and pretending TO- examine 1t. 80.
ITO BEcONTINUED.)
sevea Years Tor Copeland.
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