Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-01-04
CHAPTER XNVI.
AIRING THE E\n

kindly feeling rapidly expanded into genu-
inc friendship. He liked to talk about his
sweetheart and lac found me an attentive
and sympathetic listener | wanted TO
know all about Judith Bell | was eager to
sound the depth of their mutual attach
mcnt 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
dllngly 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 wavcrcd in the de-
termination to play out my part. No con-
sidcration of friends or self could turn me
from my purpose
Gordon saw kavanagh frequently, but he
had little to report except that the detec-
tivcS were closely watching Rudcrsdorf,
who rs yet had not left the neighborhuud
of Shadwell, where he had taken lodgings
Whether this was true or not had no
means of knowing. for kayauagh still kept
away, though Il week had passed since our
last interview. The suspense of these days
was hard to bear, but incidentally learned
Il fact from Gordon, which explained and
excused his postponing the final act to the
last moment possible.
DO You see Miss Bell very often," I
asked Gordon one day.
Not half SO often as | should like TO. I
assure you,' he replied, and then. rather in
consequently as it seemed to me, hc added,
"you see, she's such Il brick of girl"
lis that any reason why You should not
see her if she's engaged to YOU"
"Well, that Il 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 all he has. Well, if he gets Jolly good
income out of il. Judith will be my wife
Ii he doesn't-wcll then after pulling his
beard reliectiyely for a minute in silence
'well, then we shall be married all the
same, only it will bc a deuce of Il bother"
II don't think | quite understand
ITS likethis, madcmoisellc. | don'tmind
telling you, because you are the last one in
the world that would betray the confidence
of friend, The fact is poor old Bells had
Il rough time of it, and through trusting
one confolnded kind friend and backing
bills for another has got his finances into
such a muddlc that | doubt if he youId
have $50 a wear TO live nuon if nil hi. n,.n
cious bonds and ,rcuritir, and shnres ,yprn
nut in the market and realized W.u Won
know. he doesn't know that. and heaven
forbid it should ever come to hi, ears If
shan't if can have a hand in coolin,, his
accounts. Won may be sure. Bur the dc,,r.
Of it is the old bows ms prond -. Iucitn,,
and it would inst break hi, be,,r il n.
found out one day that he was sub,;.tinr
on any ones generosity sort of pcu,jour,-
don't YOU know And-wrll. THAT'S how il
is. don't Won see"
NO. don't quite. How does tb,t onoct
your marriage with Mis- Brli.'
"Why. judith know. how matter. stand
though the colonel doesn't You ladies' are
such lot sharner than we nj senino ri,,ht
into things She knows that if this last
venture of Der poor old dads breaks down
he must learn the truth and-,vnll sbe.
got bit Of the colonel's nrido in her
straight back. too bless her, and She ,,on,t
marry me before she is certain tbot Ian
,,,-+ I'll