The record-union., 1894-03-10


and coming forward now to grasp mi
lady's outstretched hands. with his ruddy
| face splendid picture of honest affection
and sympathetic welcome.
Don't stand, jolly. Sit right here be-
side me. l wish to know something. very
about Drogo, Jolly. You know how
headstrong and stubborn he is. You
I know, too, there's but one human being
in the way of his making creditable
alliance, Can't you give me some word,
Jolly, that will comfort me?"
why, your grace. I'd give my right
hand if [ could. His lordship seems
very determined"
''To marry that dreadful girl? Oh,
Jolly, cannot bear the thought; indeed
/ cannotp' protested the Duchess We
hemently.
II don't mean just that" returned
the old servant soothingly. II mean that
he seems very determined about not per-
mitting any one here at Ballnagee to dis
turb Noggins, the gamekeeper, or in any
way interfere with Lucy, your grace.
Ever since she saved him from drowning
in the mere. when they were playmates
together :,
interrupted milady, thinking only of
hoyden Lucy Noggins, the gamekeeper's s
/ daughter.
lie has seemed to have a very deep
affection for her." continued John Jolly
stoutly. But, your grace, | believe it's
a kindly sort o. liking. His lordship adj
mires Lucy; is proud o. her, just as he is
proud of his horses, his dog an his gun.
| beg your pardon, but tiff you might
bring yourself not to notice it, or worry
over it, it might wear away, easy like.
| Sometimes opposin' is drivin' head on,
when it comes to males and females,
your grace!''
He said this very gently and almost
| deprecatingly. The Duchess sat in
thought, with her hand upon the old
servants shoulder, for few moments.
! Then she asked earnestly:
Jolly, is Noggins the man with the
| game preserves that is claimed for him 2"
He's th' finest gamekeeper and pheas-
ant breeder in the kingdom-leastwise
with Lucy's help. She's even more cum
ming with th' birds than her father, your
grace"
The duchess frowned in silence for a
little, and then, as il uesertiug this line Of
search for another, she suddenly asked :
"A good many pheasants find their way
over the wall, don't they, Jolly?"
WELL yes, fairish lot, your grace"
And it's well known that this girl has
practically disposed of our charities of
that sort, of dark nights. for years; SO
much so and so long that everyone in the
| village and roundabout knows her as the
poachers,' Lucy?"
"Y es, and loves her next to your lady
| ship, because of it," ventured jolly
bravely.
But it's crime"
"Y es, and no, your grace. Yes, afore
th' law; no, when his lordship knows it
as we'll as any o. 'em, or US inside the
walls, and is rather proud o. It besides J"
There would be no way of exposing
her, Jolly ?''
well, you grace, you can't hardly ex-
pose person as everybody already
knows all about, an would fight for ?"
''She could be brought before the as
sizes, and convicted of this charge by an
hundred witnesses 2"
''Oh, yes, your grace, if there was any
one to inform, an after that any wit
nesses, an after that any convictions an
very scon alter that, askin' your pardon
! humbly, would like to leave Ballnagee."
Leave Ballnagee"
well, what was left of Ballnagee, your
ladyship."
'Y on don't mean that there would be
serious trouble, Jolly?"
mo; it wouldn't seriously trouble
them, th' Ballnageeans. They'd just level
this castle inside an hour"
Level this castlep
'As level as this floor, your ladyshipw
away from her eyes with her delicate
ha nds, while John Jolly never looked
more grave and important in all his life.
Just one moment, my dears?" said the
Duchess, nodding pleasantly to her guests,
as they began descending into the draw
ing-room, and then to her old servant
with exceeding earnestness as she arose:
Jolly, have you ever observed this girl
in any sort of-Of compromising situa-
tions. Little, harmless affairs" she added
as the old man turned his eyes openingly
''N OF unless,' he replied as if thinking
very hard, mot unless you call walkin'
arm in arm with a man in th' Dark Walk
along toward midnight, compromisin',
your ladyship."
The Dark Walk" of Ballnagee by
day is an avenue of twilight, just inside
the demesne walls, descending and curv-
ing for mile away from the eminence
upon which the noble castle stands,
| fiecked all its length by Sunlight thinly
| filtered through overarching svcamores.
! When the moon is full above the castle
grounds, it is paved with spheres of light
| like pale and ghostly silver coin.
"Y es, yes, yes?"
with now and then a kiss thrown in;"
he continued, with tantalizing gravity.
"A tive-pound note for his nane
| Jolly 20 she exclaimed, with glistening
\ eyes, as she accompanied him to the
| drawing-roOm door.
ITS no other man than Mr.. Brisbin, at
| th' rectory, your ladyship."
! He had turned TO the stairs now, and
was looking back and upward, deferen-
! TALLY. to receive any other possible COM
mands.
-the-way the = Rever-
| end Hector = Brisbin = has-been-re-
forming-Lucy-No Noggins -
''Or she him, your ladyship." John
! jolly answered demurely.
step over TO the rectory and ask Mr.
Brisbin to run up for moment, john"
"If there's not 10 be a word, your
grace"
NO, no. no, Jolly; not word; not one
word -
AS he trotted down the marble stair
way she waived him dainty adieu with
| her finger tips, and turned back to her
guests with the heartiest peal OF laughter
| that had rung through the halls of Ball
nagee since Miss Todgers and Lucy had
| them all to themselves, in the long sum-
mer battle with dust and silence, and the
sprite OF the castle had all but maddened
! the severe and capable Iodgers with her
/ outlandish minicry of the lords and
| ladies fine who were wont TO gather
| there.
| The Duchess at once confessed that she
was unexpectedly In great spirits. This
rather lightened those OF her friends; for
| all the way from London the titled ladies
had exchanged miseries, prompted by
| the confession on the part of the Duchess
of her fears regarding his lordship and
| Lucy Noggins. Being profuseiy sympa-