Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-15

MANU- IL L CDulis lllo ASihohiP SSNAA'
very determined"
"'rc marry that dreadful girlg Oh,
jolly, ] cannot bear the thought; indeed
l cannot!" protested the duchess
yelemently.
"I-I don't mean just that" returned
the old servant soothingly. ~ mean that
he seems very determined about not por-
hitting any one here at Ballnagcc to
disturh 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"
"a very unfortunate circumstance
interrupted milady, thinking only of
hoyden Lucy Noggins, the gamekeeper's
daughter.
"Hc has seemed to have very deep
affection for herr" continued John Jolly
stoutly. "But, your grace, believe it's
a kindly sort o. liking. His lordship ad-
mires Lucy; is proud O. her; just as he
is proud of his horses, his dogs, an his
gun. ] beg your pardon, but if-it you
might bring yourself not to notice it, or
worry over it, it might wear away, easy
like. Sometimes opposin is driyin' head
on, when it come 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 a few moments.
Then she asked earnestly;
"Jolly, is Noggins the man with the
game preserves that is claimed for himG'.
"He's tn finest gamekeeper and
| pheasant breeder in the gdom--least-
wise, with Lucy's help. She's even
more cunning with tn birds than her
father, your grace"
The duchess frowned in silence for a
little, and then, as if deserving 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, a fairish lot, your grace. y
"Apd its well known that this CIR
has practically disposed Of our charities
of that sort, of dark nights, for years; sc
much so and so long that every one il
the village and roundabout knows he
as the poachers' Lucy"
ayes, and loves her next to you
ladyship, because Of it" ventured Joll.
bravely.
"But it's crime"
"Yes, and no, your grace. Yes, afor
: TIL law; no, when his lordship knows
as well as any o EN-, or us inside tn
J walls, and is rather proud O it besides !
} "There would be no way OF exposin
her, Jolly?"
7 swell, your grace, you can't hardl
. expose person as everybody alread
knows all about, an would fight forY
( ''She could be brought before the as
sizes, and convicted oil this charge by Il
/ hundred witnesses ?"
9 "Oh, yes, your grace, if there was an
: one to inform, an after that any wi
/. nesses, an after that any conviction
i an very soon after that, askin' you
: pardon humbly, / would like to lea,
i Ballnagee."
5 "Leaye Ballnagee !"
"Well, what was left Of Ballnage
your ladyship."
G "You don't mean that there would
3 serious trouble, Jolly?"
Z, mo; it wouldn't seriously troub
It them, tn Ballnageeans. They'd .iu
II level this castle inside of an hour"
y "Level this CASTLE"
d "As level as this floor, your ladyship
Y, The duchess shut the dreadful pictu
l. away from her eyes with her delica
% hands, while John jolly never look
s more grave and importantin all his lii
Is "Just one moment, my dcars y sa
n the duchess nodding pleasantly to
V, guests, as they began descending in
r lie drawing room, and then to her Q
servant with exceeding earnestness
r | gkI,1lU ho n
re served this girl in any sort Of
e, compromising situationss Little, har
III les affairs, of course" she added as Il
a old man turned his eyes openingly up
a her.
" "Not unless" he replied as if thin
=, ing very hard, mot unless you C
el walkin' arm in arm with man in
y Dark Walk along toward midnig
~ compromisin', your ladyship."
Us The Ozark Walk" of Ballnagee
-. day Is an avenue of twilight, just ms
Is die demesne walls, descending u
curving for mile away from the ell
gu ncnce upon which the noble cas-
:. stands, tiecked all its length by sunlis
lat thlnly filtered through overarchi
sycamores. When the moon is I
81, above the castle grounds, it is pay
uf with spheres of light like pale q
W ghostly silver coin.
" Eyes, yes, yes2 "
"With now and then kiss thro
,u1 i'm he continued with tantalizi
y J, gravity. -
"a five pound note for his nal
10 Jollym she exclaimed with glisten
'eh ewes, as she accompanied him TO
. drawing-room door.
!" ''Its no other man than Mr.. Brisbin
VI, tn rectory, your ladyship."
IFS He had turned to the stairs now,
-. was looking back and upward defer
~ ~ TALLY, to receive any other possible CT
VA, ". mands.
s Mn "And-that's-th : way-the-R
=, erend-Hector = Brisbin = has-bee
I, y ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS y
,,ar "Or she him, your ladyship;" j
,sei jolly answered demurcly.
nsn "Step over to the rectory and ask
a. Brisbin to run up for moment, Jol
I hsr elf there's not to be a word, y
n ~ grace2"
avs. mo, no, no, Jollyi not wordi
eie, one word ~
AS he trotted down the marble 81
ects way she waved him dainty adleu !
not her finger tips, and turned back to
At. guests with the heartiest peal of laug
that had rung through the halls Of
in nagee since Miss Todgers and Lucy
Az them all to themselves, in the
c H summer battle with dust and sile
49, and the sprite of the castle had all
o,,v maddened the severe and cap
ny ths Todgers with her outlandish min
e sne of the lords and ladies fine who
the wont to gather there.
title The duchess at once confessed
,ked she was unexpectedly in great sp
This rather lightened those of