Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-01-17
CHAPTER TX.

and Younger, more bright and more
day she woke up with
fresh plans and fresh designs-every
day she found some new beauty, some
new happiness in the coming Christ
mas-tide. And all this because she
had learned to love Colonel North
without knowing it. At last Christ
mas came; and brought them both
with it.
The snow and the biting frost had
come, the ice was inches thick on the
deep meres and pools round LOTIONS
Cray, and LOTIONS Cray itself was
scene of merriment and festivity. A
large Christmas party was gathering
under its roof.
Lady Latimer was one OF the most
charming of hostesses. Lord Latimer
took very little part in it; he dined,
as usual, with his guests, and then re-
tired. He never came to the drawing (
room, but once or twice had made his |
way to the billiard-room.
may have been prejudiced, but to
me he seemed more morose and more
stern than ever. 1t may be that it
angered him to see youth and merri-
ment all round him, yet not be able to
share in it.
There was nothing to mar the hap
piness. If. Lord Latimer heard the
sounds of music, dancing and song, he
made no comments, and the old walls
rocked again with Christmas fun and
merriment. Our boys shared it Lady
Latimer never left them out, when 1t
was practicable to have them there.
They were at most of the skating
parties, and caused unlimited fun. l
noticed one thing, and admired their
good sense; they had entirely ceased
to advise me over marrying, and were
content to take things as they We're.
The dear boys! l can see them now
on the ice, with great red worsted
comforters, and hands perfectly blue
with cold, yet happy as kings. They
saw nothing of the shadow that hung
over Lorton's Cray, but did, and l
was powcrless to prevent it.
4 can not tell exactly how saw it
deepen, but the time came when l
could think of nothing else. placed
my own love story aside to devote my
self to her. can not tell either when
1 first grew alarmed, and began to
watch other people, to see If they
were watching her. But no, the
world went on its way rejoicing, and
no one saw that a soul was in danger
but myself unconsciously so; that
shall always NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
in peril so great that the very angels
I in heaven looked on in pity.
The first time that | was alarmed
a was one lovely frosty morning wher
! the sun shone on the snow, and the
hoar-frost had silvered the trees and
hedges, and the icicles hung like huge
= diamonds. A walk through Lortor
] woods had been proposed, and wher
I we were all ready to start, Colone
4 North was absent. l shall never for
v get Lady Latimer's face = all the
4 brightness died from it, all the ANNA
ton vanished. It was plain enough tt
y be seen that the walk had lost all it
r interest for her.
q ut is bitterly cold" she said to me
= with a shudder II am not at all SURE
:. whether we are wise in going"
s Quite suddenly he came upon us; h,
a had been to the stable to give SOM
}, direction about his horses. No neet
Il to speak. l turned aside with groan
: If all heaven had been suddenl,
!: opened to her, she could not hav,
. looked mora delighted; her very sou
v seemed to shine in her eyes as the,
u rested on him.
y 81 thought we had lost YOU" sh
said.
d He took her arm in his, and wit
It laughing gallantry, said:
IS "You may lose your memory, Lad
}. Latimer, but you will never lose me.
;. And though he laughed, I knew tn
If words were true.
y They went off together, fcrgettin
O all the world. All mel And l, VIII
j. loved her better than loved my life
}, stood by, powerless to help her. Blu
the truth was apparent; she ha
Il learned to love Colonel North-uncon
I sciously l know-and he loved her.
+ was as young as herself, but it SCENE
to me that the entire responsibility {
u her rested on my shoulders.
+ What should / doP could not G
to the old lord and say, Grouse youl
|, self; the beautiful young child whor
}, you have made your wife Is in deadl
d peril. She married you without Low
vt and she has learned unconscious
/" what love is since then. Save her, 70
" she is in mortal peril" Heaven onl
knows what would happen; he was nc
a that kind of man. Some men woul
a have been noble, tolerant, generous
IS would have helped her out Of the dar
s, ger; not Lord Latimer; there was yer
le little nobility Of soul about him. If
s. had gone to her and said: "My deal
~ you are in deadly danger; you are maj
ried to man older than your father
1, whom you do not love, and you hav
e. found one whom youdo love, nigh
by suddenly opening her eyes, do ia
a more harm than good, and she migf
do something desperate in her despair
Id The only thing that seemed left for n
to do was to watch over her with d.
no voted care and love,