Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-03-05


guess unless you tell them with your
eyes? Come, take my arm, and let us
go in together. But tell me, first, is
it to be-or not?"
yes" she answered in a very low
voice
He looked at her for a moment in 81
lence; then he said:
God bless you, Pearl.' and led her
toward the house. At the threshold Of
the library they were met by Carmen.
who do you think is here, Margar-
ct? Guess
'I can't" said Margaret, who had no
idea Hamilton Shore had been invited
to join them at Abbotsville.
''Mr Ruthven's nephew-are you not
surprised? And here he ISL continued
Carmen, triumphantly waving her
hand toward the new arrival.
If thunder-Dolt had fallen at his
feet, Hamilton Shore could hardly have
looked more astonished than he did
when he perceived his uncle and Mar
garet O'Reilly. But he soon recovered
himself. With his natural GOODNESS he
concluded that, since Ruthven had
sanctioned his visit to Abbotsville, he
must approve Of all he had done be-
fore it; so, with a bold air, he prof
fered his hand to his uncle, who re-
ceived it very indifferentiy. To greet
Margaret was more difficult matter,
and Sir Frederic was not slow to no
tice the awkwardness with which it was
accomplished.
Carmen, however, took complete pos
session of her admirer, and saved Mar
garet much annoyance; but between the
two fires of Ruthven's burning glanceS
and Hamilton's half-averted ones, the
poor child hardly knew which way to
look, and was thankful for the first eX-
cuse to run upstairs and hide her blush
ing cheeks. But she could not go to
bed. She listened patiently for up
ward of an hour to Garments eulo-
gums on Hamilton's appearance, and
whispered compliments and protesta-
tions, all of which she repeated
for her friends benefit; and Gnot
Margaret leisure to think. But
how her thoughts came pouring in upon
her then! It was all too wonderful to
believe-that whilst she had been be-
moaning the loss of Hamilton's pink
and white face and curly hair, her guar
dian, whom she had never dared to
think of except as a being of superior
order to herself, should have loved her
and wanted to make her his wife. She
Ruthven's wife; the life-companion of
one of the clevereSt and beSt-known
men in England. The idea was too stu
pendous for the girlish brain. She felt
as If she couldn't comprehend it
within the four walls of her bedroom,
and tender romance impelled her to
re-seek the bench where Ruthven had
conflded this marvellous truth to her,
and think over and try to realize it
there. The night, though dark, was
sultry; there was no need to do more
than throw shawl about her head, for
Margaret to seek the Monks Walk
with perfect safety.
She found the seat where they had
sat together, and threw herself upon it
with an air of the most perfect con-
tent. How strange and gloomy the
walk looked at midnight!
Margaret turned and gazed at the
venerable old pile before her The
building had seemed wrapped in dark
ness as she left it; but now she saw,
TO ner surprise, tnaC part or 1t-that
part which joined the sleeping apart
ments of Carmen, and which her friend
said was occupied by Sir Frederic-was
lighted up so brilliantly that the blinds
looked like tranSparencies. What
could the baronet be doing at that time
of night to render such an illumina-
ton necessary? Margaret sat watch
ing the mysterious chamber in fasci-
mated curiosity. Presently shadow ap-
preached the blind upon the opposite
side-a shadow clad in a long garment
like a dressing gown. It moved up and
down behind tho blind for few min
utes, restlessly. then it commenced to
move faster; at last, it took hold of its
skirts, and, holding them out, danced
violently up and down, wagging its
head Enthusiastically the while. A second
figure-that of man-approached the
frst-and laid hands upon it, which it
seemed to resent, shaking of the touch
impatiently. The second figure, how
ever, continued to perseyere until the
first became violent, and, turning,
grappled with him. and the two