Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-02-13

both in number and substance. AT first
he used to write to her two and three
times {. week; but that she hardly ex-
pected to last forever: then a week
would elapse between the reception of
his letters: now more than a fortnight
passed without her hearing from him;
and the epistles, when they arrived,
were so unsatisfactory as to cause her
tears.
Hamilton was not living entirely at
Rouen, as his tutor constantly made
excursions into the surrounding coun-
try, taking his pupil with him; but
these changes of scene, instead of max
ing his letters more full of news,
seemed to occupy his time to the eXclu-
sion of writing altogether.
Carmen's letters were a source of
both comfort and amusement to Mar
garet at this period. She had also
picked up an admirer on her travels.
and was full of the beautiful presents
of flowers he had made her. and the
ceaseless alteration he displayed for
her.
Unlike Margaret, Garments nature
was too vain and self-conscious to per-
nit her to keep such a circumstance
to herself; but there was a mystery
about her love-making, which was all
carried on without the knowledge of Sir
Frederic, that made Margaret feel it
could neither be right nor modest, and
Mrs. Garrett loudly denounced it as al
together braZen and wicked
Still, Garments accounts of her own
escapades were very entertaining and
often made Margaret laugh outright in
the midst Of her lamentation that no
letter from Hamilton had arrived by
the same post. 1t came, however, ali
too soon.
One day, Mrs. Garrett having made a
little journey on behalf of her house
keeping, returned to their apartments
to find Margaret dissolved in tears.
ooh, GARRETT she exclaimed, ''he does
mt love me any longer! My heart is
broken-I feel it is. / shall die! 1 can
not live without his presence or his
love- o.
BLESS my soul! Miss Margaret, what
are you talking about?'
I've had letter from Hamilton,
and he says-he says-that it was all
a mistake-and We shall never be hap
Ply together-and that we'd better break
it off, because it never was a proper
engagement-and poor
Margaret's sobs nearly choked her ut
terance-"he's seen somebody he likes
better than he does me-
We'll, if Mr.. Hamilton writes that to
you,' exclaimed Mrs. Garrett, deter
minedly, 3'all say is, that he's scoun-
drel and BLACKBOARD, and I'd like to
have the f1aying of him alive. Seen
some one he likes better, indeed, some
stumpy French gal, 1 suppose, like
Mrs. Filters maid-all eyes and cap
and ear-rings-a stuck-up, impudent
creature, as can't speak Christian Ian
guage. But it can't be true, Miss Mar
garet; it can't be truei'
Read for yourself, Garrett" said
the girl, pushing the letter toward her
1t was all as true as Gospel.
Hamilton wrote to her in the same
pretentious, high-handed way in which
he spoke. His letter might have come
from a man Of fifty, in it's narrow-mind-
ed, self-excusing acumen.
He reminded the girl that his uncle
had disapproved of their engagement
for several reasons, and as he was
anxious to embrace every oppor tunity
of furthering the wishes OF the person
to whom he owed every thing in the
world (this last sentence was especial
~ for Mr.. Ruthven's benefiO, he con-
Sidered it most honorable and best to
let her know his change of sentiment at
once; but he trusted they should al
ways continue friends, and that what
had passed would make no difference
to their intimacy. In short, he wrote
like the young scoundrel Mrs. Garrett
had called him; and the housekeeper
was still celebrating in what words
she should transmit the intelligence to
her master, when Ruthven unexpected
ly walked into their apartments.
He also had had a letter from his
nephew on the subject, which though
not more than he expected, had thor
oughly disguised him.
Now, what am / to do for you, Mar
garrett" ne said, when the ice had been
broken between them. Shall compel
the hound to keep his word? can do it
if you choose. He is complete. &c
pendent on me, and 1 have him in my
power"
compel him to keep his wordr' re-
peated the girl; '.but, Mr.. Ruthven, he
has already broken it