The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-20
THE COST OF HIS HEAD.
BY MRS. ALEXANDER,
Author Of "Ths Woolng or"
ICopyright, 1896. by Bachelor. Johnson ant
Bachellerl
PART Ill.

PART Ill.
The next few days made themselves
wings-wings of diaphanous delight
There was the CHEEKY breakfast, the
report of the invalid upstairs, always
listened to with interest--some gos'
sip about the "boys," as the disatfected
peasantry were generally termed, con-
tributed by Delany, who was pessi-
mist and an intense INSTRUMENTATION
the plans for the day were discussed,
and the division OF labor, if attending
to Mime. de Suresne could be so
called, mapped out. Ellen O'Grady re-
serving herself for the afternoon in or
der TO leave Grace free 10 ride or walk
with her father and Capel. The lat
ter had by this time surmounted IA.
shyness and self-distrust, and longed
feverishly for the chance of n tete-a!
tcte when he could ayow his love and
hopes TO his fascinating hostess.
Sometimes he was made miserable by
the dexterity with which Grace evaded
the various traps he laid for her, and
the dreadful thought occurred to him:
"Does she love some other fellow, anC
therefore shrinks from the pain of re.
fusing me point blank?" Then some
gracious phrase, some melting glance,
would add fresh fuel TO the flame which
burned SO steadily in his heart.
He had curious unreasonable con-
viction that Nelly O'Grade did not like
him. Little flashes of impatience in
her speech, touch of bitterness here
and there in the turn of her
phrases, struck the colonel's far
from easily aroused suspicious. But
though q large minded and generous
man, he was keenly observant, and de,
termined to make himself as agreeable
as possible to the pretty little Hi'
bernian.
Col. Capel, after a saunter to the
stables and some talk with the old
coachman, generally wrote letters in
an apartment called by courtesy "the
library and here Miss 0,Grady gener,
ally sat at work. She was an adept at
lace making and other fanciful fabri.
cations.
IL suppose that Miss Digby is at her
usual Good Samaritan task of reading
aloud to the sufferer upstairs" said
Capel, one soft showery morning.
termed by Irish agricalturists "fine
growing weather."
"Oh, 1 suppose she il. But why a
sprained ankle should injure the eye-
sight, / do not understand" returned
Nelly.
"Nor I. However, at madame's age,
It is natural enough that she should
like to spare her eyes,"
"Ah, yes, forgot"
AT all events, Miss Digby Is most
faithful in performing her self-imposed
duties"
"Yes, indeed. she isl" cried Nelly,
looking up with CLEAN of uneasy
light in her dark quick eyes.
"Then she Is kindness ITSELF added
Capel.
Anyway to women" returned Nelly.
"Whati can she be cruel to that por.
tion of the human race, which is chiefly
devoted to herr"
swell, you see she was vexed with
one of them, and SO she's ready to pun.
ish the whole lot"
THAT is unfair" said Capel, while
he thought, this is dangerous. 1t il
hateful to suspect that anyone has
been before me-"
"And then" returned Nelly. "Grace
is tremendously patriotic. She thinks
English men are cold and selfish!"
"Coldl Great heavensl" exclaimed
Capel; 1--WE do not deserve such a sen.
tence. am sure, Miss O'Grady, you
have too much penetration to believe
this?"
swell, am not sure. Ihave never
been in England Now, Grace has
been there good DEAL She was n
whole year at Miss Monitors school at
Chester, where they taught her TO
step in and out of q carriage in elegant
style. 1t would make you die laugh.
ing TO hear Grace take off Miss Monitor
lecturing the young ladies'; and then
they learned all about the heather gods
and goddesses, and very bad set they
seem 20 have been"
"But / thought that Miss Digby had
been brought up by this old French
lady?" said Capel, taking fresh sheet
OF paper.
"Yes. of course she wgs," Impatient
ly. "She went TO fini\ at Chester.
No one but an Englishman would have
needed that explained"
Come, Mics O'Grady, do not be so
hard on us thick-brRined Saxons." said
Capel. good humoredly. "Perhaps n
long residence in this country might
sharpen our 'Wits"
"Wcll, maybe go. II would take a
long time laughing saucily.
where's the masther?' asked De-
lany, putting In his head, with n sourer
look than usual on bis wizcncd face.
II don't know" returned Nelly;
"who wants him2"
"Faith, Jcfferies. the Yankee. no less.
It's nbout ould Days farm. I'm
thinking he's nothing but land grab
] Der, bad cess TO him, II it's after tho