Evening journal., 1897-02-08
HARE AND HOUNDS.

Over arch and lattice and reilis the /
heavy headed blooms riotsd in bewll- /
de1ment Of pink and white, crimson and /
cream, forming a glorious canopy above |
the severely trimmed rosebushes that
glowed like gigantic bouquets on either
side Of the winding paths
But Enid Fitz Roy saw neither the
flowers about her, nor the surrounding
woods, nor the clear summer sky above
all Tall and slender, she stood like a
statue among the roses, with the folds
of her muslin frock falling straightly
about her, and her fair face somber and
troubled beneath the wide brim Of her
garden hat She was a very pretty girl
and should have been a very happy one,
for happiness ought to be the natural
sequence Of beauty and wealth
The oval Of her face, that should have
been wreathed III smiles, was pale and
drawn. The small, curved mouth was
pressed together in an effort to suppress
a childish desire to cry. The sweet eyes
were hidden by the white, lowered lids
in either sorrow or Indifference, while
the full throated birds sang on and the
gay roses swung like perfumed censers
in the light air
How could she heed or care for birds
or flowers, when her whole heart was
away in the dim library Of the old man-
sion behind her, when her brain Gchod
in the effort to guess at the words and
gestures that were passing there among
the frowning family portraits and the
great oak bookcases, for at that moment
Dick Lindsay was telling his loves and
hopes to Lord Hunston, the stern man
whom fate had given her for an uncle
and a guardian Enid's fond heart told
her what her lover would say how hard
he would plead, how handsome he would
look, but-hor uncle? Would he relax,
would he permit himself to be moved,
would he-consent? And in the effort to
materialize the faroff scene Enid grew
pale and trembled like a wind tossed
lily.
Hurried footsteps among the roses
reused her from her reveric at last, and,
turning. she saw her lover speeding to.
ward her
"Dickr' she cried in welcome, run-
ming to him and with her set face break
ing into joyous smiles. Then a little
moan escaped her, and she grew white
as her gown, for one glance at Dick
Lindsay's eyes told her he had failed.
Darling at first ] hoped for sue
cess, " said Dick when Enid had regain
ed some degree Of self control and the
lovers had wandered from among the
ja11ing flare of the brilliant flower gar
den in the friendly shadows of the wood.
"Your uncle heard me without inter
ruption and even smiled once or twice.
/ told bin of my prospects, how the
mortgage was nearly paid off the Knoll,
and how / should be able to live there
in another year. I referred him to Tape
son and jenkins that he might verify
my statement as to how well tho farms
We're let I proved TO him that was
financially in a position to aspire tC
your hand, filed with fortunes gift as
it is. ="
"And he said murmured Enid
lifting her tear washed eyes to Dicz'I
handsome fece.
"He said-nothing That was the
worst part OF it, Enid. IA hc had only
advanced arguments, might have de
feated them. If he had given an opinion
might have challenged it. But he gave
me no loophole for speech. He unlocked
a small drawer in his bureau-yOr
know the one that has carved goblins
heads all over it-and pulled out from
amid a sheaf of papers one that wa
folded twice and was tied with tape. "
Il know know; the copy of my
fathers viii, - cried Enid, made be
fore I was born. -
'He opened the paper and pushed j
across the bureau to me, marking Will
a nail dent the passage l should read.
ooh, don't repeat it; don't say itV
walled the girl putting her hands owe
her ears, as though to shut out hate'
sounds. Don't I know too well that IN.
marriage was fixed for. me from the be
ginning, and that 81 father, on hi
deathbed, willcd thaSD4f his only AM
posthum0us child should he a daughte
she should. on her twenty-first birthday
be afiianced to the only SON Of his dear
est friend Lord Errington? Oh, it wa
cruel thing TO do
'Cruelor still, my darling, to ordai
that if at tho date Of your majorit
Lionel Eirington were alive and unmm
riod, and you should refuse to becom
his wife, you should be deprived Of You
inheritance for hvc years and shoul
even not be allowed TO live in your ow
house. Those shameful paragraphs wei
all my answer. Your uncle then bowe
me from the room, only sarcasticall
begging my presence at your birthda
ball next week, during which he intenC
to announce your engagement TO youn
Errington.
A hot flush stained Enid's white ski
and dried tho tears ON her cheeks as sl
drew herself from Dicks oncirclin
arms and faced him in the narrow paid
way.
Dick Lindsay, when, six months ag'
gave you my heart and my love, I ga'
them for all time, and not to take thoi
back at the written word Of ma
whom never knew, who was dead b.
foqo / lived On my birthday will