The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-01-16


alarming shouts assailed my ears there
was a rush of excited men. a whirl of We
hicular traffic, and Immediately l found
myself hemmed in on every side. Escape
was impossible, and ere / could move an
inch to the right or left. 1 felt the hot
breath of a prancing steed on my cheek,
and felt the clammy touch of his mouth.
Then 1 slipped to the ground in a swoon.
When 1 regained consciousness 1 found
myself in the center of a socitous crowd
and, bending over me. apparently more
concerned than the rest, was the gentle
man who had previously attracted my at
tention with such a dire result. l was
not injured, fortunately. 1 gathered from
the remarks of those around me that i'm
mediately fell to the ground the gentle
man, at considerable risk to himself, had
rushed forward, and, raising me in his
arms, carried me to safety.
do you feel better?" inquired my pre-
server somewhat tenderly.
Yes, thank you" 1 replied endeavoring
to express my gratitude for the great SER
vice he had done me. Shortly 1 felt able
to proceed on my way, and was DESTROYS
Of returning home at once. The gentle
man, however, advised me to take short
turn in the park. The air would do much
toward my complete recovery, and If
would allow him, he would be exceeding
pleased to act as my escort. My heart
gave bound This was goodness, indeed.
or course 1 allowed and we soon reached
the park, where we seated ourselves in
a quiet corner. My cavalier chatted away
in such a gay and vivacious manner that
L was soon at ease in his company
I was surprised, however. when he in
formed me that he knew 1 was maid to
Miss Cecilia Manvers, and asked him how
he came to recognize me.
'Ah, 1 have seen you often, Miss
Miss"
"Craddock," 1 prompted.
Yes, I've seen you often and heard of
you much oftener. BY jove! and what 1
have heard didn't half do you justice in
fact. You're prettier than-I beg pardon,
OF course, ya'as, so forward of me to
mention 1t, you know, on such short ac-
quaintance, but what can a fellow do? l
can't act the hypocrite you know, Miss
Miss Craddock, and when I see a face
like yours, pom word, prudence leaves
me-"
OF course I blushed and tried to STAN
mer reply, but my cavalier was a ready
spoken man, and went on again before
had time to make myself ineligible.
My names Carson-of the guards. you
know-Captain Carson. Perhaps heard
Miss Manvers speak of me. No? Well, 1
have met her often. But, really. you
know, her face and figure are not in it
where-where a certain fresh-loolSing lit
tie damsel of my recent acquaintance is
concerned. All, society is little aware of
the beauties who exist outside of it's pale,
and-but, speaking of society have you
never any desire to enter it, Miss Grad
dock?"
Again I blushed. and ventured to ex-
press hope that l knew my place as a
maid
"Ah, tut. tut-bosh, fiddesticks, moon
shine, said Captain Carson, I'm in the
swim myself of course, but, really, pom
word, never could see the force of many
of its laws. Too stringent. you know
too exclusive. Actually forbid man to
marry outside his own circle, no matter
what station the girl belong to. Absurd,
you know. Why. a maid. say lady's
maid, for instance, if pretty and good"
and he threw an arch glance at me out of
the corner of his eye-''is as fitting a wife
for gentleman as a music hall danse-
use. All, ah, ya's certainly. Her beauty
isn't dependent on jewelry and gewgaws.
By the way, speaking about jewelry,
suppose 1t Is a fact that Miss Manvers'
diamonds are worth an immense sum,
and"
"Oh, yes, they are beautiful. Her dress
ing room is said to contain more valu-
ables than any other such apartment in
London" I ventured.
"Ah, ya'as, of course-her dressing
l should object to keeping valuables of
that kind in "a dressing room unless in
a very secure part Of the house"
l assured him that Miss Manvers was
not by any means careless in this respect
and as proof / explained to him ex-
actly where the room was, and further
told him that no one but myself was
permitted access to it, He congratulated
Miss Manners on having such a trust
signing heavily once or twice, again com
plimented me on my pretty face, and
asked me to meet him again."
OF course. 1 did so. Our intimacy rip
ened quickly. The captain was so exceed
ing free and easy that 1 felt an I'M
speakable pleasure in his company There
was nothing stuck up about HIM, and by
degrees he unfolded all his family affairs
to me- What an influential visiting list
he had! Why, there was scarcely an earl
or lord living whom he hadn't been
yachting or shooting with. Then he be-
gan to call me Clara. and begged me to
call him Renigald. OF course. Joe Bates
was considerably chagrined at nv ne
glect, and, later, when he found that |
was keeping company with a gentleman
he was absolutely wild, told me no good
would come of it, and that if / were not
careful it would mean my ruin. 1 got
angry in turn, and, in spite of the prom
Use l had given the Captain to keep our
acquaintance profoundly secret 1 made
a slip when Joe spoke so slightly of him.
THE captain is a gentleman" I said
and he's in the guards"
Il don't doubt it. Clara, but take care
1t isn't the blackguards"
1 ceased speaking to Joe from that mo-
ment. Then, only week later. the can
tain spoke of our marriage, and with
much regret told me that he was going
away two days hence for a short time
He begrudged every minute he was
obliged to spend away from me. he said
and asked me If it would be possible fol-
ma a IL