The Holly chieftain., 1898-10-21

in this way. 1t Is a dreadful liberty
we have taken-forcing our troubles
upon you in your own house."
Darcie's chest rose. but he did not
speak.
81 want to ask you-yet it's ouch a
silly thing-do men talk of this sort Of
-.accident'-among themselves, gen.
erally-the thing being SO common?"
II don't know what some men do;
do you think l shall make common talk
of trouble of yours?"
"And Mike? VIII you tell him, please,
how hard take-it?"
81 can answer for Mike" said Darcie;
"but will speak to him If you wish"
"It's not that l doubt either of you"
-Darcie WINGED little at this free
classified tion-"but seeing it SO differ
emily. you know. you might make light
of it. should wish it never TO be mem
tioned-even to excuse it,"
"You mistake me; don't excuse IL.
AS on accident, touching your father,
man would say it is nothing. But,
as sorrow affecting you, it is anything
you please. 1t is monstrous; and it
shall be guarded as would guard a
trouble of my own"
"Ah," said Faith, musing bitterly,
'men are more charitable than women,
suppose; they see somuch more Of the
world. But what would they think of
us if we laid traps for our own weak
nesses and then claimed to be pitied
for falling into them!"
Darcie looked at her with profound
tenderness, and resorted to pulling his
mustache in lieu of speech.
There comes that poor, good Mike
spiashing through the mud!" she ex-
claimed, laughing helplessly through
the tears she had vowed she would not
shed. "How very excellent of him to
do all the work, while we sit here talk
ing!"
"Mike chooses his own part" said
Darcie, with dignity; "but we can
change parts If you prefer. Would you
rather have him to go home with you?"
That's not for me to say" Faith
eluded the little trap that had been set
for her. ut would not become me to
choose between two such friends in
need. am simply a parcel left on your
hands, to be delivered at the mine. The
least one of you, II there is a least, is
only too good for me-"
I'm the least one of us in several
senses of the word" said Darcie, con-
tentedly. $50 on grounds of humility
you will have to put up with me. Twill
deliver the parcel safely, and" he add
ed in low voice, $50 much of your
trouble as / have nnwillingly seen to-
night / think you may trust me with"
II would trust you with all my
troubles, and hive more than one,"
Faith answered, impulsively. She
raised the sweetest eyes. all bright and
large with tears, to his-eyes of graft
tude and absurd belief. And Darcie
forgot that he had anything in his con-
seriousness to settle with before he could
meet such look from her eyes or re-
ceive such trust. Mike remarked him
uneasily, and cpnfided to the fire his
opinion that ivan fool makes many"
and that "the ould man is not the only
wan that's off his base this night" He
held open the dbor of the cabin, and let
| 10 hS at ohthC Outs s*hiiC 4JhICiC put
young lady into. her saddle. The
restive horses sprang about over the
stones, and, one behind the other, clat-
tered down the ledge where the trnil
was narrow and steep. The girl looked
back. and Mike for long afterward
could not forget the sweet, half-appre-
hensive glance she gave Darcie as he
drove his horse forward IN her side
The wet trees closed and shut them in.
That's the way he settles the ques-
ton av inshtinc'," said Mike, as he shut
the cabin door. ''I'll be bound he niver
gev her the ,ch'ice, but just sided in for
himself. He's very timber lad. and 1
have not the measure av him in me
mind. entirely. But I'm wid him; I'm
solid for ye. me little Darcit.''