The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-16
SIMON DALE.
nv ANTHONY HOPE.
Copyright. 1897. ov a. H. Ha,ottns.
CHAPTER xx.-CoNr1SuEp.

AA.-CONTINUED
Th,rc Is the sort Of saying that n mother speaks
.ua , son hears to his shame and wonderi
uor heart was all in me, while mino. was far
~av Dependency had got hold Of me. For
.rnc in her merrlest mood, seeming bent on
,oo,Iro me fairly. had opened:a door and shown
~ tho prospect Of fine doines and high ambi-
lions realized. Tho glimpse had been but brief,
md the tricky creature shut the door in my
s.co with a laugh. Betty.Sasroth's prophecy
vas fulfilled. but It's accomplishment left me In
M bottcr state; nay, / should DO compelled to
,ount myself lucky II 1 came Off unhurt and
rerc not pursued by tho anger Of those great
tol whose wills and whims / had crossed. I
must lie quiet In IIatchstead, and to lilo quiet In
u,,chstead was hi to me-aye HI, unless by
,ome miracle whereof there was but ono way)
n should turn to heaven. That was not for mo;
, was denied youths sovereign balm for ILL
,,arred hopes and ambitions Como awry.
The vicar and l were alone now. and I could
mt but humor him by telling what had passed.
He heard with rare enjoyment; and although
bs interest declined from its zenith SO soon as 1
had told the last Of the prophecy, he listened to
Tho rest with twinkling eyes. No comment did
he make. but took snuff frequently. I, my tale
done. fell again into meditation. Yet / had
been fred by tho rehearsal of my own story,
and my thoughts were less dark in hue. The
news conccrning-Lord Quinton stirred mo
afresh. NV aid might again be needed; my
melancholy was tinted with pleasant pride as I
declared to myself that it should not be lacking
for all that l had been used as one would not
use a faithful dog. much less a gentleman. who,
doubtless by no merit of his own, but yet most
certainly had been OF no small service. To con-
fess the truth, l was 30 persuaded of my value
that l looked for every moment to bring me o
summons, and practiced under my breath the
terms, respectful yet resentful, in which I
would again place my arm and sword at Bar
bara's disposal.
you loved this creature Nelli' asked the
vicar suddenly.
AYE" said /, II loved her."
"You love her no morei'
"Why, no." I answered, mastering o cool
smile. Folly such as:that goes by with youth"
"Your age Is 24f"
'Ies, I an "a"
"And you love her no longeri"
81 tell you no longer. sir"
The vicar opened his box and took q largo
pinch.
Then said he, the pinch being between his
finger and thumb and just half way on the road
to his nose, 'you love some other woman,
Simon"
He spoke not as a man who asks a question,
nor even as one who hazards an opinion: he de-
clared n fact and needed no answer to confirm
him. Eyes, you love some other woman,
Simon" said he, and there left the matter.
81 don't" I,cried Indignantly. Had I told
myself a hundred times that 1 was not in love to
be told by another that I vast True, I might
have been In love had.not-
'Ah, who goes therei' exclaimed the vicar.
springing nimbly to the window and looking
out with eagerness. II seem to know the gen
tleman. Come, Simon, look"
obeyed him. A gentleman, attended by
two servants. rode rapidly past; twilight had
begun to fall, but tho light served we'll enough
to show me who the stranger was. He rode
hard, and his horses head was toward the
manor gates.
II thinkit is my Lord Carford," said the
vicar. "He goes to the manor, as I think"
IT think 1t is. and I think he does" says I:
and for o single moment I stood there in the
middle of the room hesitating, wavering.
miserable.
"what ails you, Simoni Why shouldn't my
Lord Carford go.to the manorf" cried the vicar.
'Let him go to the devil" I cried. and I
seized my hat from the table where 1t lay.
The vicar turned with a smile on his lips.
go. lad" said he, land let me not hear you
again deny my propositions. They arc founded
on an extensive observation Of humanity
and"
Well, l know not to this day on what besides
For l was out of tho house before the vicar
completed his statement Of tho authority that
underlay his propositions.