The western recorder., 1898-02-24

her TO read, in fact-and told her how
he had come to call on Miss Dimsdale,
and had been prevented from giving
his cal name to Barbara by Dorothy's
coming to meet him and Introducing
him to her aunt as mfr. Harris" and,
finally, how he let the mistake pass,
feeling that the whole situation was a
very awkward one for him, but having
always the full intention of making n
clean breast of 1t to Miss Dimsdale
sooner or later. And the fact was.
he ended. half apologetically. Il
thought If you both got to like me you
wouldn't care whether my name was
Tom, Dick or Harry"
But 1t is Dick?" she cried quite
piteously.
1T is Dick-Dick Aylmer. at my
darling's SERVICE" he answered. and.
after ALL Aylmer is better name than
Harris any day"
And you will be Lord Aylmer one
day!" she said, her soft eyes filed with
wonder to think of It.
Eyes. always supposing the old saw
ave does not contrive to carry his
threat about an heir of his own into
actual fact" Dick replied. But then
you won't like me any the less for that.
hope"
"oh, no. was not thinking of
that" she said. Il was only thinking
how wonderful 1t was that you should
want to marry me- But. Dick, what
will your uncle say when he finds out
about it?''
He will cut OFF my allowance
promptly" Dick answered.
"Oh, Dick" she said.
well. now. my darling. that is what
| want to talk to you about. You see,
nobody about here, not even Lady
Jane knows me except as Harris. reg
iment vague And If the old savage
finds out that / am married he will
make 1t a necessity for me to go to
India, which l don't want to do II I
can help it. But If you would consent
10 marry me privately under the
name of Richard Harris, we should be
perfectly safe. so long as you were not
known by any of the people in the
regiment-that is. II you lived n mile
or two away. or in the next town"
1T would be quite legal?" said Doro-
thy, in a trembling voice.
1T would be perfectly legal" he an
swered. "Oi. my dearr' he burst out.
do you think | would be such a viii
lain as TO make a suggestion which
would not be legal. while your aunt.
who took care OF you all her life, and
who left you in my charge. lay dead
h.. irtn hu, /.
1t all out We shall be married. II you
consent. as soon as we possibly can
be- Barbara will witness the marriage.
hut will not know my real name. |
will at once make deed declaring that
| was married on such day, under
the name of Harris, and leave 1t sealed
in some place of safety. so that there
can never be any trouble about the
Identification of the Richard Harris
We will tell Barbara that it is nee
essary the marriage should be kept Sc
cret for time. and she will live with
You and take care of you when / am
absent. There. that is my idea.
know that 1t is a great sacrifice to
ask of you, and hardly like to ask it.
but you see / am in this old savage's
hands. so to speak. Then. on the other
hand, II you don't feel that you ought
TO do this, or that your aunt would
have objected very strongly to it.
will write at once and tell Lord Ayl-
mer what l have done, and he must
make himself as disagreeable as he
pleases. Only. my dearest. that will
mean India"
Dick, dear" said Dorothy. slipping
her hand within his, " we will be mar
ried privately. l don't think Auntie
would have minded bit. II she knew
a thing was right. she never cared what
the world had to say about it,"
CHAPTER X.
ZYTl ND SO it was set
RI m tied. When Dick
.e.G NV had gone again.
cSSNS,z Dorothy rang the
jSSI INE~<lll. bell for Barbara.
3Iak~h,sssg- Come In here Bar
NStSJsSio bara." she said. Il
Sss.ss have something -
tell you. Listen
S1S.sHv1 sit down. Barbara.
nv and promise me
that what tell
you shall be dead secret for ever un-