The times., 1900-12-30

And you picked her up at the inn and
danced at Kings Manori" He roared
aloud in delight. by my soul, it's as
good as playi Here, JULIA, girl III
warrant you'll have 10 swallow your no.
tions now It's Dick Daggart himself.'
But she was gone, and the holly lay
upon the floor where she had stood He
turned to ring furiously, but l stopped
him
"Wait, Mr. TruxaH, would tell you
| first that my uncle died as 1 was setting
] out for America for the purpose of as
! suring you that l did not consider the
| contract made by my father to be bind
| ing
"But bless my soul, sir, do,'' shouted
the old gentleman, turning red again.
NAY, Mr.. Truxall, / differ with you,
and tits constituted my errand to Tewip-
ton but, having met your daughter. its
face has changed, and now / ask permis
sion to pay my actresses to her, vowing
that If she will have none Of me, no other
woman shall be my wifei"
The transition of feeling almost over
came the fiery old gentleman as he patted
my shoulder and chueliled with pleasure.
"A chip of the old block! His father
over againi Cad, boy, yor do not leave
time for the ice TO melti Marry you? l
swear she shall marry you this day week
and dance the new year in as your wife.'
Not then or ever unless of her own
will and choice" l replied, for he was for
sending for his daughter and settling the
matter then and there in most summa-
ry manner; but having seen her red cloak
disappearing between the trees of the
park, l asked permission to seek her,
which was more fitting.
/ took my cap and went out, taking the
path whittier l mad seen that glimpse of
color disappear II led to a clump of
pines at the foot of Tewipton Park. and
entered their shadow hesitatingly, fear
fully be it knowr, but striving to Conceal
It cutwartily. She stood leaning against
a tree, her HAMS dropped at her sides.
and her face was pale and cold as the
world that lay white under the sunlight
beyond. AS l came forward and faced
her she started, and then said: Have 1
not been sufficiently Inundated. Sir Ce-
Gil, that you should presume to follow
me now?"
LAS heaven hears me, madam, would
die to spare you any humiliation, nor
could you suffer any in my eyes-they
having set you far above other women il
my thoughts. l said.
Yet not out of reach of deception" she
answered. as keenly cold as before. And
her eyes did not meet mine.
Mistress Truxall. having heard you as
sert that you would escape from Dick Dag
gart's very name. would you have stopped
to my protection had you known ! were
he?"
'Never!'' said she. 'and now I desire
the matter ended between US. l think that
last night, Sir Cecil Daggart-Eyersham,
you heard the answer which l am prepar-
ed to give Mr.. Richard Daggart-"
Spare me that" | said. YOU need not
fear opportunities, Mistress Truxall. CS-
jolery and importantly suit neither Of US.
came here to assure you that Richard
Dasgart was as unwilling to be held re-,
sponsible himself, by any promise made
by other than by himself, as to hold a
woman bound against her will"
"Then We are agreed" said she.
''Nay, Mistress Truxall by a happy
chance / saw you first, and now / would
only ask you for Gods sake, to forget that
Dick Daggart ever lived, and to tell me.
in the sight of Heaven. what your answer
would be TO me, had you never heard Of
him. That answer l shall abide by!"
/ faced her steadily. ald then, all sud-
denly. a tide of color swept her face, and
her hands flew upward covering 1t, and
sobbing words broke from her: "0h, it Is
bitter thing for girl TO have been ever
alone and motherlessi"
Alone you shall never be again, as God
hears me, unless you viii it So" l said;
''for if you will have none of Dick Dag
CART, who cannot escape him who looked
upon your face last night. and all in that
moment knew it to be the face of his
wife, Then, perforce, l drew her hands
to my breast, for suddenly they flew out
to meet mine, and in somewhat of the
willful manner with which she had made
me enter the coach, she said, half-sob-
bingly:
.'Oh, then, take me, take mel For that
moment was mine also, and it would
break my heart to Danish il, even for the
sake of Dick Daggarti''
There was merrymaking at Tewipton
that night and never was its master in
more jovial spirits. But mainly silence
rested between myself and her. who had
grown in so short time to be. to my
eyes, the sweetest thing man could look
upon. | had asked no word nor promise
from her, but as the candles burned low
and Christmas Day was departing. I
said:
Sweetheart. it has been hasty WOO
ing for you-is it to be as happy an end
ing?" And with a look which recalled the
hour when / had fain ridden outside tho
coach, she said:
''Hoy can it be otherwise when l am
spared all future controversy concerning
Mr. Richard Daggart ?"-VirgiIa Wood
ward Cloud in the New York Evening
Post.