Hutchinson gazette., 1900-03-29

CHAPTER III,-(Continued)
pardon me" said Don--and now ne
was so thoroughly In earnest II never
occurred to him the accusation might
Justly have been brought against him
not 30 very long ago-"I love Lille
too much to have dreamed OF taxing
her from luxuries to which she Is ac-
cus'omed. She loves me, and repeat
my right to claim her."
He tossed away the stump OF his
cigar and turned to look at his com
panlon with naughty dehance-that
proud air of majesty which had put
fear and trembling into the heart OF
many a raw recruit
But Captain Derwent was no raw re-
cruit, but very veteran In arairs OF
lovesand war, and he could afford TO
meet Don's calm nonchalance with an
equally calm smile.
my dear chap, I'm extremely sorry
but the child is under age just yet, ana
as happen to have mapped out more
brilliant career for her, I'm afraid l
must emphatlcally veto that claim OF
yours" 3
"A more brilliant career?' repeated
Don, with young indignation. EVEN
n you are callous to my feelings, Cap
tain Derwent, have you no care Tor
Lilies happiness? For I tell you she
loves me-" attested the lover proudly
And, as frequently occurs, It's a
'lady's privilege to change her MIND, =
rejoined Lilies father, smiling. "As,
for example, my little Lillle's short
lived affair with your Cousin Roddy,
not 80 many years since"
1T is sufficiently long since to have
completely changed the Lille of those
days to the Lille Of to-day" said Don,
who, however skeptlcal himself of that
faith whose belief had 80 transformed
the thoughtless Lille of the past, was
sincere enough to acknowledge its
charm In her.
"She loves me as she never loved
Roddy," affirmed Don, in his imperious
way; "and," he added, meeting Cap
tain Derwent's eyes with look that
was like the flashing Of crossed swords,
II mean to win her."
Don't be too sure, my friend" said
the Captain, laughing, II give you the
hint, you'll have Prince Clement Sing
to reckon with as we'll as myself"
Don stopped and wheeled round upon
his companion, fierce words bursting
through his set teeth, an oath all the
more vehement because Don's lips were
not given to the utterance Of them,
What do you mean, sir?' he de-
manded
THAT you are by no means the only
fellow who has set his heart on posses
sing the white Lily" said Captain Der
went, uttering the pet name with airy
.jocularity.
But Don was in no humor for Joking.
II think" he said, in proud scorn,
at Is somewhat unfair to bracket me
with Prince Clement Sing, l am in
deadly earnest about my desire to mar
ry your daughter"
"And so Is he, my good fellow-so
much in earnest, In fact, that he has
my permission to pay his addresses to
her-may be doing so this very min
ute, indeed" broke off Captain Der
went lightly.
For an instant Don glared at the
speaker in speechless amazement.
"You cannot mean IT." was the
hoarse exclamation which at last came
from his white lips.
"And wherefore?" querled the other,
with aggravatlng GOODNESS. Though an
Indian, he is by no means a pariah.
Truth Is, he has Irish blue blood In
him, and could hold his own with the
best of us as far as classics 60. More
over he is as rich as Croesus, has i'm
mense influence at Court; he worships'
the very ground she treads on, and
would make her princess"
Again Don stopped short in his walk,
and now his face showed pale as
death. II would kill him and you too
before that should ever happen!' he
cried.