North Park union., 1900-04-27

CHAPTER III.-(Continued.)
Pardon me-" said Don-and now he
was 30 thoroughly in earnest it never
occurred to him the accusation might
Justly have been brought against him
not 80 very long ago-"I love Lille
too much to have dreamed OF taking
her from luxuries to which she Is &C
customed. 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
panion with naughty defiance-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 a very veteran in affairs OF
love and 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. and
as happen to have mapped out q more
brilliant career for her, I'm afraid l
must emphatically veto that claim OF
yours"
"A more brilliant career?" repeated
Don, with young indignation. Even
II you are callous to my feelings, Cap
tain Derwent, have you no care for
Lilies happiness! For 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 Lilies short
lived affair with your Cousin Roddy.
not SO many years since"
/ 1T is suficiently long since to have
completely changed the Lille of those
days to the Lille of to-day" said Don.
who. however skeptical himself of that
faith whose belief had so transformed
the thoughtless Lille Of the past, was
sincere enough to acknowledge Its
charm in her.
'She loves me as she never loved
Roddy," afirmed Don. In his imperious
|way; "and." he added. meeting Cap
tain Derwent's eyes with a look that
was like the flashing of crossed swords.
II mean to win her."
Don't be too sure. my friend" said
thi Captain, laughing. II give you the
HIT. 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. 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 30 this very min
ute. indeed" broke of 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?" queried the other.
with aggravating coolness. Though an
Indian. he is by no means pariah.
Truth is. he has Irish blue blood in
him. and could hold his own with the
best Of US as far as classics go. More
over he is rs rich as Croesus. has i'm
mense influence at Court: he worships
the very ground she treads on. and
would make her a 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.