Hutchinson gazette., 1901-05-09


ingly unseen and unheard by each
other, as distinctly remote as though
spheres had separated them, Instead OF
so many rooms or feet, as the case
might be. Now she felt that, by TINS
one rash, uncalled-for act, she had
done away with all the good 80 many
silent days had helped to accomplish
Nevertheless, having once given her
word Mildred felt that she must ABIDE
by II, and appeared at the breakfast
table next morning, to all outward
seeming as mperturable as usual
Eddie had also risen betimes to see
his friend depart, and rattle on In gal"
liant style all through the dismal meal,
leaving no space for the other two to
express their opinions, had they been
80 inclined At length, footman en-
terlng to announce the arrival OF the
dog-cart at the hall door, Eddie rose
to see to Denzlls further comforts, and
so left him and Mildred at last alone
He came toward her, and, taking
both her hands, held them with a clasp
that amounted almost to pain.
Think OF me kindly" he said, In a
low tone full Of acute meaning
Il will" she said,
rs II quite hopeless, MildredY"
"You will be late for your train"
murmured Miss Trevanion very gent
ly
So II fell out that Kings Abbott was
once more bereft Of guests; and still
the Treyanlons were unhappy, because
the very train that carried away
snugly ensconced among It's cushions
the unhappy Denzil, brought to Lady
Caroline a letter that filled her gentle
bosom with dire alarm.
The letter began, Mr., Dear Niece"
and ended, Your attached aunt, Har-
riet Disney" It's contents being to the
effect that Lady Eagleton-Lady Caro-
lines aunt by the fathers side-had
generously made up her mind to sacri-
fee her pleasures, inclination, habits,
and self generally for the purpose Of
bestowing her society upon her dear
niece" aforesaid This was ineed n
heavy blow, her ladyship-havlng at
talned the troublesome age Of eighty
two being one Of those people whom
to entertain is a kind OF martyrdom.
As msfortunes never come single, II
was just about this time also that Lady
Caroline heard for the first time Of
Mildred's refusal Of Den2il Younge. The
girl had hitherto kept It nervously to
herself, thinking Of II now and then
with mingled feelings of pain and
something akin to pleasure, but out
wardly suppresslng all sign until this
day when Lady Caroline tlmidly and
without preface touched on the subject
Of his evident admiration Of her
1T seems a pity you could not care
for him, Mildred" she said, interroga-
lively, as though It were by no means
n certainty that Mildred did not care
for him. 1--WE should all like 1t so much
and your father Says"
Mildred rose hastily and threw down
her work, while two red spots appeared
on her cheeks,
Mamma" she said, perhaps II will
be better, and will put a stop to all
further mention OF this matter, IL
tell you the truth, Mr.. Younge did
propose to me, and refused him."
She finished almost de1antly and
turned to leave the room.
Mildred is It possible?' exclaimed
Lady Caroline.
"0h, Milly!" cried Mabel, who was
also present with lively reproach and
disapproval in her tone.
rs 1t such a crime then? Has moth
Ing Of the kind ever been done be-
tore?" demanded Mildred, passionate
Iy; and then she went out, and left
them to their wonderings and censures
on her conduct.
When eventually Sir George was told
the unlucky news, 1t rendered him at
first furious, and then despairing,
Things were becoming more embar-
rassed and entangled day by day, the
immediate possession of large sum
Of money being the only hope his law
yer could hold out to him Of ultimate
Iy saving the estate; and, as affairs
were, 1t would be a difficult II not i'm
possible task to procure It. Denzil,
with his immense wealth, was out Of
his great love for Mildred, would have
thought little Of lending twice the
amount required. But now all that was
changed, and Mildred's had been the
hand to dash the hope aside.
Both he and Lady Caroline were
strangely distant and unsympathetic to
her in these days. her father irrltably
SO, her mother with sort Of mourn
rul gravity that touched her far more.
Lord Lyndon, who at this period
showed tact and an adroitness that
would have reflected honor on a clev-
erer man, managed to be perpetually
at her side. His attentions were open
and unmistakable, while he declared
his inability to withdraw from her
presence even for time by the fact
Of his taking shootlng-box quite close
to Kings Abbott for the season.
All the little world of Cllston were
beginning to look upon 1t as a settled
matter, there being no mistake as to