The Republican journal., 1901-09-19

Moulu HdVo CoMc 10 an understanding.
Now it may be put off for days."
Elizabeth seemed glad to see me
almost relieved" said Joseph.
Mrs. Cox looked at him with war
like scorn. "She had to pretend" said
she.
Archie had always been imperious
with Bess, and time had not made him
less so. His air of proprietorship was
the revival of an ancient habit: and vet
when it struck her, Bess felt as if up in
arms. He came to her as she was stand
Ing. at the window in the writing den,
and looked over her shoulder. Some.
body was riding away from the door.
wv no is that?' he asked curiously.
BeSS started.
Its Mr.. Gordon of Dalcarres,'' she
SAID. II asked him to stay to lunch,
but he wouldn't; and you had vanished
with Polly Cox
What did he want?" asked Archie.
Bess lifted her chin at his lordly tone;
she was not accustomed to any mans
imperiousness.
1T was on business" she said. I'm
buying farm of his
"Oh," said Archie. 'sWhere is it?
We mustn't let him cheat you. Can't
we ride over and have a look?:''
Cheat me?" cried Bess. She was
angry with Dalcarres; he had been so
queer and curt, and had ridden away so
fast; but cheat her! If only he could
hear that cool suggestion.
Eyes. All these people look upou you
as lawful spoil,' said Archie.
"a forlorn widow, / SUPPOSE"
lie did not understand that she was
rather angry.
Poor little girl?" he said sympa-
thetically. you've been having bad
time lately, l dare say. A woman is
never happy when she is rich. Well,
I'm here, so all that is past"
THANK you," said Bess. Archie
came little nearer. His manner was
more than ever suggestive of the pos
SesSive case.
Mrs Cox was telling me you had
been fairly plagued with admirers. A
pack of fortune hunting scamps. She
made me feel quite nervous"
Bess laughed.
"Oh, no." she said; I'm spared that.
The will keeps them all aloof.''
'The will?" said Archie His fingers
went up suddenly, affrightedly, to his
mustache He drew back with start.
1es. You know if marry | lose it
ALL"
'What?"
Archie was breathless with astonish-
ment, and he looked at her as if she
must be mad
u never heard that. You never told
me-
Il t told YOU long ago, in my first let
Il never had it, he interrupted
tiercely, like a much injured man.
'Annie and John and the master all
said it was left to you altogether. And
| understood from the lawyers
There was an extraordinary change
in his manner. He stared at her, speak
ing like an accuser.
you must have mistaken them, :"
Bess said steadily. But, Archie, it
does not matter"
Matter? The old curmudgeoni What
shame!-what a wicked shamer'
Don't" with a warning cry.
81 can't help it," said Archie, furious
ly. Il never liked him; I'd too good
reasons. But ! didn't think he was
such vindictive wretch. To chain
you to his grave like that. | hope he's
gone to hot place-that's all!''
He stopped, COMPOUNDED.
Bess faced him, white at first, with
angry eyes; but as she listened her face
grew as red as fire.
''How dare you?" she cried. ''He is
dead, and he can't defend himself-oh,
you coward! l tell you love and wor-
ship him; he was my hero when | was a
child-you remember that. l told him
I'd rather be his nurse than be the
Queen: and l was proud of him to the
last He was right-he was right. God
only knows what he saved me?"
She flung out her hands as if to ward
off a danger, and turned and left him.
Archie stood there dumb He saw her
rush past the blank horror Of Mrs. Cox
in the room beyond, all too near for
dignity, and SO disappear. There was
crash of glass door shut furiously; she
could not trust herself in the house
any longer.
Archie sighed and whistled, utterly
crestfallen. Another house of cards
had fallen into dust.
Bess did not know where she was
running; she was desperately angry.
All she cared for was to feel the wind
beating in her face and to get away
from Archie
"A Y 1901 oHC glow DlCtuH1Coo. kCuC SdU
down on the grass and laughed and
cried, with her cheeks again white with
anger.
AS luck would have it, John Gordon
of DalcarreS was taking a solitary walk
around the farm he was going to SELL
and which lay so near the lands of his
neighbor Walking along thoughtfully,
with gun under his arm, he presently
saw a rabbit. He fired, and the air
was shaken with a little white dash OF
smoke.
"Oh." She lifted her head with cry
and saw him-saw his look of horror
as he sprang forward and was with her
in three strides.
Mrs Courage" he was saying, 81
might have shot you! What are you
doing here?''
He was uncivil in his alarm, as if ad-
dressing trespasSer or tramp. Doubt
less she made a:strange spectacle sitting
there
eff you must know" she said, reck-
lessly, Il was crying"
"Why?"
His voice was still unsteady, but very
kind. She felt sudden, bitter impa-
tience at his manner, like, that of a
queens adviser, always faithful, a little
distant.
Because am poor" she said.
She had not expected to cause such