The Delta independent., 1901-07-05
CHAPTER XII.

tered as though II cOulQ not Idll 10
strike despair and remorse into the
hearts OF her hearers; and. indeed. in
Lady Caroline's breast 1t awoke min
gled feelings of Joy and terror, though
in those of Mildred and Mabel the JOY
reigned supreme.
Lady Caroline attempted faint re-
monstrance, but was sternly silenced;
and on Wednesday, two days earlier
than that on which she had originally
decided, the old lady. bag and bag
gage, swept out of Kings Abbott, very
much to the relief of those she lett
behind
And now came the most trying time
in all poor Mildred's life. During all
OF the past weeks that she had peen
suffering violence at the hands OF her
relatives. Lord Lyndon had become
constant, untiring visitor at hins
Abbott, taking no rebuffs, nor open
sights, nor petulant actions 10 neaft'
but, as might faithful animal, attend
ing all the more assiduously to her
wants who was his acknowledged mis-
tress.
Patience. assisted by perseverance.
has ever been known to work wonders.
SO It followed that in process OF time
he became-though SO impercepioiy
that 1t was without her knowledge
necessary to Mildred; SO much SO IL
deed that fewer and fewer grew the
sights and unkindnesses on her part
while in their place a certain winning
friendliness came and increased, rais-
ing false hopes in Lyndon's breast that
should never have been there.
The end of all this was that close
upon Christmas-time. somewhere ABOUT
the middle Of December, while all their
minds were fully occupied with Lady
Eagleton's sayings and doings, Lord
Lyndon proposed for Miss Trevanion.
and was rejected. This blow might
| perhaps have effectually daunted an
other man; but Lyndon, still following
up his trusty instincts. determined to
bide his time and never surrender hope
until a more favored suitor took his
place.
Mildred, having lively recollectioas
! of the treatment she had received on
similar occasion. thought well to keep
| her own counsel in this matter ana
SO It was agreed upon between them
to hold the entire circumstance Sc
cret from the rest OF the family-to
| insure which. things OF course went on
In the usual way. he calling every 9th
@ day and she accepting his atten-
tions-which were never OF the obtras-
i've description-in the same manner as
| formerly. So well did they sustain
their several parts that even Lady
Harriet's keen old eyes failed to de-
tect that anything was amiss.
Sir Georges affairs at this time were
going from bad to worse. He had been
hard at work for the past two months
trying to flnd the ways and means to
ward of the inevitable day OF reckon
ing. and had suggested plans and pur-
sued theories. all OF which his man OF
business had frowncd at and pooh
poohed rs utterly impracticable. Moth
ing but the possession of large sum
Of money-and that to be written in
Ave fgures-stood between him and
complete ruin; and how to secure the
money was the difficulty dimcuity
beyond all surmounting unless some
body could be found who for pure
friendships sake would lend II for an
indefinite period. trusting to time and
chance for repayment Such friend
was hard to hnd.
One evening Mildred. on her way to
her mothers room. was stopped by a
servant with the intelligence that Lord
Lyndon had Just called, and was In the
drawing-room.
| Would Miss Trevanion go down and
receive him. while she informed her
ladyship OF his arrival!"
To which Mildred made answer that
she would tell Lady Caroline herself.
and went on to her mothers apart
| ment.
found the door closed, but opening II
passed on toward an inner room be-
yond, where Lady Caroline usually
sat, and whence voices, suppressed yet
distinct, reached her. AS she ap-
preached still nearer. they rose still
higher. and words became Ineligible
to her ears.
III do not get this money without
delay we are simply ruined" said Sir
George. irritably.
Then suppose there is nothing left
you but to ask Mr.. Younge for It," re-
turned Lady Caroline, In a reluctant
tone.
II suppose not" said Sir George.
Ask Mr.. Younge! Ask the father OF
thu man whom she had not considered
good enough to marry for money!
What could It all mean?
Mildred stopped short and pressed
her hands tightly together. Surely she
had not heard Alright. They could not
mean She drew her breath hard
and swept like whirlwind into the
room.
Papa" she said. what are you
thinking Of? What have you been
-