Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-24
PRISCILLA'S POACHING.
Continued from page 81

1t was a dismal walk. If L had been
a girl in book, l should nave gone
dauntlessly to meet my judges; but
felt very downhearted. Now that they
were upon me, the appearing before the
bench. the having my name in the pa
ners and the scandal seemed terrible
BESIDES. there was the fine; and they
might lock me up for the night, and Tom.
though on the mend, needed every care
We went to the Lack door of the Hall!
and after looking at me, the butler said,
you'd better bring the young person to
the library, and I'll fetch Sir John"
He led the way to the library. lighted
two lamps in it and poked up the fire
Without thinking / took an easy chair
bv ii. and stretched out my feet to the
blaze. The butler frowned at me, ana
went out, leaving the door ajar. l hearG
another door open, babble of voices,
clicking billiard balls, and the buffers
voice saying please, Sir John, jenkins
and Smith have got poacher in the Ii
brary.'
"a poacherr Lets see the rascal Il
vote we duck him. Give him a horse
whipping!" cried half a dozen voices:
there was a hurryins of feet in the hall,
and what seemed a crowd of men i'll
evening dress poured in through the Ii
brary door. How l hated them, and
think l must have looked like it; for they
hushed suddenly and some Of their
mouths opened.
What on earth did the idiots bring him
here for?' said a voice in the hall,
voice [ knew very well; and the Helper
came into the room.
At once l felt quite safe; but at the
sight of me his face filled with a dis
mayed surprise, and he cried, ''Wha-
senseless idiocy have you been up to
now, Jenkins?' and came swiftly across
= the room, with outstrctchcd hand saying.
''How do you do. Miss Chute; / hope to
goodness my idiots have not annoyed
you?" Then he turned angrily on the
keepers, and said, Clear out, you dun
derheaded idiots,'
But, Sir john said the keeper.
"Clear out, will you"' roared the Help
er furiously, stamping his foot; and they
shuffled out quickly.
Then he turned to his friends and prac-
ticaIly drove them back to their game
telling them that he must see me home
and refusing CURLY two or three offers TO
come with him that he might not have to
walk back alone. The Butler brought his
hat and coat; and in two minutes we
were out of the house.
We had not gone ten yards down the
drive when | turned on him and said flu
riously. How dare you?"
How dare L WHAT" he said.
.'You're-youre Sir John Baldran'
You've been practically giving me all that
game we caught 1t was disgraccful of
you. Tm-I'm glad-yes; I'm glad L hit
you 50 hard,'
He looked at me gravely, and said, I'm
afraid, my dear Priscilla, that you have
u bad temper"
I'm not your dear Priscilla. How
dare you
you as my dear Priscilla" he said calm
ly.
you've no right"
"Oh, yes, have" he interrupted again.
"You've made me your partner in crime,
a poacher; you've bullyragged me contin-
ually; you've knocked me down and near
ly killed me; with a cold cruelty you've
tried to drive me to suicide by denying
me the sight of you when you knew l
was dying for it, Look what you've cost
me in mental, moral and physical an
guish-it gives me every right to call you
my dear Priscilla. You're the dearest
creature | ever came across. and it was
d bad day for me when / met you
"Well, that will soon be mended. We
sha'n't meet again!" l gasped out, almose
choking with rage.
NO: there's no mending it, he said in
the saddest voice. Il can't do without
you-you're my one extravagance-my
dearest Priscilla. You'll have to take pity
on me and-and beggar me"
1t was no use my saying anything; ne
would only twist my words, L knew that
way of his we'll We walked without
speaking, and my anger cooled little.
Then suddenly he said in a very differ
ent voice, do be kind to me, PRISCILLA
you've been cruel to me so long.
1t was not fair. My nerves had beer
shaken by my capture and that horrible
walk with the keepers; the sudden gen
tleness upset me, and L rather brok,
down.
We were some time saying goodbye q
Blackstead gates, and-well 1 did no
knock him down this time.
AS went up the drive he called afte
me, by the way, my dearest Priscilla
I'm going to take a long and sever
course of boxing lessons before we'r
married. "--Longman' Magazine.