Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-27

49, "eo eA' VI ONu ANUI =
man families. wherein failing a direct male
heir the estate passed to the daughters.
The late squire married twice. His hrst-
born was a daughter; and som 20 years
after her birth his second wife died in
giving him a son and heir. This boy grew
up the idol Of his father, and a favorite
with all who served him.
Now, Jim Norton, the huntsman. saved
the life Of this highly valued young man
by extricating him from under a vicious
horse. which had fallen with his rider after
taking a dangerous fence out hunting. In
thus saving his young masters life, the
huntsman lost his own-as a fierce kick
from the struggling animal broke his
skull. Mrs. Norton was, therefore, pen
stoned of and given a comfortable and
picturesque cottage to live in.
To draw the links even closer, one Of the
widows sons enlisted In the same regiment
to which young Harry de Burgh was gag
cited, and when. some years after, Charles
Norton, who had attained a sergeant's
stripes, and his young wife we're carried
on by typhur fever, in the ill-drained, i'll
ventilated barracks where they were quar-
tered in Dublin, Captain de Burgh arranged
for the transfer OF a poor little delicate
baby girl to the care Of her bereaved
grandmother, and even left a sum Of money
with his lawyer when he went to the Cri-
mea some years after, to provide for the
little creatures education, that she might
be enabled to earn her own bread. From
this campaign the heir Of Thoresby never
returned. His sister succeeded him, and
married a man Of birth and fortune, shortly
before her fathers death. Later she, too,
was widowed and childless, so that Grace
Nortons lover was heir to her broad lands
and as much Of her considerable savings
as she chose to bequeath him.
Mrs. Norton was a clever, sensible
woman and had gone through a checkered
life with courage and constancy, and these
latter days had been Infinitely frightened
by the society Of her young granddaughter,
who was indeed a charming companion.
The humming Of bees and insects, the
heat, the soft silence OF the afternoon
lulled her into a prolonged nap. and Grace,
an open book on her knee, sat by her side
in a low wicker chair dreaming delicious
dreams, her whole frame thrilling at the
memory OF de Burgh's passionate caresses
and feryent declarations.
From these conditions she was reused
by the closing of the gate which led into
the little green with its border Of flowers,
which separated the cottage from the road.
Looking up, she saw Ashton coming up the
Path, laden with a painters paraphernalia.
All" he exclaimed, ARE you both en-
joying a nap?"
And Grace is tired, l fancy" said gran
ME, rousing herself. "She must have wan
dered far; she was so late for dinner"
Grace felt the ~telltale color mount even
to her brow as she met Ashton's grave,
kind. plying eyes.
II thought she would be late " he said
carelessly; "she stayed on discussing my
faulty work till nearly l o'clock"
And very bold OF her to find fault with
a gentleman like you. SIR" said Mrs. Nor
ton. Have you had a bit OF lunch, Mr..
Ashton?"
Yes. 1 wandered on till I found myself
near Woodbridge. and had a crust OF bread
and cheese at the Three Fiddlers."
s"Then you'll like a cup of tea with me
and Grace. sir?"
Il should indeed. Mrs. Norton"
Tell Nancy to set the tea things under
the big walnut tree, Grace, my dear"
Grace felt grateful and annoyed at the
same time. Ashton had shielded her. but
that he felt 1t necessary to do so proved
that he knew too much. Her cheeks glowed
at the idea of her tender secret being
known to another, andl that other a man.
Ashton was a London artist. full Of abil-
fly and immensely Industrious, toiling
painfully up the first thorny steps of an
artists career, with little or no money and
no interest. For the last three autumns
he had taken rooms at Mrs. Norton's cot
tage. for Thoresby woods and the country
round offered abundant subjects for brush
and pencil. Grace felt that he disliked
and distrusted de Burgh, and having cast
away her own first faint doubts and a.
lowed a delicious flood OF absolute trust in
her lovers honor and integrity to inun-
date her heart and submerge her reason.
she began TO consider Ashton in the light
OF an unfrieLdly spy, and was consequently
rather cold and distant toward him. Ash
ton was perfectly unmoved, however, and
seemed quite taken up with the fragrant
tea and crisp cakes daintily served under
the spreading walnut tree.
Mr.. de Burgh is of to ~town-enroute for
some place abroad. no doubt-for no one
stays in London in August. / met the
whole procession Just now on their road
to the s~tation-madam in the barouche,
coachman in his powdered wig, brake and
pair loaded with luggage. and young Hope
full de Burgh beside madam, who looked
poorly enough"
"Ah, yes" said Grannie, 1.-THE dear lady
has but poor health since Mr.. Herbert died.
She was round here IN her pony ehaise
yesterday and told me she was going to
some place with a queer name In foreign
parts. It's little pleasure she has, In spite
Of her great possessions. l hope Mr..
de Burgh will be a comfort to her, but,
law. sir. young gentlemen are so e~xtrava-
CANT and thOughtless-they do say Captain
de Burgh has cost her a lot"
"Oh, he is rather fast and made a good
deal OF in London. You see. he is no end
OF a catch. and few men can keep their
heads under those conditions"
Have another cup OF tea, Mr.. Ashton?'
asked Grace, to whom even these good
humored comments on her idol were irri-
tating. And try another cake; / made
them This morning myself"
They are the ne plus ultra OF goody,"
he cried. II shall devour the plateful II
you give me my head. Now for another
kind Of greed. l want you to give me two
more s~ittings. Miss Norton. and then your
portrait will be finished"
CHAPTER II.
81 believe my respected godmother is
going to live forever" said de BurEL ons
wild wintry morning in late November.
when he was walking beside Grace In the
sheltered alley Of the old pleasaunce near
the mansion. yet out OF sight. she is
going to winter on the Riviera and is really