Gilpin observer., 1903-04-30
CHAPTER I.-(continued.)


woman was sitting, reading a novel
La, child" she cried. come here and
give me a kiss. So you wear that
sweet-fancied suit again. Is that the
Dutch style, then, child? 1t must be
extremely charming. La, here comes
Richard! He is going to ask you to
take sail on the river; and shall
lend you my new green parasol. l do
believe it is the only one in the coun-
try"
II came to sit with you, and work
with my worsteds. Perhaps my moth
er-might rot like me to go on the
river with-any one"
But Katherine had no time to de-
fend herself; for, with his cavalry
cap in his hand and low bow, Capt.
Hyde entered the room. In few
minutes afterward she was going
down the terrace steps with him; and
he was looking into her face with shin
ing eyes, and whispering the common
est words in such an enchanting man.
ner that it seemed to her as IL her feet
scarcely touched the low, white steps,
and she was some sort OF glor1hed
Katherine Van Heemskirk, who never,
never, never could be unhappy again.
They did not go on the river Capt.
Hyde did not want third party near,
in any capacity. The lower steps
were shaded by great water beeches,
and the turf under them was green
and warm. A sweeter hour, lovelier
maid, man could never hope to find;
and Capt Hyde was not one to neglect
his opportunity.
Let us stay here, my beloved" he
whispered. 81 have something sweet
to tell you. Upon mine honor. can
keep my secret no longer
The innocent child! Who could
blame her for listening to it?-at first
with little fear and little reluct-
ance, but gradually resigning her
whole heart to the charm of his soft
syllables and his fervent manner, I'M
til she gave him the promise he
begged for-love that was to be for
him alone. love for him alone among
all the sons Of men.
What an enchanted afternoon it
was! how all too quickly it fed away,
one golden moment after another!
In q few minutes Joanna and the
elder came in. He had called for her
on his way home; for he liked the
society of the young and beautiful, and
there were many hours in which he
thought Joanna fairer than her sister.
Then tea was served in a pretty parlor
with Turkish walls and colored win
dows, which, being open into the gar
den, framed lovely living pictures of
blossoming trees. Every one was eat
ing and drinking. laughing and talk
ing; SO Katherine's unusual silence
was unnoticed. except by the elder,
who indeed saw and heard everything.
and who knew what he did not see
and hear by that kind of prescience
to which wise and obseryant years at
tain.
Joanna was talking to Neil Semple
in the recess of a window; but Neil's
face was white with suppressed anger,
and. though he seemed to be listening
to her, his eyes-full of passion-were
fixed upon Hyde. Perhaps the young
soldier was conscious of it; for he oc-
casionally addressed some trivial re-
mark to him, as If to prevent Neil
losing sight of the advantages he had
over him.
"The vera air o. this room Is gun
or the other will be flinging spark O.
passion into it and then the dell will
be to pay. I'll cen TAX the lasses
hame myself; and I'll speak to Joris
for his daughter-as good now as any
other time"
Then he said in his blandest tones.
Joanna, my dearie. you'll hae to tell
and, Katherine. put ava now that bit
O. busy idleness, and don your hoods
and mantles, bath O. you. I'm going
to ta' you hame. and l dinna want to
get my deathe wi the river mist"
Pray. SIR" said Hyde. consider me
at your service. l have occasion to
go into town at once. and will do your
duty to the young ladies with infinite
pleasure"
Much obliged, captain, vera much
obliged; but it talks an aud wise
headed, wise-hearted man like myself
to walk safely atween two bonnie
lasses.'
While he was speaking, Neil left the
room. He was glad to escape from a
position which he felt to be both pain
full and humiliating. He was in a
measure Capt. Hydes host, and sub
ject to traditions regarding the du-
ties OF that character; any display OF
anger would be derogatory to him,
and yet how difficult was restraint!
So his fathers interference was a
welcome one; and he was reconciled
to his own disappointment. when
looking back he say the old gentleman
slowly taking the road to Van Heems