The Grit-advocate., 1903-05-01

Ia. child" she cried, come here and
give me a kiss. So you wear that
sweet fancicd 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 a sail on the river, and l shall
lend you my new green parasol. do
believe IL is the only one in the coun-
try
Il came to sit with you, and work
with my worsteds. Perhaps my moth
er-might not like me to go on the
river with-any one.
But Katherine had no time to de
iend herself, for, with his caVairy
cap in his hand and a low bow, Capt.
Hyde entered the room. In lie"
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
uer that II seemed to her as if her feet
scarcely touched the low, white steps.
and she was some sort of gloriiied
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. Il have something sweet
to tell you. Upon mine honor, l can
keep my secret no longer"
The innocent child. Who could
blame her for listening TO it?-at first
with a little fear and a little reluct-
Ance. but gradually restgning her
whole heart to the charm of his soft
syllables and his fervent manner. IN
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 a 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 pretty parlor
in,
dows. which. being open into the gar
den. framed lovely living pictures of
blossomirg trees. Every one was eat
ing and drinking, laughing and talk
ing; so katherine's unusual silence
was unuoticed. 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 observant years at
tain.
Joanna was talking to Neil Semple
in the recess of 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 ii to prevent Neil
losing sight of the advantages he had
over him.
The vera air O this room is gun
powdery," thought the elder, and ane
or the other will be finsins a spark O
passion into it and then the dell will
be to pay I'll cen TAX the lasses
hame mysel; and I'll speak TO Joris
for his daughter-as good now as any
other time
Then he said In his hlandest tones,
Joanna. my dearie. you'll hae to tell
Neil the rest o your tale the morn:
and, katherine, put ava now that bit
O busy idleness. and don your hoods
and rantles bath O. you. I'm going
to ia you hame, and | dinra want to
get my deathe wi the river mist"
Pray, sir" said Hyde, consider me
at your service. 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 tak's an aud wise
headed. wise-hearted man like mysel'
to walk safely atweeu two bonnie
lasses'
While he,was speaking, Neil left the
room. He was glad to escape from a
position which he felt 10 be both pain.
full and humiliatins He was in
measure Capt Hyte's host, and sub
5ect to traditions regarding the du-
ties OF that character; any display OF
anger would be derosatory TO him.
and yet how dihcul: was restraint,
So his fathers Interference was
welcome one; and he was recouciled
TO his own disappointment. when,
looking back he say the old gentleman
slowly taking the road to Van Heems.
kinks. with the pretty girls in their