The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27

framed her conduct, getting thereby
a spice Of excitement and fearful joy
which no duly licensed encounters
could have given her. But she had
doubt that Mrs. Hutting was quite
right Anna Selford's critical attitude
toward her parents was not in the
rectory way.
Suppose she'd seen u.s. Dora whis-
pered behind the barn, as the rectory
pony chaise rolled slowly by.
We're doing nothing wrong.
should like to walk straight out and
IF you do. I'll never speak to you
again"
II hate this-this dodging!"
Then why don't you take your
walks the other way? You know I
come here. Why do you come if you
feel like that about it?
Thus Dora fleshed her maiden sword.
1t was an added joy to make Jeremy
do things which he disliked. And all
this time she was snubbing him and
his tentative approaches. Lovers? Ger
tainly motor, Of course, she would
have told mammal Accepted Jeremy?
No-she liked to think that she was
trifling with him. In fine, she was
simply behaving shamefully badly in
a rapturously delightful way; and to
see a pretty girl doing that is surely
a refreshing and rejuvenating sight?
Well, the word pretty is perhaps
concession to Jeremy. The only girl
IN the place is always pretty. Dora
was at any rate fresh and fair, 1.-THE
and ciean-limbed, gay. and full of fun.
A dreadful peril threatened, with
which Dora appalled, her own fancy
and Jeremy's troubled heart AT sew
enteen school is still possible-a finish
Ing school. Mrs. Hutting had BRAN
dished this weapon, conscious in her
own mind that the rectory finances
would hardly suffice to put an edge
on 1t. Dora did not realize this diff
Guilty.
You remember that time we were
seen? Well, there was an awful row,
once again 1 should go--for yeari"
Jeremy felt that something must be
done, and said so.
What could I dor"
That was a little more difficult for
Jeremy.
You must take pains to avoid me-"
said Dora, schooling her lips to prim-
ness. you don't want to get me sent
away, do your"
Certainly these spring months were
very pleasant to Miss Dora. But alas!
calamity came. 1t happened In Mill
dean just as it might have happened
in the West End Of London. The
school teacher said something to the
postmistress. There was nobody much
else to say anything-for the wise
eyed yokels, when they met the youth
nod, and went on their way giving
an inarticulate but appreciable
chuckle. However. the school teach
er did say something to the post
mistress, whence the something
came to Mrs. Hutting's ears. There
was another row no doubt
even more awful" The finish
ing school was brandished cgain, but,
after a private consultation on finance,
put aside by the rector and Mrs. Hut
ting. Another weapon was chosen.
Mrs. Hutting dictated a note. the rec
tor wrote and sealed It; 1t was sent
across to Old Mill House by the gar
dener, addressed TO Jeremy Chidding-
fold Esq In fact, no circumstance
of ceremony was omitted. and Dora
watched the messenger Of tyranny
note (Which began "Sir') Jeremy was
plainly given to understand that he.
was no gentleman, and that all reia-
tions between the rectory and himself
were at an end.
Jeremy stumped up and down the
room, furiously exclaiming that he did
not care whether he was gentleman
OF IlOL. I1S WdS d IIldH. 1Idt was
enough for him and ought to be enough
for anybody. Mrs Mumple was pos
itively frightened into agreeing with
him on this point. But however sound
the point might be, relations with the
rectory were broken off! What was to
be done? Jeremy determined to go to
town and lay before Grantley and ST.
bylla the unparalleled circumstances
of the case. But first there was-well,
there would be-one more stolen meet
ing. But it was not quite Of the sort
which might have been anticipated.
Dora's leVity was gone; she played
with him no more. But neither did she
follow the more probable course, and,
under the influence Of grief and the
pain of separation give the rein to her
feelings, acknowledge her love and ex-
change her vows for his. The old
fashioned standards had their turn;
evidently the rectory upbraidings had
been very severe. Every disobedience,
every trick, every broken promise rose
up in judgment and declared the SEN
tence to be just, however severe. Jere-
my was at loss how to face this. He
had been so convinced that nature was
with them and that nature spelt recti-
tude. He was aghast at a quasi-theo-
logical and entirely superstitious view
that no good or happiness could come
out of friendship (Dora adhered OBJ
stinately to this Word) initiated In such
a way He refused to recognize her
wickedness or even his own. When she
announced her full acceptance of the
edict her determination to evince pen
itence by absolute submission, he could
only burst out:
"They haven't been cruel to your
Cruel? No! They have been most
most gentle. I've come to see how
wrong it was"
Yet you're here!" He could not re-
sist the retort.
For the last time-to say good by
And If you really care at all you must
do as 1 wish
But I may write to you?"
mo, you mustn't"
You can't stop me thinking about
you
Il shan't think Of YOU. 1 shall pray
to be able not to. I'm sure 1 can be
strong"
She had got this idea in her head.
1t was just the sort of idea that Sibylla
might, have got. She wanted to i'm
molate herself. For such views In ST.
bylla Jeremy had always had denun-
Citations ready. He had no denuncia-