Middletown transcript., 1905-04-22
She Is too much like somebody that

w ell saIu FIeu.
''That once bothered him" snapped the
father; and he picked up his hat and
went hastily out Of the room.
IN W what on earth did he mean ~
Fred asked himself. But he was of a
diIatory turn of mind, and he did not
bother himself to find out. Afterwards
lie cursed himself for his Incidence and
slow-wittedness.
Whatever private object Christian
Earle might have had in coming to
Cranleigli, she did her duty to the village
hoo she won golden opinions from
the vicar, and even half melted the heart
Of Miss Dowlett.
.'iNe rather feared,' said that lady
land MIR. John Moncrieff also feared
that you would turn out new woman
with a bicycle and no skirts. He told
his stepmother, on reading yonr letter,
that he saw love OF luxury in the curls
Of your t's and ambition in the flourish
Of your gig. Afterwards, he relieved dear
Mrs. Moncrieff's fears by saying that
other peculiarities in your caligraphy
counteracted these disadvantages. We
are all so pleased that our fears were
groundless."
"Thank you," Christian said quietly.
But when Miss Dowlett was gone she
threw herself back in her chair and
laughed.
At the same moment, some thousands
Of miles away, a strong-lined face was
bent in the light of camp fire over a
scrawl from home. 1t ran
"Betty is in one of her effective and
dramatic tantrums about your deceptive
report Of the new schoolmistress. By
Jove, you did lie low about her, Jack !!
Plain? She is the most striking girl
whom l have seen for a blue moon
-pleases my fastidious tastes in quite an
indefensible way, and looks at me out Of
her inscrutabe eyes until feel myself
a poet-in truth, ready to swear all sorts
OF delusions such as poets indulge in
about dying to be the glove upon her
hand or the gem upon her hair, etc. !!
The dear blind Mater adds to my tortures
Of self-control by asking her to tea But
commensed my discretion-and hers
She has only come here twice, and |
nave only been there thrice. She doesn't
ask me in. She is desperately cold. But
the last time went saw her in frame
work that set off her unique charms to
perfection: bunch OF yiolets behind her
on table, piles of wellbound books
against the wall-the fair hypocrite ac-
cepted a meGi ,cre novel which lent her
with childlike ingenuousness-and two
etchings-Romney's famous Lady Hamil-
ton was one-on the wall My dear
brother mystery as well as charm en-
virons the young woman. am sure OF
it, and / mean to singe my wings till |
unrayel it,"
"The deuce he does p said John Mon
crieff, with short laugh. And for
moment he wished himself back in Gram
leigh.
CHAPTER vi
About four o'clock, one afternoon,
Christian Earle was walking up the silent
avenues Of Cranleigh Hall. She had
few books in strap at her side, and
went leisurely as if in thought. She
turned towards the back quarters of the
house, and under the great iron gates
which led to the kitchens she stood still.
Come, Christian, pluck up your cour-
age" she said softly to herself lit is the
first step only that costs. The house
keeper will have no reason to discover
family likenesses. She has been here
only twenty years. And you, whatever
you said to Mr.. Parsons, have been born
twenty five"
Then she went on to the house, and
rang at the servants bell. A rosy woman
Of imposing presence answered the ring,
and Christian asked for Mrs. Lavender.
please forgive my troubling you,"
she said, "but I have just been to Mrs.
Meldrum, whose cripple boy teach once
a week, and she told me that, if Iapplied
to Mrs. Lavender at the Hall, could get
leave to use the private path behind the
kitchen-gardens. 1t would save me a
long walk if could"
"You are the schoolmistress at Gram
leigh, suppose p
"Yes," said Christian.
1T will mean for yourself only, please
miss, if l give it you"
[To BE Continued