Middletown transcript., 1905-05-06
TcoNrrNUED FROM LAST WEEK.

1IlC WAOlC dtAlOSPilOiS " tho
was 50 premeated by "John" that when
the Vicar came home after fortnight
Christian felt that he had neither eyes
nor ears for any concerns but his sons.
It would be impertinent intrusion to
trouble him with her private affairs now.
They had waited long already. The
matter of another month could not make
much difference.
Meanwhile, Fred Parsons was not 50
patient as he had been. The old man at
the Hall was sinking fast. There must
be definite engagement with Miss Earle
and, if possible, marriage the
Squire died, lest anything should come
out in the will.
So he came to the sclloolhouse and re-
minded her Of the request which lie had
made six months ago, and he conducted
the interview so skillfully that Christian
rejection was gently 'poohed" aside.
"Well, well," he said as he lett her,
II told you that could wait, Christian
And can. But this time it won't be tor
six months | fancy it would be wlser
if YOU took me now. was told the other
day that the marriage Of somebody whom
YOU knew was only sham marriage. lie
did not give me any details. lie was
North -countryman, who had met Mrs.
Earle, as she called herself"
He walked away to the window. Sud
denly lie came back to her side again.
His desire to marry this woman had now
become passion with him.
Christian" he said, Il love you
Christian, when will You marry me Y
One word only futtered miserably
through her brain. Sham a sham
marriage She must show those treas
ured papers to some reliable judge at
once.
"Come again in a month"; she said
under her breath.
"My darling y
Fred Parsons took up his hat i'll a
tremor Of ecstasy and went unsteadily
home.
She was giving in-giving in. He
loved her. And he was ambitious. And
she was Sir Nathaniel's heiress
"Hullo, man, where the deuce are yon
going?"
It was Reg Moncrieff's voice, and be
spoke hotly, for collision with Fred Par
sons great frame was 10 insignificant
shock.
sHome," said Parsons, in a curiously
elatad voice.
Reg squared up in front OF him.
''Look here" he said, II hope that
you are acting fairly by that young
woman yonder She is good and fair,
and she has no one to look after her, and
if you can't behave like gentleman
Parsons burst into an uproarous laugh,
and the next moment his heavy hand
had laid Reg on the ground.
II wish to Heaven the girl hadn't
come here Y Reg said to himself angrily,
as he picked himself up and looked bit
terly after the retreating giant. "Why
should / concern myself about her, and
why should she come setting the village
in an uproar by her unusual charms, as
she will do only too soon if we can't quiet
that old wretch Dowlett? Confound
Parsons And confound the school
mistress! What business has she to be
SO attractive? I'll do her a good turn,
and direct the governors notice to her
jaded looks She is a mere wrath, and
he'll dismiss her on the ground Of deli
cacy."
But he could not pluck up his courage
= to do this. He felt that he enjoyed too
well the chance of meeting the wrath"
in his own corridors at home to be in
strumental in bahishing her therefore
forever.
And SO Christian Earle still continued
to come and 60 amongst them. Her
days were full of all sorts Of tasks in
which she tried to forget the worry at
her heart. She came regularly twice a
week to the Vicarage to cast up accounts
and to supervise the charity basket.
One evening in February she was
writing in the library-which was set
aside for her use at certain hours-when
the door opened. She did not look
around, for she had given Reg to under
stand that she would not brook Interrupt
ton Of any sort, and she did not mean to
encourage him even by glance. Per
haps he had come for book. She went
on writing
"Thirty-tiye pounds thirteen shillngs
and sixpence halfpenny," She said softly,
casting up her account aloud. "Thirtv-
five pounds six shiIings and twopence-
a balance of seven slliIlings and four
pence"
The newcomer had taken up his posi-
tion on the hearthrug 1t must be tie
Vicar, since Reg could never hold his
tongue for five consecutive seconds. Well,
the Vicar would be pleased to see that
she could apply herself.
"Thirty-fye pounds six shillings and
twopence-a balance Of seven shllings
and fourpence,' she repeated.
"Halfpenny Y said voice at tile fire.
place. "What an indefatigabe workerp
She looked around with start. Then
she got up, trembling.
CHAPTER VIII
John Moncrieff stood smiling down
upon her in the dim freight.
Il beg your PARDON" she said hur-
riedly and nervously. "This is vour
room, know. They did not tell ME that
you had come home, or | would have
done the parish accounts elsewhere"
"sit down." he said gravely. Il won't
interrupt you. | came in here to buckle
on my armor for my dear mothers effu-
slye welcome. They don't know that I
have come. And after one has been on
the slck-list four months, somehow ones
nerves Well'-he laughed softly to
himself-'T feel as if would sooner have
III