Middletown transcript., 1905-05-13
TcoNrINUEp FROM LAST WEEK.

sons kisses her and, by Jove, Jack, the
girl is cut above that sort of thing 1t
worries me more than can tell, for when
| first mentioned his name to her she
went first red, then white, and upon my
word should suspect him Of hypnotism
If I didn't know him to be the most mat.
ter-of-fact sportsman in Christendom
John Moncrieff got up suddenly IRON
his chair and began to pace the room.
Chow long has this been going ONT,
lie asked in repressed voice.
"Oh-months 1t commenced as soon
as YOU left, take it ! Parsons knows
thing or two, and can recognize a fine
girl when he sees one r.
There was silence between the brothers
for a while. Reg broke it by saying ten,
tatively-
sIf it wasn't going bit out OF the way
Of diplomatist and a big gun, | should
have asked you to move in, the matter
She is too good, she is indeed, John, to
be driven out of the village by mans
selfishness and woman's tongue and Il
YOU knew her as well as do you would
understand how horribly incongruous the
whole business seems Why. Betty Eos
ter told me that she thought that Miss
Earle was tue most striking girl whom she
had set eyes on for ages, and if that great
blundering lout doesn't leave her alone
well, before long, lie paused, look,
ing very much in earnest.
Possibly she means to marry him,
said his brother in curiousiy even voice.
s'Marry him My dear fellow, if you
had talked to Miss Earle, you would re-
aize how preposterous such conjecture
isw
"Preposterous y echoed John mechan-
ically.
Reg waited moment.
"Then YOU don't like the idea y he
said slowly.
"What idea? Tie idea Of Miss Earle
marrying Parsons? Idon't-decidedly. "
'No-the idea of finding out how the
land lies between them. Of probing the
girl and setting matters right. You see,
you are SO dependable - middle aged
almost-and have such quiet way with
women, whereas /" The young man
laughed deprecatingly. "Bess you, |
should stutter and blush and make such
mess of the matter that Miss Earle
would cut me henceforth and forever y
John Moncrieff crossed the room.
Eyes" he said, moment later. 81
will 60 and see her.
The village was very quiet when John
Moncrieff crossed the green on the follow
ing afternoon and made his way to the
ivy-hung school-house. Behind the three
Scotch frs the red sun was dropping
slowly. A few white ducks we're strolIing
solemnly homeWards along the empty
road, and Christian Earle's pupils were
eating their tea by fire and by candle
light in the neighboring cottages.
As John came in sight Of the green
yew-hedge, he stood still for moment
and reviewed his hardihood in attempt
ing the task upon which lie had come.
He who had shown reckless intrepidty
in the din of battle paused before lie
knocked at the door OF the village school
house. Presently lie laughed and after
the laugh he knocked. A tall shadow
behind the twinkling lattice on his right
moved quickly across the ceiling, and
then the door opened and Christian Earle
stood before him.
"YouS' she said unsteadily; and lie
noted the look of relief that flashed into
her shining eyes.
Eyes want to come in for five min
utes, if you don't think it a troublesome
intrusion. | won't break in by the win
dow this time"
A little smile curved her grave mouth.
"Come in" she said, and lie followed
her into the sitting-room.
a bright fire glowed in the CRATE there
were. snowdrops on the table and a few
books scattered about some blue china
and the reprints which Reg had men
toned of one or two famous pictures
hung against the walls.
"It looks more comfortable this after
noon," he said thoughtfuly
eyes," she acquiesced.
She did not sit down, and lie saw that
her fingers as they rested on tue table
were shaking. He turned from tile IN
spection Of her home, and sat down.
"Miss Earle" he said, speaking in his
quiet deliberate voice, II wonder ii YOU
will tell me whether | seem to YOU A
reliable sort Of person-the sort Of person
whom you could come to in a case Of
difficulty and depend upon as one who
would never abuse your confdence?' ~
YES" she answered, looking into the
fire, "if such a case arose.
THANK you," he said. "That mean.
that you trust me. And we don't readily
get angry with people whom we trust, if
they are honest-do we ~
THAT depends on other things She
replied with faint smile.
"Well, want to be honest, and don't
want to offend you. | want to ask Won
a question which is put from no motive
of suriosity, but from the sncerest in.
terest in your welfare. Would it affect
your comfort or happines very much if
you decided to kaye no more to do with
Mr.. Parsons ?"
He saw her catch at chair for support
and looked away into the fire. For
moment there was silence in the little
room but the clock ticked noisily in the
corner. s.
81 don't know" she said at last. II
don't want to make him my enemy he
told me something the other day that
would kill me if it were true. And T.
have 50 many, many things to worry me
that / sometimes Oh, if | had but
r