Middletown transcript., 1905-04-22

confidential friend and adviser since boy
hood, says no one could hold candle Ia
him in the old days. Now he is pitiable
obiect-a cocoon in batIl-chair -
Christian Earle's lips tightenea. Par.
sons went on
"But he kept himself TO himself, they
say-never married, and left no family.
Tie money-and there are pots Of it
goes to-a distant cousin"
$50 he never married? What a lnnel,
old man he must have been T.
''Some say that he was afraid Of being
taken for his money, others that no
woman would have him because Of his
temper"
"How sad to live alone in such heau-
tifnl place 1t is beautiful place, isn't
it?"
t'Oh, fine enough in its way The
pictures are some OF them worth their
weight in gold.
"How wonderful II
"We can't see them to o-day, because the
old man is wheeled up and down the
picture gallery for two blessed hours on
Sunday. but I'll bring YOU here some
morning if you like. 1t is sort Of edu-
cation to ,oung lady, you know, to see
these kind OF things; and | suppose that
Pm lucky chap to have had the run
of the place since 1 was in petticoats-
twenty-five years that means at the very
least"
Twenty-Five years u repeated Chris
tian in her soft childlike voice; but she
was wondering whether the man had
ever heard of story that was by no
means forgotten twenty-five years ago.
''It is long time. l expect you
weren't born.''
81 am twenty years old" she said with
twinge Of conscience, for her twenty
fourth birthday had just passed. But
she would not give any links in chain.
They spent an hour wandering in the
Italian garden, and then they made a
detour of the house, and came up to the
terrace.
"Peep into the first room to our left !;
it's the finest library in the county," said
Christians escort and Christian was
preparing to do SO, when some one came
out Of the garden door at their side.
"Hello, Fred r said high nasal voice.
1t was Fred's father-the bailiff. His
eye fell upon the girl at the library
window.
Heavens, Fred" he muttered, "who
have you got there p
"Hush Haven't you seen her be-
fore ?" Fred returned in an aside. 1T is
the village schoolmistress
"Oh-ah n said his father, as he passed
on. "She's a bit like some one l once.
knew, and she gave me START
Shortly afterwards, Christian held out
her hand.
II think that | will say goodbye here"
she said. "People are SO old-fashioned
in the village they will be coming from
church, and if they met me with, you
they might think"
'iThey might think, ell? p He turned
his black eyes meaningly upon her, and
added in lower tone, "And if they did
think"
Christians answer-an answer which
she would have given worlds to check
was blush. As she hurried across the
park, bitter tears were running down her
cheeks.
Parsons stood and gazed after her.
BY gad, she is pretty girl, and as
soft-spoken as she is fair! It's pity
that there are no dibs in the case; but
with the old boy hand in glove with the
Squire, and things looking up in the
auctioneering business, Frederick For
sythe Parsons ought to be able to choose
a wife without any base considerations.
He ought-but lie won't y
He went home to his tea at Hyacinth
Cottage, and tried to forget his companion
OF the afternoon. In order to do SO
effectually, he took up the paper to read
the sporting news again, when the door
opened and bis father came in.
Frederick's ruddy face deepened in
hue /; he was afraid that the bailiff's can
tankerous temper had been aroused at
his occupation Of the afternoon. A vii
lage schoolmistress was pegs below the
social standing Of Fred f. Parsons, yaluer
and auctioneer, and son and heir to
shrewd grasping father, and no doubt the
old man had come to tell him SO. He
forced smile upon his lips.
"Not at kirk, ell y he asked.
No. said his father, dropping into
,hair-"no."
lie seemed to be distracted and per-
turbed. lie put his pipe between his
lips and then took it out again Fred
resumed the reading Of his paper.
How long has that young person at
the schoolhouse been here, Fred? the
balllff asked at length. 1T seems to me
she must be calculating sort Of individ-
ual II she has chosen her game and run
him to earth already"
Fred flung aside his paper and laughed
immoderately.
My dear dad, that is a joke! Run
him to earth, indeed 1t takes more
than an innocent-spoken young woman
to run me to earth r
innocent? Rubbish ~
The SON flushed, and opened lis mouth
as though to speak, but evidently thought
better Of it, for he picked up the paper
eifee fffore III silence.
"Well, do as you please. What with
the looks you get from your mother and
the grit you get from your father, you
might look higher than nobody who
teaches dirty brats for her living"
Il might, and | dare say sllall,' Fred
remarked loftily. THAT doesn't prevent
me doing the gallant to young woman
with pretty soft ways and uncommon
eyes, does it ?''