The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-08
Observation-Disclosures 4

ness in helping me and for your pretty
talk Joy. I have brought your dress
ing bag and a fresh rig out. You
must need them. poor dear. Now you
must tell me all your adventures.
told them to bring the things present
~ 10 your room. I shall then come
Now. Mr.. Sheriff. we must leave you
for little: but 1 suppose that as you
nave to talk business-you told me
they had sent for you-you will doubt
less prefer to be without us?"
Your pardon" said the Sheriff
gracefully. Il hope the time will never
come when L shall prefer to be with
out such charming company This
was said with such a meanin~ look,
and in such a meaning tone. that Judy
coloured Joy. unseen by the others,
smiled at her, rejoicing. The Sheriff,
thinking they were moving off, turned
to the Colonel saying:
NOW. Colonel Ogilvie. I am at your
disposal; likewise such knowledge of
law and custom as I possess He
purposely addressed himself to Colonel
Ogilvie, evidently bearing in mind
Athlyne's look of warning to silence
regarding himself.
Whilst he had been speaking, Joy
stood still, holding Judy by the hand
and keeping her close to her. Judy
whispered, holding her mouth close to
her. ear and trying to avoid the obser-
walton of others:
Come away dear whilst they are
Joy whispered in return:
NO, must not go. I must stay
mere, am wanted. Do not say any
thing, dear-not a word; but stay by
and remained silent. Colonel Ogilvie,
with manifest uneasiness and after
clearing his throat. said to the Sheriff:
AS YOU have been so good sir, as
to tell me some matters of law; and as
you have very kindly offered us other
services. may L trespass on your kind
ness in enlightening me as to some
matters of fact The Sheriff bowed; he
continued:
Il must crave your Indulgence, for
am in some very deep distress. and
possibly not altogether master of my
self. But need some advice, or at
any rate enlightenment as to some
matters of law. And as I am far from
nome and know no one here who is of
legal authority-except yourself" this
with a bow. Il shall be deeply CRATE
full if L may accept your kindness and
speak to you as a friend"
Again the Sheriff bowed, his face
beaming. Colonel Ogflvie. with a
swift. meaning glance at each of the
others in turn, went on:
L must ask you all to keep silent. I
am speaking with this gentleman for
my own enlightenment. and require no
comments from any of you. Indeed,
forbid Interruption" Unpromising as
this warning sounded. both Joy and
Ath1yne tooka a certain comfort from
it. The point they both attached i'm
portance to was that Athlvne was
simply classed with the rest without
differentiation. The Sheriff, who fear
ed lest the fathers domineering tone
might provoke hostilities. spoke quick
ly:
.tNow. Colonel Ogi1vie, I am at your
disposal for whatever you may wish
to ask me-
'I suppose. Mr.. Sheriff. I need not
say. that I trust you will observe
honourable silence regarding this
whole painful affair; as 1 expect that
a threatening smile. When the Sheriff
bowed acceptance of the condition he
went on:
''Since you spoke to us here a little
while ago a strange enlightenment has
come to me. Indeed a matter so
strange and SO little in accord with
the experiences of my own life that
l am in Quandary. I should really
ike to know exactly how I-how we
all stand at present. From what you
have said about the Scottish marriage
laws I take it that you have an ink
ling of what has gone on. And So as
perhaps mind if I conf1de further in
you?"
ST shall be deeply honoured, Colonel
Ogilvie.''
THANK you again. sir. You are a
true friend to a man in deep distress
and in much doubt We are,
as you perhaps know. Americans My
daughters life was saved by gentle
man in New York. I think it right to
say that it was on his part a very
gallant act, and that we were deeply
grateful to him. He came to my
house-at my own invitation; and my
wife and her sister. Miss Judith
Hayes''-the Sheriff turned to Judy
and bowed as at an introduction; she
curtsied in reply-.were very pleased
with him. But we never saw him
again. He returned very soon after
wards to England: and though we were
coming 10 London he never came near
us. Indeed his neglect was marked;
for though I invited him to call, he
ignored u.s. AS he said this he looked
straight at Athlyne with hard eyes
ct have reason to know that my
daughter was much interested in him.
Ordinarily speaking I should not men
ton a matter of this kind. But I
have received from hint has only
been made known to me in the inter-
val since our meeting-an assurance of
his affection and proffer. of marriage
I feel that 1 may speaw." He turned
away and began walking up and down
the room as though trying to collect
his thoughts.
AS Joy heard him speak of her own
interest in the man and of his proposal
of marriage she blushed deeply letting
her eyes fall. But when. by some of
the divine instinct of love. she knew
that ne was looking ardently at her
she raised them. swimming, to his
And so once more they looked into
each others souls. Judy felt the
trembling of the girls hand and held
it harder with a sympathetic clasp
palm TO palm and with fingers inter
laced. She felt that she understood;
thetically suffused. The Sheriff had
now no eyes except for Judy Whilst
the Colonel had been speaking he had
looked at him of course-he knew we'll
"a a n nj
he did not. But the walking up and
d0wn gave him opportunity for his
wishes. Judy could not but recognize
the ar,lour of his glance, and she too
bIushed exceedingly. Somehow. she
was glad of it; she knew that blushing
BECAME her. and she felt that she
would like to look her best in the eyes
of this fine, kindly old man.
When Colonel Ogilvie began to speak
again there was a change in him. He
seemed more thoughtful. more cau-