The Glenwood post., 1909-06-05

bad humors-and, little as 1t may be
believed, l, Richard Glyn, lieutenant
in his majesty's sea service, with
$4,000 to my name, would have gone
to the gibbet rather than marry Lady
Arabella. with her 100000.
Perhaps Daphne Carmichael had
something to do with it. She was the
same gentle, winning creature at 10
as at II. She was still Sir Peters pet
and Lady Hawkshaw's comfort; but
had not been in the house a week be-
fore the change l alluded to came
about and the change was in me con-
cerning Daphne. l began to find it
very hard to keep away from her. She
treated me with great kindness before
others, but when we were alone to-
gether. she was capricious. began to
despair of ever finding a woman who
could be kind to a man three times
running. And | was very much sur
prised at the end of a fortnight to find
myself experiencing the identical
symptoms | had felt five years before
with Arabella-only much aggravated.
There was this difference, too. | had
admired Arabella as a star. afar off,
and think | should have been very
much frightened. if, at the time, she
had chosen formally to accept my de-
votion. Not so with Daphne. l felt
| should never be really at ease until,
l had the prospect of having her by
my side the rest of my life. | reached
this phase at the end of the third
week. At the end of the fourth was
in desperate case, but it was then
time to go to Portsmouth to meet
Giles, according to my promise, and
l felt, when l parted from Daphne, as
cruise, and was only to be gone
day and half. She, dear girl, showed
some feeling, too. and | left, bearing
with me the pack which every lover
carries-pains and hopes.
| left London at night, and next
morning on reaching Portsmouth, as
jumped from the coach, l ran into
Giles arms; he had reached Ports
mouth some hours in advance of the
time.
He showed marks of his imprison-
ment in his appearance. but his soul
had ever been free, and he was the
same brave and joyous spirit l had
ever known. Not being minded to
waste our time in Portsmouth, we took
coach for London town at noon. AS
We were mounting. a countryman
standing by held up a wooden cage
full of larks, and asked us to buy, ex-
patiating on their beautiful song.
Il will take them all, my lad" cried
Giles, throwing him guinea. The
fellow gaped for moment, and then
made off as fast as his legs could car
ry him. l wondered what Giles meant
to do with the birds. He held the
cage in his hand until we had started
and were well into the country; then
opening the little slide, he took out
one poor, huttering bird, and, poising
on his finger for a moment, the lark
flew upward with a rush of joyous
wings.
Each bird he liberated in the same
way, all of us on the coach-top watch
ing him in silence. AS the last cap
tive disappeared in the blue heavens,
Giles, crushing the cage in his strong
hands, threw it away.
4 have been a prisoner for IA
months" he said, land l shall never
see any harmless living thing again
imprisoned without trying to set it
free"
We reached London that night, and
Giles went to his old lodgings, where
his landlady was delighted to see him,
as all women were who knew Giles
Vernon She gave us supper, and
then we sat up all night talking. 1
had thought from the guinea he had
thrown the vender of larks that he
had money, ! found he had none, or
next to none.
CTo BE coNTINUED)