The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-08
(Continued.l
 CHAPTER III. De Hooge's Spruit.

De HoogeS Sprult. In Italy Joy Ogilvie learned to the
 full, consciously and unconsciously, al the lessons which a younger civilization can learn from an elder. To the sym pathetic there are lessons in every thing; every spot that stranger foo
 has pressed has something to teach Especially to one coming from the rusf of strenuous life, which is the note oi
 America, the old-world calm and lux
 UT of repose have lessons in federation
 which can hardly be otherwise acquir-
 ed. In the great battle of life dc not match ourselves against indi-
 viduals but against nations and epochs;
 and when it is finally borne in on us
 that others, fashioned as we ourselves
 and wieh the same strength and am- bitions and limitations, have lived and
 died and left no individual mark
 through the gathering centuries, we Il can, without sacrifice of personal | pride. Ee content to humbly take his place.
 The month spent at and round | Naples had been never-ending dream | ceEce told of her natural sensuous nature. Already she had accepted the | idea of man worthy of love: and the time went to the strengthening of the | image. There was a subtle SatiSfac- | torness in the received idea; the wealth | of her nature had found a market-of a kind. That is to say: she was satis- | fled to export. and that was the end
 
 | portation might come later. The minds Rialto hath its mer- chandise."
 None of the family ever alluded to | Lord Athlyne in the presence of her father. Each in her own way knew | that he would not like the idea; and so the secret-it had by this very reti- cence grown to be a secret by now was kept
 On the voyage back to New York Joys interest in Lord Athlyne became revived by the surroundings. They had not been able to secure cabins in the Cryptic; and so had come by the Ham burg-American Line from Southamp- ton. By this time Aunt Judy's interest in the matter had begun to wane. To her it had been chiefly a jest, with from the effect which she supposed the episode would have on Joys life. As Joy did not ever allude to the matter she had almost ceased to remember it. It was Joys duty-she thought of it as. her privilege-to make her fathers morning cocktail which he always took before breakfast. One morning it was brought by Judy. Colonel Ogilvie thanking her asked why he had the privilege of her ministration. Unthink- ingly she answered:
 "Oh. it's all right. The Countess made it herself but she asked me to take it to you as she is feeling the rolling of the ship and wants to keep in bed"
 .'Then who?" asked the Colonel his Countess? I did not know we had one on board"
 Lady Athlyne of course. Oh" she had suddenly recollected herself. As she saw she was in for an explanation she faced the situation boldly and went on:
 That is the name you know, that we call Joy"
 ''The name you call Joy-the Coun- tess! Lady Athlyne." In a laughing, offhand way, full of false merr1ment she tried to explain, her brother-in- law listening the while with increas- ing gravity. When she had done he said quietly:
 'Is this one of your jokes. Judy; or did the Countess make two cocktails?' He stopped and then added: Forgive me I should not have said that. But is it a joke. dear?"
 Mot bit," she answered spiritedly. That is. this particular occasion is not joke. It is the whole thing that
 "A joke to take '. Is there Athlyne?"
 "I believe so.'' she said this faintly: she had an idea of what was coming
 'The1 Judith I should like some rational explanation of how you come to couple my daughters name in such a way with that of a strange man. It is mt seemly to say the least of it. | Does my daughter allow this to be done?"
 "Oh Colonel. it is only a joke nn amongst sao ourselves; ,,sh n hope you won't
 ''Too much of it! I couldn't make was here I'd shoot him!''
 But. my God. the man doesn't know | anything about it: no more than you did minute ago." Miss Judith was really alarmed; she knew the Colonel | He waved his hand as though dismiss | ing her from the argument:
 Don't worry yourself. my dear; this | is matter amongst men. We know | how to deal with such thingsr' He l said no more on the subject. but talk l ed during breakfast as usual Whenl he rose to go on deck Judy followed r him timidly. When they were away | from the few already on deck she | touched him on the arm.
 "Give me just a minute?" she en- treated.
 "A score if you like, my dear!" he | answered heartily as he led her to a | seat in sheltered corner behind the saloon Skylight, and sat beside her. | e.'What is it %
 ''Lucius you have always been very good to me. All these years that I have lived in your house your very that wasn't kind .'' He inter rupted her. laying his hand on hers which was on the arm of her deck chair:
 WHY 6lSes uy Oedr JuOy! Ou ana I have always been the best of friends. And my dear you have never brought anything but sunshine and sweetness into the house. Your merriment has kept care away from us whenever he tried to show his nose. Why my dear what is it? There! You mustn't cry!" As he spoke he had taken out a folded silk pocket-hand- and was very tenderly wiping her eyes. Judy went on sobbIng a lit tie at moments:
 "I have always tried to make happi- ness, and I have never troubled you with asking favours. have I?'