The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1909-05-03
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Pursuit,

he
Colonel OgilVie found his wife in ex-
cellent health and spirits. The cure
had been effective, and the prospect OF
meeting Joy so filled her with delight
that her youth seemed to be renewed.
He could see, when the morning light
was admitted to their bedroom, that
her eyes were bright and her cheeks
rosy; and all her movements were
alert and Springy. Judy too, when
they went to breakfast looked Well
and was in good spirits; but there was
something about her which he could
not understand. 1t was not that she
was quick of intellect and speech, for
such had always been her habit; it
was not that She was exuberantly fond
of Joy-she had never been anything
else. But there seemed now to be
some sort of elusive background to all
her thoughts. He began to wonder in
a vague way If it were possible that
she had fallen in love. She asked,
after her usual manner, a host of ques-
tiOns about Joy and about the visit to
the Lakes: where they had been and
who they had seen: and of all the in
terests and happenings during the time
of separation. Colonel Ogilvie felt
little wearied of it all. He had al
ready covered the ground with the
girls mother. for arriving in the grey
of the dawn, he had gone straight to
his wifes room where he had rested
till breakfast time. There he had told
her all that he could remember. With,
had not as yet in his life failed him
with women he went all over the
ground again with Judy. He could not
but be struck with Judy's questioning
on one subject: whether they had met
at Ambleside any special acquaint-
ance. He concluded that she meant
Mr.. Hardy, and asked her if such were
the case. She blushed so brightly when
she admitted it that he conceived the
idea that the peccant Englishman was
the object Of her affection. Then, as
she dropped that subject of question
ing, he, in order to draw her on. went
on:
But my dear Judy it was not pos
sible that we could have seen him. He
has NOT seemed particularly anxious TO
meet us: and even if he was anxious
he could not have done it as he did
not know where we were.''
''Oh. yes he did" The Colonel was
surprised; the tone answered quickly:
He old! How on earth do you
know that?" Judy in her emotional in
terest answered without thinking.
Because L told him soi''
"Oh. you saw him them" Again she
answered without thought:
mo, but / wrote to him..
How do you know that he got your
letter."
Because he answered itr' She
would have given all she possessed to
more discreetly when she saw her
brother-in-law's face wrinkle into a
hard smile, and noted the cruel keen
ness OF mis- eyes and the cynical smile
on his mouth. She answered sharply;
and, as is usual. began the instant
after. TO pay the penalty for such
sharpness. His voice seemed to rasp
her very soul he said:
81 am glad to hear that the gentle
man has consideration for some one
even a lady-who writes to him. But
to my mind such but emphasizes his
rudeness-if for the moment may call
it so-of his conduct to others. AS for
myself when 1 meet the gentleman
should I ever have the good fortune |
to do SOL shall require him to answer |
for his insult-amongst othersi"
'Insult?" murmured Judy in a panic !
of apprehension.
yes. my dear Judith. There is no
stronger word: had there been 1 should |
have used it. When the same man |
who does not answer my letters. or
write even to accept or decline my |
proffered hospitality carries on at the |
same time a clandestine correspond