The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-23

spoken. Nevertheless she had prom ised never to marry another man. But it did not matter. She would never want to marry; the thought of such thing was repugnant She wished she could cry, but her eyes were dry; she wished she had some feel ing of tenderness in her heart; but she had none. She was cold and calm; indeed, she seemed to be past feeling. If she felt anything at all, it was anger. Even yet she was an- gry that her picture had been exhib- ited at the political meeting at Tavi- ton, and that she should be spoken about by a man who a few minutes afterwards fell on the platform in drunken helplessness. Why was it. Surely Leicester's death should have destroyed any such feelings. He had atoned now for all he had done. A minute later a knock came to the door, and she heard her fathers voice.
 "Olive, may come in?"
 "Yes, father; what; is it?"
 John Castlemaine came in, and she saw the moment he entered that he had something of importance to tell her.
 When would you like togo back to England, Oliver" he said.
 T don't know" she said. Some how her interest in returning home had evaporated since the news of Leicester's death.
 T don't mean to The Beeches, Olive"
 Where, then?"
 He sat down beside her, and took a letter from his pocket.
 "As you know, Olive, I have little by little taken less active part in business"
 "Yes," she said.
 And I'm tired of London. The eternal fogs and grey skies of the winter oppress me. For years I've longed to live in the country. Even at The Beeches we are more and more invaded by the London fogs. Resides, there is no necessity for me to live near London any longer. T have quite as much money as l need, and, added to this, I have been able to trust more and more in the heads of the various departments of my business. An occasional visit will be quite enough for me-"
 well, father?''
 Well, some little time ago a fine old estate in Devonshire fell into the market"
 "In Devonshire?"
 "fes, about thirty miles from Tavi- ton. I did not speak to you about it, because I wished to surprise you. I instructed a man to make an offer for it; but owing to some hitch, the affair was not settled, and I was in- formed that it had passed into other hands. I was awfully disappointed because-because-w Olive, | wanted to give it to you for a we'd ding present, and then invite myself as your perpetual guest"
 Olive did not speak.
 When matters turned out as they did, I was almost glad that I had not bought it; but among the letters which MT. Sackville brought down to us little while ago was this.'
 He handed her letter as he spoke. As she read, a look of interest came into her eyes, which her father noted with pleasure.
 Tt is beautiful place." went on John Castlemaine, "and situated in the ,loveliest part of Devonshire. The house stands high, and the climate, so am told, is the finest in England. The neighborhood has been frequent- ly recommended by the doctors for its healthfulness"
 In spite of herself she was inter ested.
 You have visited it, you have, father?" she said.
 Yes. I spent two days there some time ago. In its way, the estate is unique. It is very large, and most of the land is very fertile; but there Is a large tract of moorland, where there is some very fine shooting. The late owner neglected it terribly. There IS large village wich is very suualid. and wretched. You see, neither the squire nor the parson cared for it. The former refused to spend a penny on the estate, while the latter-weI, he belongs to that class which is happily growing less and less in the English Church-that class which cares far more about fox-hunting than his parish work As a conse- quence the people have become drunken, thriftless, goddess"
 "But thought the Free Churches were strong in Devonshire. Is there no village chapel?"
 John Castlemaine shook his head
 ''The late squire owned the parisb and would not allow chapel to be built. If any of the people were to go a dissenting chapel-welI. I need not go on. I only mention the fact to show you that there is need for the influence of such a girl as you.