The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1889-04-27 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CLIAPTER IX.  " For goodn—eue—eaia-,--R-u-,-- don't look so glum; anyone would think you had all the world's troubles fal well as your own; you will  drive me melancholy." It was the morning following Mand's visit to the Manor, and Sir Rudolph and the Hon. Cecil were walking over to Devereux Hall. Cecil had been rattling away from one topic to another, but had got no response from his companion, save a gloomy monosyllable now and then. .  " Ugh !" was Sir Rudolph's sole response, and he viciously kicked a stone that was lying in his path to a considerable distance, as if to give vent to his feelings. " Oh, so it has got from a monosyllable to a grunt has it ?" said Cecil, " well that is not an improvement, certainly," and, tickled at the sour expression of Rudolph's face, he stood still in the road, burst into a hearty laugh, a performance which did not find favour in Rudolph's eyes. "What the devil have you got to laugh at?" asked that amiable young baronet, "come along and don't make a fool of yourself." " Well l" exclaimed Mr. Yorke, " of all the ill-tenipered, disagreeable bears—if this is being in love, save me from ill" "Who said anything about being in love?" asked Rudolph, fiercely. "Now my dear chap, do you think I am ' blind?" was the response. "Of course you are in love, why any one with half an eye could see that, and I have got two whole ones. It is to belle Mademoiselle, 'eat cc pas? If you want to marry her, why don't you ask the question straight off and not go fooling round and lookintg as though you contemplated suicide ?" "Because she does not care a straw for me, that is why ?" was the gloomy answer. "I was fool enough to think she did once, butiber behaviour to me of late hatt-andeceived me." "And if you won her, what about to mere?" queried Cecil, "would she have no objection, think you ?" Not if she saw I really wished it." "Then have her by all means—la petite belle I mean," said Cecil laughing. Rudolph turned to him with a look of disgust. "Do you think I had better take to the brigand business, and carry her off by force ?" he asked sarcastically." "I cannot marry the girl without her consent can I? she doesn't care a straw for me, I tell you?" "And I say she cares a Great many straws," retorted Cecil, coolly. "What do you mean ?" asked Rudolph, quickly. " I will tell you," answered his friend, "I was standing in the library window last night, when we returned from the picnic, when who should come into the room but to petite. She reached a book from the shelves, and as she was turning away, caught eight of the photo you gave her ladyship. Mademoiselle picked it up from the table and pressed it to her lips, and then with a vivid blush, as though ashamed of what she had done, turned and fled precipitately. It was all done in a minute, before I had time to show myself, but I am glad I did not move." Rudolph grasped his friend's hand in silence, for he could not speak. But the flush on his cheek, and the sparkle in his eyes, showed how glad the words had made him. _ .  werewent on Cecil " I should I go straight down to the fish pool when we I reach the drive, most likely you will find her there, for 1 believe she generally goes sketching or reading when school hours are over." Rudolph took his friend's advice, and was ' successful in his quest, for as he neared the fish pool he caught sight of a slender, whiterobed figure seatetl reading on the bank. ! Mademoiselle," he said in an innocent, friendly tone. as though there had never been any difference, between them. "is that you? how comfortable you look in the shade there; may I come too?" "As you please, monsieur" she nervously said plucking a handful of grass, and throwing it away. 'This is my idea of happiness" remarked the young fellow, as he threw himself on the grass by her side. "Then you may be happy all the summer time," she naively remarked, "if reclining under a beech tree will make you so." "Ah !" that is only part of the idea, Mademoiselle, the other and best part you have not mentioned." " And be talked to ?" queried she pertly, "for I presume you would be too lazy to exert yourself ?" "Listen to my answer— " Her words such a pleasure convey, So much I her accents adore, Let her speak, and whatever she say Methinks I should love her the more." Ho was standing now, and going closer to her, he possessed himself of two trembling little hands, and bending his head murmured, "If that were possible, my darling," she stood leaning against the tree and turned her crimson face away from his passionate glance. " Maud, my darling, you must, you shall know how 1 love you. Surely you have felt the influence of a love so great as mine. Do not turn your head away from me, my love, look at me with those sweet blue eyes, and say "1 love you, Rudolph," will you Maud?" She was trembling in every limb now, and • all the colour left her face for she was wondering if he meant those loving words, or—or was he only amusing himself. Then at the thought of his letter to Agatha, she snatched 7 her hand from his grasp, and turned and confronted him with flashing eyes. " No !" she cried angrily, " I will not say it, how dare you speak such words to me, to insult me in such a manner? You, the lover of another woman, dare to make love to me; , do you think, because I am in a dependent position, I am a target for the insults that any may wish to aim at me? A toy, for you to amuse yourself with. No, sir! I hold my honour too high for that. No doubt you think it good sport, with which to pass your time, I but for your victim l—oh I it is too humilt iating !" The passionate words died on her lips, and with a great sob she leaned against the tree, pale and exhausted. During this speech, Sir Rudolph had stood r aghast, speechless in sheer astonishment. At tir,t he thought she was joking, but her words