Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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o WEDNESDAY. PEB?UAHY 6. AA? A * TT?? AH 1 ^T?pr<T3 IJ f< y?m$m ?pH !tn h Jill Bj .H ESDSS pl?s?jaD. < icpjrrixuKD.i . - V?3 . ? -CHAPTES XViiX .-JV*....... 'VS PAWN. Tr^^t bVst .Ida spoke, apparently with a great 'effort. - ? - - - . - **?t is stifling in hore," she said; "Ictus go C "^j?cnV* and she rose, took up a shawl that lay -~\ * beside her On a chair, and stepped through "r-r- w-?d&<^ French lindow into the garden. It was a lovely autu.nn night, and tba air was as ....... . .stU? as death, with Jost a touch of frost in it. cV*";: . ' . .". Ida threw the shaw? over ber shoulders, ^v'*' """ aad Allowed by Harold walked on through ^ -~ the? garden, till she came to i ha edge of lbs v'^raoat, where tnere was a seat. Here she sat :. -4owh and" fixed, her eyes apOn the hoary bat s . .tleaients o? tho gateway, now ciad i.i a " solemn robo of moonlight. Harold looked at ber and felt tbat if he ? f? * .* ' ; had any thing to say the time had come for : him to say it, aud that she'had brought htm : there hVorder that she might be able to listen ; oadistarbed. So he began again, and told j ?cS^v? ^er thai ho loved'her dearly. "I am some: - ' " * seventeen years older than;you," he went on, ? "a?d*I suppose that tba most active part of tay life lies in the past; aud I don't know if, T putting other things aside, you would cars to marry so old a mao, especially as I am not rich. Indeed, 1 feel it presumptuous on my ; part, seeing what you are and what 1 am. to ask you to do so. And yet, Ida, 1 believe if you couid*care for me that, with God s bless- j iag, wo should be very happy together. I have led a lonely life, and have had little to . do with women-once, many years ago, 1 was engaged, and the matter ended pai nf ully, and that is alL But ever since I first saw your j v- ?3 face in the drift -fi ve years and more ago, it j has haunted me and been with me, and then i 1 came to live here and I have learned to love ; you, heaven, only knows how mucb, andi j ? should be ashamed to try to put it into words, : for they would sound foolish. All my life is wrapped up in you, and I feel cs though, ? should you see aa? no mere, I should never bo a happy mau again," and he paused and looked anxiously at ber face, which was set ' ./v; and draw? as though with pain. j .*i cannot say 'yes,' CoL Quaritch," sho 1 answered, at length, in a tone that puzzled j him, it was so tender and so unfitted to the j words. -. ": " " *;I s^Eppcse," he stammered, "I suppose that j j. you do not care for me? Of course, 1 havo ? v .-* no right to expect that you would." . . t'As 1 have said that I cannot say 'yes,' | Col Quaritch, do you not think tbat I had ! better leave that question unanswered F* she replied, in the same soft notes which seemed to draw the heart out of him. ? . wIoV>nctmiderstand,,,hewenton. "WhyP **J.Ybyr she broke in, with a bitter little laugh, 4tshall I tell you why? Because 1 ara j ia pawti. Look," she went on, pointing to | _ j? ?r the stately ' towers and the broad lauds be- i ' '"" ' "youd, **you see this place, I am security for it, 1 myself in my own person. Had it not been for rae it would have been sold over our beads after having descended in our family for ail these centuries, put upon the market' and sold for what it would fetch, and my old ! father would have been turned cut to die, j for it would have killed him. So you see 1 j ? . did what unfortunate women have often been j * driven to do, I sold myself body and soul; i and 1 got a good price too-thirty thousand j pounds!** and suddenly she burst into a flood! * * of tears and began to sob as though her heart ' .a, - . _ ?9*3$$ break. Fora moment Harold Quaritch looked on j bewildered, not in the least understanding . . what Ida meant, and then he followed the j ~ ~ J inpulse common to mankind in similar cir- j i i'* ^mstance? and took her in his arma She! did not resent the movement, indeed, she ? scarcely seemed to notice it, though, to tell j the truth, for a moment or two, which to the j - <-o:onel seemed the happiest of bis life, her j head rested on his shoulder Almost instantly, however, she raised it, j freed herself from his embrace and ceased * * '. weeping.- j . "A* 1 have told jrou so much."* she said, *4I ? ' * " Suppose that 1 Lad better ted you everything, j 1 know tbat whatever the temptation." sud | she laid great stress upon the words, "ui.der : any conceivable circumstance?!-indeedVeven if yon believed that you were serving me in j ^> doing-1 can rely upon yon nerer to re- j veal to any bod v. ami above a!3 ts my father, I what 1 now tell you," and she paused and j looked up at bim with eyes in which tho '? tears sci:! swam. 4 Of course yon can rely upon me,-" be said. "Very we>r"Tam sure that 1 shall never ! have to reproach you wirb the words. 1 will ! tell you. ? l ave virtually promised to marry Mr. Edward Cassey, should he at any time i * be tn a portion to claim fulfillment of tbo ! promise, c'a condition of bis taking up the | mortgage ?>. i Monham, which be has done." " Harold Qnaritcb took a step back and ! looked at ber En horrified astonishment. . VWhatf* he asked. * * - -"**Y?s. yes," she answered, hastily, putting : up ber har.d as taough to shield herself from a blow. "1 know what you mean; but do ? not think too hardly of me if you can help ; it. lt v as not for myself 1 would rather; r. ... work for my iiving with my hands than taho : a pri?7. f'.<r there is no other word for it. lt | was .*or my father, and my family too. 1 ; coo/i not bear to think of the old place going \ to tue hammer, and I dbl it all in a minute, ; without consideration ; but," and she set ber j fae. 'even as things are, I believe 1 should j dc*Tt again, because 1 think that no woman j * ha? a right to destroy h*-r family in oruer to i please herself. If one of the two must go let : it fc* ibo woman. But don't think hardly of ? rxy> for it," ?he added, almost pleadingly, i _,. .. *:hat is if you caa help it," ~'r' - '?^-'"1 nm hot thinking of you," he answered ; . grimly; "By Heaven, I bono:-you for what ; &g y'->u have done, for however much I may dis ozree with the act it is a noblo one. 1 am Y Thinking of the man who could drive such a f bargain with any woman. Von say that you i fr have promised to marry bim should be ever ; - r>e in a position to claim it. What do you ? jnc-un by that? As you have told me so much j ron may as we?i tell mo the rest" He spo:.? clearly and with a voice of au- ? tiority. but his bearing did not seem to jar upon Ida. "i mea:.:." she answered, humbly, ''that I j believe-of course I do not know :f ? am i xisjht- i ix-?c-ve that Mr. Cesser is in some ! way entangled with a lady, ia short with ; 2?irs. Quest, and that tho question of whetner ; or cot be. comes forward again depends upon [ her." "Upon my word." said the coloue?, "upon my word the thing R^IS woi-se aiul worse. I j never beard anything like it; end for money, too. The thing is beyond tue."' "At any rate," she answers? 1, "there it is. : And now, Coi. Quaritch, on? word before I ; goi?\ It fa?difficult for meto speak without ? fiayir.g too much or too little, but i do want you io understand how honored .ind how : ' grateful I feel for what you have toid mo to- f night-] am so little worthy of all you have given me-and to l>e honest, 1 cannot feel es pained about it as I ought feet It is j feniinnie vanity, you fcuow, nothing else. I ? am sure mal you will not press me to sav moro." " ! ".^*'?.', bo answered, "no. I think that I : understsud the position. But, Ido. there i*? <. le thiug t?at 1 must ask-you will forgive if 1 am wrong ui doing so, but all n?t>. is "v ry sa i f<>r me. If in the end circumstances B: oo?d?alter, as 1 pray heaven that they may, J: it Mr. Cossey's previous entanglements . should provo too much for bim, will you : E rry nw, Idaf ? -he thought fora moment,and then rising f. ? :i ti .. sea*, gave bim l!nr hand, and said simply: j -Ves, I wd! marry you." . . medo *ni answer, but lifting-her hand, ! r. : hed'it gently with his Hps. 'Meanwh!1'-." hh? ?e:?t on, *'l bsve your ai?e, arri ! HT? euro tbot yon will ti'>t ; b> ty \\ come ^\hat may.'* *- . .N >," fcet?i'd, "I will M-.-? betray it." ?c A ;d they ? : ' tn. . :. tho draw i: .; -.?a? :- ? J UT? tho squire j r. :; ?pg over ? ?heet of paper, on which . v.v : . ?crac lcd ro:ne of l?eorge*s accountain I - ?. rrh'-'i :.' i?rst s-^ht b^?r? nautas j . :. .". rewmbfJiBce Jo Egyptian hierogly- ! ?r:. - -is tte? did * . th ve ra use ro-day. .?loo:"* t.- said, "there you ate. Where j h bare yen been/' ? ' .* Lave i*>>k?Og at the castle in the J pothnight," ausw^red (da, coolly "it is j beaut; ch" j "^m-ah," said thc squire, drylj. '"I have ? ao d?iabt U:at \t L beantifel, ' but isn't the j ??rv.?s rather dap;, We?, look here," acd h? held up the shoot of hieroglyphics; "per? haps you can add ibis up, ida, for it is moro than i can. George has -bought, ?lock and ali sorts of tbiu&sat t&esalo; today, and boro is his account ; tht>^" jihjr?r?u se ve; . two, p i- L? ?i:alki"?k-bv-'i ? ? ? ? Iv md.. ' .". ; ?"'.-.ty. u?d" : 1 caa rino dut v. :;:<.;'.; Ls richi.-- i&is important that neccaiuts skouk-? bo kept straight. Mest important, und i cannot get this stupid ieiiow to do it.*' Ida took tho sheet of paper and added it up, with the result that she discovered both totals to be wrong. Harold, watching her?, could cot help wondering at the nerve of tho woman who, after gci:?gr''"tbrough such .a seene as that which bad just occurred, could deliberately add up long rows of badly written figures. And this money which her father was ex? pending so cheerfully was part cf t the price for which she bad bound herself. With a sigh bo rose and said- good night, and wen!; homo with feelings almost too mired to admit of accurate description.- ile had taken a great step in bis life, and to a certain extent that step bad succeeded, l?o had not altogether buiit bis hopes upon sand, for from what ida had said, and dill move from what she had tacitly admitted, it was necessarily clear to bini that she did more or less regard him as a man would wish to be regarded by a woman whom he dearly loved. This was a great deal, mere, indeed, than be had dared to believe, but thea, as is usually the case in this imperfect world, where things but too often seem to bo carefully arranged at sires ami sevens, came the other side of tho shield. Of what use to bim was it to have won this sweet woman's love, of what uso to have put this pure water of lawful hap- I pinoss to his lips in the desert land of bis ; lonely life, in order to seo the cup that held i it shattered at a blow* To him the story of the money loan-in consideration of which, as it were, bia had put herself in pawn, as j the Egyptians used to put the mummies of ? their fathers in pawn-was almost incredi- j ble. Tb a person of bis simple and honor- ] able nature it seemed a preposterous and un- j heard of thing that any mau caiiiug himself . c gentleman saould Hat :t possible to sink so j low as to take such advantage of a woman's j dir:' necessity and honorable desire to savo j ber father from misery and her race from rain, ami to extract from her a promise of marriage tn consideration of value received, i Putting aside bis Overwhelming personal in- j tcrest in the matter, it made bis blood boil to j think that snob a thing could be. And yet it ? was. ami, what was more, he believed he j knew Ida well enough to bo convinced that j she would not shirk tue bargain. If Edward i Cossey came forward to claim his bond it j would be paid down to the last farthing, it ; was a question of ?'?,000; the happiness of his life and of Ida's depended . >n a sum of i moue}". If tho money were forthcoming j Cossey could not claim bis flesh and blood, j Dut where was it to come from? flo himself j was worth perhaps ?1U,C00, or with the com- j mutation value cf his pension, possibly ! twelve, and he had not the means of raising i a farthing moro. Ile thought the position j over till ho was tired of thinking, and then ! with a heavy heart and yet with a strange ! glow of happiness shining through bis grief, tike sunlight through a gray sky, at last he j went to sleep and dreamed that Ida had gone ! from lum, and that he was once more utterly ! alone in the world. CHAPTER XIX. "coci>-2Y TO rot*, EDWARD.'' . It was on the day following the cue upon ? which Harold proj>oscd to Ida that Edward : Cossey returned to Eoisingham. His father J had so far recovered from his attack as to be : at last prevailed upo:: to allow his departure, i being chiefly moved taereto by the suppesi- I tion that Cossey & Son's branca establish- j meats were suffering: from his sou's absence, j **Weiy he said, in his high, piercing voice, ? "business is business, and must be attended ; to, so i>erhaps you had better go. They talk ; about the Sooting character of things, but j there is one thing that uever changes, and j tint is money. Slouey is immortal; men j may come and men may go, but money'goes j oh forever. lice! bee* money is the honey \ pot, and men are the flics; and some get 1 their CH and some stick their wings, but the ! honey is ai ways there, so never mind the j flies. No, never mind me either; you go and ; look after the honey, Edward. Money- j honey; honey-money, they rhyme, don't j they? And look here; by the way, it you got j a chance-and the world is full of chances to j men who have plenty of mono}"-min.! yea j don't forget to pay out that half pay colonel -what's his name/-Quaritch. Ho played our family a dirty trick, and there's your : poor aunt Juiia in a lunatic asylum to this , moment, and a constant source of expense ; to us.*' And so Edward bade his estimable parent < farewell, and departed. Kor ia truth did ho require any admonition from Mr. Cossey, senior, to make him carious to do Cel. Qaar itch an ill turn if thc opportunity (should i serve. Mrs. Quest, in her numerous affection- ! ate letters, bad more than once, possibly for ; reasons of ber own, given him a full and vivid resume of thc local gossip about the j colonel and bia,who were, shy said, according ? to common report^pngaged to be married. : Now, absence had nut by any means cooled i Edward's devotion to Miss do la Molle, which | wa* a sincero one enough in its own way. Ua j the contrary, tho longer he was away from ! her the more his passion grew, and with it a vigorous undergrowth of jealousy. Ile had, it is true, Idas implied promise that she ! would marry him, if he choose to ask her; j but on this he put rn? great reliance. lienco j his hurry to return to Doisinghum. Leaving London byan afternoon train, he j reached Uoisiagbam about half past (>, and ; in pursuance of an "arrangement already j made, wont to dine with the Quests. When j he reached the house he found Delle alone ia j the drawing room, for her husband, having . como in late, was still dressing; but sonic- j what to his relief bc bad no opportunity cf private conversation with her. for a servant ; was ia tho room, attending to the ure, which would not burn. The dinner passed off '? quietly enough, though there was an ominous ? look about the indy's face which he, being familiar with these signs of the feminine : weather? did not altogether like. After dm- 1 uer, however, Mr. Quest excused himself, saying that he b:tU promised to attend a local j concert Li aid-of the funds for the rcs?ora- ; lion of the damaged pinnacle of the parish church? cud-he wa* left aloue with the lady. Then it was that ali her pent up pas ion broke out. - ?She overwhelmed bim with her affection, she told him that her life had been a blank win lo bo was away, she reproached him with tho scarcity and coldness of his letters, cad generally went on in a way v. iib which be was but too well accustomed, cud if tho truth must bc.toidi hear: ny tired, ills ti:-.x?l was aa irrttablo one, and to night t;: whole thing wearied him beyond . a:Lng. "Come, Belle," ho said, ai hist, '*f?;r ??jud ness sako be a little m^ro ratio::al. Y?-:i are getting too old for thio sort of tomfoolery, }ou know." She sprung up and facet! hnn.h r eyes flashing and r brea.- t heaving with jealous anger. "What <i-> you i.ic-anr' &he s." i. "Aro you tired of mei*1 -i did not say that," he answered, -bu* ?.. yon havestaited subj -ct, 1 must lei! y><: that I think all thi.> bas gone far enough. Unless it is stopped, I believe wo .-.hali botli bc ruined, i am sure thal your husband is becoming suspicions,and ;.s I have told _\<-;i again and again, if once tho business gets to ruy fathers ears, he wi? disinherit inc." Deilostood quite still ti ii he had iiaisked. the had assume-1 her favorite attitude, and crossed her arms behind her ba'-k. and Lr sweet-, childish face Was calmand v ry white. "What is the good < f making . - -UM S and tolling nie what i; not tra . Edward?*'she said. "One ne\cr bea rs a man vd. > 1 >ves a woman talk like that; prudence c mr s with weariness, and rae:i grow virtuous wko:i there is nothing more t > gain. Y?-u are tired t.f me. 1 have seen r ? j .ny, time, but bk?* a poor blind foo i 1 i ': ?: tl t.o? t-> ! re? lieve :t. lt. is not a tgrcat reward toa .. osa :n who ha*given ber whole I fe ; > a mu::, ? .:: perhaps it is :.s much rs .'..<. can expect; for I do not wa:.: to be unjust to vs ;i. 1 rou tb" most t?? blain*-, because e.e i cd : . v?*r- take a ?falsestep.ezreept'of our own ?:< . e.-..i.'' "Well, wi il," ho said, impai.c;.Uv. "what cfitT "OrJirtbis. Edward. I have .. ., ,, pride left?.and if ?on arc. tired o: . ... . -go." Ile tried hard to prevent it. bu? d ? what lie v-ouid, a. J of-I; of rc'.et strup;j . fl > Lis face. S ho ?av.- i:, a*'d ?t mad? uti w.;d v. ?tb jealous unger. "You reed, not look so happy, Diwan!, it is scarcely decent, and, besid< s, yon have not bec rd all that 1 have to say. I know what ell tins arises from. You are in love with Ida de la Molle. Now there 1 draw ino linc. You may leavo me if you like, but you shall not marry ida while 1 am aiivo to prevent : it. That is moro than 1 caa bear, lici.des, j 'i::e a wise woman, she has fallen in love 1 with Gol. Qncrilcb, who is worth" two of . yon. Edward Cossey-" "? do not 1 elieve it," he answered; "and j whai rkrhi nave you io say that i um in love j Willi iijssde la Collei Aud ii' I am 1.1 love j with her, how eua you prevent rue from ! . marrying her i: I choose?" "Try, an.; you wi ii see," she answered, with j a little Lvtgh. "And now, un the curiumhas j i dropped, and it is All ever between us. why, j : the best thing that we t-an do ii to put out I ; tao lights and gy lo Lei,*' aud the laughed j : r.rafn ur.u courtesied with much assumed ! playfulness. "Good night, Mr. Cossey; geed : .i:-;,i:t, and gocdrby." ile held out his band "Come, Dede," he j saith "don't let us ?.art like ibis." She shook her bead, and once more put"her j anns behind her. "?so," she ans were j, "? I will not take your band. Of my own" free ? will 1 will never touch it again, for to mc it is like the band of the dead. Occd-by, ur.ee inore; good by to you. Ed.ward, and toad the happiness that 1 ever had- I buiic up all my life upon my love for you, and you have shattered il like glass. 1 do net reproach you; you have followed after your natur;-, and i must 'follow ?nine, a::d in time all things will come right-in the grave. 1 shall not trouble you any more, provided that you do not try to marry Ida, for that 1 will not bear. And now go, for 1 am very tired.'' . and turning she rang the Ijfcl! for the servant ' to s*hi?w bim out Iii another minute he was gone, oho list? ened till siie heard tho front door close behind him, and ?hen she gave way to her grief, and flinging herself upon tho sofa, covered her face with her hands and sobbed and moaned bitterly, weeping for the past, and weeping, too, for thc long desolate years tl?t were to come. Poor woman! do not let us judge her too hardly, for whatever was the measure of her sin, it had assuredly found ber out, as our sins always do find us out in the end. She had loved this man with a passion which bas no parallel in the hearts of well ordered and well brought up women. Sho had never really lived lill tin's fatal passio; x>k pos session of her, and now that irs object bad deserted her, her heart felt cs though it bad died within her. In that, short bali hour she suffered more than many women do in their whole lives; but the paroxysm passed, and j sho rose pale and trembling, with set teeth and binning eyes. "Ho bad better be careful," she said to herself: t;hc may go, but if he tries to marry I Ida 1 will keep my word-yes, for ber sake as well as his." When Edward C ssoy came to consider j thc position, which ho did seriously on the i following morning, he did not find it very satisfactory. To begin with, he was not alto? gether a heartless man, and such a scene es that which he had passed through on the previous evening was in itself quito enough to upset his nerves. At onetime, at any rate, he had been much attached to Mrs. Quest; he J had never bornejier any violent affection that had all been on her ride; but still bc had been fond of her, and if he could have dono ?se, would probably have married her. Even now.bc was attached to her, and would have j been glad to remain ber friend if she would ? have allowed it. Dut then came the time j when her heroics commenced to weary him, and he-cu bis side began to fall in love with Ida dc la Mode, and as he drew back so she j came forward, till at length he was worn out, : and things culminated as has been described. Ile was sorry for her too, knowing bow deeply she was attached to him, though it is probable that be did not in the least realize | the extent to which she suffered, for neither j men nor women who have intentionally or otherwise been the cause of intense mental anguish to ono of tho opt>osite sex ever do quite realize this. They, not unnaturally, measure the trouble by thc depth of tneir own,-and are therefore very apt to come to i erroneous conclusions. Of course, we are now speaking of cases where all tho real passion is on one side, and indifference or compara- ! ti ve indifference on the other; for where it is j mutual 'the rnef will in natures of equal depth be mutual also. At any rate. Edward Co.-sey was quite j sensitive enough to feel The parting with i Mrs. Quest acutely, and perhaps ho felt the ; manner of it even more than the fact of the separation. Then caine another considera? tion, ile was, it is true, free from his en? tanglement, which was in itself an enormous relief, but the freedom was of a conditional nature. Belle had threatened trouble in the j most decisive toues should he attempt to ; carry out his secret puqjo.se, which she had j not been slow to divine, cf marrying Ida. ! From some occult reason, at least to him it j seemed occult, the idea cf this alliance was ! peculiarly distasteful to her, though no doubt tho true explanation was that she believed, and not inaccurately, that ii was in order to bring ir. about that he wa* bent upon desert? ing ker. The question with him v.-.-:s, would she or would she not attempt to put ber i threat into execution? .It certainly seemed : to him difficult to imagino what steps she i could take to that end, seeing that any such j steps would necessarily involve ber own CK- I posure, and that too when there was nothing J to gain, and u ben ali hopes of thereby sccur- j ing hinv for herself had passed away. Xor did lie seriously believe that she would : attempt anything of the seri. It is one thing I for a v,\.man to make such threats in the acute agony of her je alousy andi quite an? other for h.r to carry them out in cok: blood. Looking ct the matter from a man's point of view, it seemed to him extremely improbable that when the occasion came she would attempt such a move. He forgot how much more violently, when once it. has taken possession of ber being, the storm of passion sweeps through such a woman's heart than through a man's, and how utterly reckless t'> all consequence the former sometimes be? comes. For there are women for whom ail things melt in that white beat of anguished jealousy-honor, duty, conscience, and tho restraint of religion, and of tke.se Cello Quest was on*?. But of this he was not aware, and though j he recognized a risk, he saw in it nosuilicient ! reason to make him stay his baud.. For day j by day the strong desire to make Ida his wife ? liai: grown upon him, till at last i: possessed ! him hotly and soul. For a long while thc 1 intent had. been smoldering in his breast, and ? t!i" tale that he nov.- heard, to the effect that j Col. Quaritch had been beforehan 1 with him, bad blown it to a Came, bia was ever i present i TI his thoughts, even at night he could not be rbi of ber, for, when be slept, her vision, dark eyed" and beautiful, came stealing down Lis dreams. She was his heaven, and if by any ladder known to man he might climb thereto, thither bo would ? <-11:i? :>. And so he set bis teeth and vowed j that, Sirs. Quest or no Mrs. Quest, be would ! set b:s fortune upon the hazard of thy die, ay, j and win it, even if be loaded the dice. While he was still thinking tims, standing at his. window and gazing out eu to the market placeof tho quiet little town, bc sud- i den ly saw Ida !> rseli driving '?;> in her pony ! carriage. It was a wet and windy day, and ' the ram was on her cheek, and ibo wind t ?>.-se 1 a lit; ?e-lock <.;' ber brown hair. The cob was pulling, and her proud bice was set, as she concentrated h**r energies upotrhold ing Lim. Never :.. Edward Cossey bad ike j looked more beautiful. Iiis heart beat fast at lue sight o? her, uni whatever doubts might/ar. e lingered in bis mind, vanished. Vcs, he v.< uld claim h r promise and marrs her. Presently the pony c irri.:;"-' pulled u;> at his doorland the boy v.::-> w::* Miling be ! bind got down nnd ran : the be.:, liesteppcd j lack fro m thc w indo v., wondering ?v nat il could be. "Will yon please pi ve that note to Mr. \ Cossey,"~sa:d 1 da. as the door . * .cued, "and r?sk bim . .'. : d mi answeri" and she waa''I tone. j The n-'-te was-from the squire, sealed with I his big seal (thesquire always s.'ahd bis lt \ t- rs in tue old foshio. ed way... and contained j ta i:; vil ilion lo he'.:..e.i lo <>t on the nor row. '?( ' ' ?"g'" wants me TO do a little pur triogo ?tri vi rig." i*. "and brush ', thron rb ono nr. two ? ? ib - small <--vrs. j There, wu'] . :;.(' ?!. (,.':r?riteh b- s o . y.nr- i t\ Kn "d ?:.?;.. -\ hu i ]?>?.:? thru. \..?i vyill : hav*?.-? mir r^ugh day. Lr I don*; hi-.ar from ; \<:'i. I yiri !'I >hppi;.~.- I hat y?>u :>r . . ".air.,, o ! don't tr ::ib! v.r.: .. . "Oil. yr-. ! will :;V sali Elward "Con ? found th.:' ?>?!:?r?tc??. Vt any rate ! cali show him hVw ? ? snot t. a"n i wi:;?; is more; 1 v.-iii ] have it out with. Ib?n .-.bout my mmt.' r?AL'l?M x:;. i TIT:-. '.-<>;.? cVjiis OT r ? ?'? The Li ..;?*l?e<rin!r.' W;:s line und still, one ! f tV.se love-b autumn days of which we gel four or f.v in in -'..>UTisr*cf a M-nson. After j brets ki-: st ii i Quaritch st rolled d?cvn I is garden, KTvvi I hm;..elf aga u..t .i g't"" to t \? right of Dead Man s Mount, and looked at j tiiescene. .'Ali about bim, their foliage rel lowing to its fad, vir- ti? priam oaks, which were i tie pride of ! h?*eountry side, and j so quiet ?as the air that nota lord upon them stirred Thc only sounds chat reachoi his eaa*s-were. the. tappings of the nut hatche as they sought their food in the rough eran nies of the hurl: and tho occasional falling o a ruH? ripe acora from it3 lofty place on tc tho frost ed grass henea! ii. The sun -hine shoni bright, but '.vila a chastened hear., the squir reis scrambled up the oaks, and high in tia hine air, the rooks pursued their path. I' was r. beau" i ful morning, for summer is ncvei morosweet than eu irs deathbed, and yet i; fiiled him with solemn thoughts, Kcwmairj autumns had there old trc-t-s seen and hov* inony vouid ti:ey still sea long after Iiis eye: hud lost theil- sight. Andi if they were old how cid w;>s the Deed Man's Mount there t* Ids hit. Old, indeed ! for he had discoverec it was mentioned in Doomsday Book, and bj that name. And what was it-a boundary hill, a natural formation, or, as its name im? plied, a funeral barrow.' Kn had half a minc to dig one day mid find oat, that is if hi could get anybody to dig for him, for tiu people about Monham were so firmly con viuced that Dead Man's Mount '.vas haunted, a reputation which it had owned from tim-: immemorial, that nothing would have per? suaded them to touch it. lie contemplated the great motin I care full}* without coming io any conclusion, and then looked at his watch, lt was a quarter to 10, time for him to start for the castle for his day's shooting, so he got his gun and cartridges, and in duo course arrived at tlie castle, to lind George and several myr? midons, in the shape of beaters and boys, already standing in tho yard. "Picase, colonel, the squire hopes yondi go in and have a glass of something before you start," said George; so accordingly ho went, not to "have a glass of something," but on the chance of seeing Ida. In the vestibule ho found tho old gentleman busily engaged in writing an enormous letter. "Halloo, colonel." he hallooed, without getting up, "glad to see you. Excuse me for a few moments, will you? I want to get this off my mind. Here, Ida! Ida! Ida!" ho shouted, "here's Col. Quaritch." "Good gracious, father," said that young lady, arriving m a hurry, "you aro bringing the house down," and then she turned round and greeted Harold. It was the first time that they had met sinco the eventful evening described a chapter or two back, so the occa? sion might he considered a little awkward, at any rate ho felt it so. "How do you do, Col. Quaritch?" she said, quite simply, giving him lier hand. There was nothing in tho words, and yet he felt that he was very welcome. For when a wo? man really loves a man there is about her an atmosphere of softness and tender meaning which cannot be mistaken. Sometimes it is only perceptible to tho favored individual himself, but more generally is io be discerned by any person of ordinary shrewdness. A very short course of observation in general society will convince tho readier of the jus? tice of this observation, and when once ho gets to know thc signs of the weather he wii! probably light upon moro affairs of the heart than were ever meant for his investi? gation. This softness, or atmospheric influence, or subdued glow of affection radiating from a light within, was clearly enough visible ia Ida that morning, and. certainly it mado our friend tho colonel unspeakably happy to see it. "Are you fond cf shootingf she asked, presently. "Yes, very, and have been all my life." "Are you a good shot?" she asked again. "1 call that a rude question," ho answered, smiling. "Yes, it is, but I want to know." "Well," said Harohi, "I suppose that I am pretty fair, that is at rough shooting; I have never had much practice at driven birds and that kind of sport." "I am glad of that." "Why, it does not much matter. Ono goes oat shooting for the sport of the thing." "Yes, I know, but Mr. Edward Cossey," and she shrunk visibly ar> sho uttered the name, "is coming, and bois a very good shot and very conceited about it. I want you to beat him if you can-wiilyou try?" "Yv'ell," sa.d Harold, "I"don't at all like shooting against a man. It is not sportsman? like, you know; and., besides, if Mr. Cossey is a crack shot, 1 dare sa}' that I shall be no? where; but 1 will sho^t as well as 1 can." "Doyni know, it is very feminine, but 1 would give anything to seo you beat him.'" and she nodded and laughed, whereupon Harold Quaritch vowed in his heart that if it in him lay ho would not disappoint lier. At that moment Edward 'Jersey's fast trot? ting horse drew up at tho door with a pro? digious crunching cf gravel, and Edward himself entered, looking very handsome and very palo. lio was admirably dressed, that is to say, his shooting clothes were bonuti fully made and very new looking, and so were his boots, tad so was his li?t, and s*s were his hammerless guns, cf which he brought a pair. There exists a certain class of sportsmen who appear to have just walked out of a sporting tailor's shop, and to this class Edward Cossey belonged. Everything about him was of the best and newest and most expensive kind possible: oven Iiis guns v ero just down from a famous maker, and ti-'.* best that could be had for love or money, having cost exactly a hundred and forty guineas trie pair. Indeed, he presented a curious contrast to his rival. The colonel badi certainly nothing new looking about him, an old tweed coat, an old hat. with a piece of gut still twined round ic, a sadly frayed bag full of brown cartridges, anil, last cf ail, an old gun with ail tue brown wora off the barrels, original cost, ?17 lus. Andi yet there was no r>ossibil:tv of makins anv mis- ? take as to wmch of tho two looked moro of a gentleman, or, indeed, more of a sportsman. \ Edward Cossey shook hands with Ida, but 1 when t::o colonel was advancing to give him his hand he turned and spoke to tue squire, : who had ai length finished his letter, so that no greeting pa.-:.->ed between them. At the \ time Harold did not know if this move was ! or was not accidental. Presently they started. Edward Cossey at- ! tended by his maa with the second gun. "?lal?oo! Cossey," sung out the squiro after ! him, "it isn't much use your bringing two gtnis-for this sort of work I don't preserve ', much here, you know, nt least not now. You j wu: only gi t a few cock pheasants and a few i brace of partridges." '.Oh, thank yon " ho answered, "I always like to have a second gun in case I should ! want it. li's no trouble, you know.'' "Ai! right," said the squire, "Ida and 1 | will come down with tho lunch.on to tho I spiimy. Good-by." After crossing the moat Edward Cossey ; walked by himself, followed ly ids man and I a very lino retriever, and the colonel talked i to George, who was informing him t hat Mr. ; Cossey was a "pretty shot, he was, but rather snappy over il," till they came toa hel l o? white turnips. Into the details of tho sport that followed ? we need not t ater. l?? vond saving that tho ; colonel, to his hugo delight, never .-?hoi better ; in lus Ide. Indeed, with tho exception of ? one rabbit and a hen pheasant that ?lopped | up right. Iieneath his feet, h . scarcely missed., j though lio took the shots as they mme. | Edward Cossey also shot weil, mri wdrh one j exception missed nothing, but. then he never I Look a dill?cu?t shot if he could avoid it. Tile \ exception was a woodcock which ro<i> in ! front of George, wh > was walking down an j outside belt wi til tho beaters, lb? bud two : barrels'at it. and missed ir, and on it ?rame j ?ig the ire?? tops, passed where Edward . Cossey was standing, about half way-down the* licit, giving hin) a difi?eu'? e?iance with | til" first barre! and a clear ,>:.(> with ti.e second. Mang- bang! and on rame the wood- ! e..-!;. flying ! ?w. b:?; a: a tremendous speed, j st might :.t ? !:e >:tfi's i"-;id. a nj. ..a ; >i?.y:', ag shot. However; he tired, ami his j .;. i nul j what j'<v is then* 1 :!?:...to the j >v of :i ...?.?! ;.> man who has just killed a wo*.*k*oek which everybody h r; !?.....i papping a; .'>. doun it ca?e* w :: h :i timur* almost at Ins feet. i '.'ids was I heir las; ! ??? ti bi \->;?.? much, which ? w.: . now ' . se. :i approaching down a i rue : :t ;i donkey f ".2 rt. eviv.-v.-l by Ida and thc s ?:: re. Th-* lrr?r.*r vvas a?.?va:j?*i:;g m stages of ab?ut len paces,and c.: every..-?tago he st *p;*e 1 !" a most fearful roar byway of ...warning all ami sundry thal they were Motto shoot in his direction. Et I ward gave h?. gun t" lo * bearer and .-it. once walked off lo j ,i*i t!i< :;>. lint t!i.? colonel went with George to i-f!; after two running cocks ; winch le* nui down, for he was au old fa>hi ?ned sj*oi Jstnan, atid haled not picking up lu - game. After s ?nie diliiculty they found on.- of the ".cocks in tiie hedge row, but the other they could not lind, s> reluctantly '. they gave up the r-carch. When tiny got to tho lane they found tho luncheon ready, while one of thc beaters was laying out tbe game.forthe squire to inspect. There were fourtvMi pheasants, four brace'-and a half of j partridges, a liare, three rabbits and a wood- j cock. "Halloo," said the squire, "who shot thc ! wc*odcock 'f "Wclh sir/' said George, "we all had e pull at him, but tho colonel wiped oar oyes." '.Oh, Mr. Cossey," said Ida, in affected surprise, "why, I thought you never missed anything." '.Ivvery bc/dy misses sometimes.'* answered tl:;;- gentleman, looking uncommonly sulky. .'1 sh J ll 'io better ibis af terri ooa when ii c >n:es to the driven partridges." ..; don't believe you will," went on Ida, laughing maliciously. "I bet yon a pair o? gloves th:;". Col. Quaritch will shoot more dr: - "A partridges than you do." ' Done," said Edward Cossey, sharply. '.Now, do you bear that. Col. Quaritchr went on Ida. '"I have bet Mr. Cossey a pair of gloves that you wi il kill more paltridge*-, this afternoon than he will, so I hope you won't make me lose them." "Goodness gracious," said tho colonel, in much alarm. "Why, th;; last partridge ?riviu? that I had was on the slopes of some mountains in Afghanistan. I dare, say that 1 sha'nt hit a imystack. Besides," ha said, with some irritation, "i don't like'being set up to shoot against people." ""Oin of course," said Edward, loftily, "if Col. Quaritch doc? not like to take it up, there's an end of it." "Wed," said tho colonel, "if you put it in that way I don't mind trying, but I have only ono gun and you have two." ' "Oh, that will be all right," said Ida to tho colonel. "You shalt have George's gnu; he never tries to shoot when they drive par? tridges, because he cannot hit them, lie goes with the beaters. It is a very good gun." Thc colonel took up thc gun and examined it. It was of about the same bend and lengt h as his own, but of a bf tier quality, having been once tho property of James de la Molle. "Yes." be said, "but then I haven't got a bearer." "Never mind. TH do that, I know ali aboutit. I often used to hold my brother's second gun when wc drove partridges, be? cause he said I was so much quicker tLau the men. "Look," and she took the gua and rested ono knee on the turf, "First position, second position, third position. Wc used to have regular driiis at it," and she sighed. The colonel laughed heartily, for it was a curious thing to see this stately woman handling a gun with ail the skill and quick? ness of a practiced shot. Besides, as tho bearer idea involved a whole afternoon of Ida's society, he certainly was not inclined to negative it. But Edward Cossey did not smile; on the contrary, he positively scowled with jealousy, and was about to make sonic remark when Ida held up her finger. "Hush," she said, "here comes my father," the squire had been counting the game, "he hates bets, so y ou mustn't say any ming about our match." Luncheon went o?* pretty well, though Ed? ward Cossey did not contribute much to the general conversation. When it was done, the squire announced that lie was going to walk to the other end of the estate, whereon Ida said she should stop and seo something of the shooting, and the fun began. CHAPTER XXL THE EXD OF TOE MATCTL They began tho afternoon with several small drives, but on thc whole tho birds did i very badly. They broke back, went off to ono side or the other, and generally misbe? haved themselves. In the first drive the j colonel and Edward Cossey got a bird each. ! In thc second drive the latter got three birds, firing five shots. a:*.d his antagonist only got j a hare and a pheasant that jumped out of a ditch, neither of which, of course, counted anything. Only one brace of birds came his way at all, but if the truth must be toidi, he j was talking to Ida at tho moment, and did j not see them till too late. Then carne a longer drive when the birds were pretty i>lentjful. Thc colonel get one, a low flying Frcne'mnan, which he killed as he topped thc fence, and after that for tho lifo of him he could not touch a feather. Every sportsman knows what a fatal thing it is to bogil? to miss and then get nervous, and that was what happened to the colonel. Continually there became distant crus of "Marie! mark! over!" followed by tho ap? parition of haif a dozen brown bahs showing clear against the gray autumn sky, and sweeping down toward him light lightning. Whizz m front, overhead, and behind; bang, bang; bang-again with the second gun, and they were away-vanished, gone, leaving nothing buta memory behind them. The colonel swore beneath Ins breath, and Ida, kneeling at his side, sighed audibly, but it was no use, and presently the drive was | done, and there ho was with one wretched i French partridge to show for it. Ida said nothing, but she looked volumes, and if ever a man felt humiliated Harold Quaritch. was that maa. She had set her heart upon his winning tho match, nae: he ; was making an exhibition of hmiseif that might have caused a school boy to bhish. Only Edward Cossey smiled grimly as he told his bearer to give the two anda half brace which he had .shot to George. "Last drive this next, gentlemen," said that universal functionary as he surveyed i the colonel's one Frenchman, and then, glancing sadiy at the toil tale pile of empty cartridge oases, added: "Y'ou'll have to shoot up. colonel, this time, if you are going to win them gloves for Miss Ida. Mr. Cos? sey has knocked up four brace and a haif, j and you have only got a brace. Look you ! here, sir," he went on m a portentous whisper, j "keep forrard of them, weil. forrard, [ire j ahead and down they'll come. You're a j better shot than he is. a long way. Y ou j could give him'birds,'sir, tiiat you cot.ld, ! and beat him." Harold said nothing. Ile was sorely tempted to make excuses, as any man would have been, and he might with truth have urged that bo was not accustomed to part- I ridge driving, and that ono of thc guns was j new to him. But ho resisted manfully, and said never a word. George placed the two guns and then went oil to join the beaters. It was a capital spot for a drive, for on each sido were young larch plantations, sloping down toward them ? like a V, tho guns being at the narrow end and level with the ends of the plantations, ! which were at this spot about a hundred and twenty yards apart. In front was a large stretch of open fields, lying in such a fashion that, the birds were bound to fly straight over the guns and between the gap at the end of the V shaped covers. They had to wait a long while, for tho beat was of considerable extent, and this they did ? in silence, till presently a couple of singlo i birds appeared coming down tho wind like ! lightning, for a sti.Tish breeze had sprung J up. One wen:; to tho left over Edward , Cossey"s head, and he shot, it very neatly, i but tho otlier, catching sight of Harold's hat beneath tho fence, v. Iden was not a very j high ono, swerved and crossed, an almc-st j impossible shot, nearer sixty than fifty yards i from him. '.Yo*/*.'" N bl t "Nov. said I ia. and he fired, and to h's joy down canto the bud with a thu !, bound? ing iud i vu> f<*<-: into the air with tko force? of its impact, being, indeed, shot through the head. ' "That's biller,"' said biri, ns she handed him t he se**< >n i gnu. Another mom -nt and a covey came over, high up II - fired both barri's and gota right and I- ft, mid snatching tie* second gun sen; an.*; liri- Jiarrel after them, hitting a th in I bird, v. h;.-h ?hil :i<.t Call. Ai?U tben ;t noble enthusiasm and o rtainty possessed him, and ho knew that he should miss no more. Nor did he. With two almost possible exceptions he dropped every bird that drive. But hi:; crowning glory, a thing whereof ho std! often dreams, was yet to como. lie had killed tour brace of partridge and fired twelve times, when at last tho beaters made their appearance about two hundred ; yards away* ac tho further euc" of a ratb ; dirty barley stubble. j "I tamk tbat i J the lot," he said, "I"; ; afraid that yea haya lost your ^lo ... Jil.:.'' Scarcely .vere the words out of his moul when there was a yell of "mark," and strong covey of birds appeared swoupis ! down the wind right on to binti . Ou tiiey came, scattered and rate/ : "'sU-mgy,'* and Harold gripped bis gua au i drew a. deep breath, while ida, l.:>-'.-.i::;r * ; his side, ber lips apart, and her bcaurj:: : eyes wide open, watched their a<. vent cl roug j a space in the hedge. Lovely e::ougii rd ] looked to charm the heart of any man, if j man cut partridge dr! ring could descend t : such frivolity, which we ho:d Lo be huno: : sible. i Now i-, the moment. The leading ?J. .IC i are something over fifty yard., away, and !J ! knows full well that if there i.> to ba a chane '. lefc for tho second gun he must shoot befo; ; they aro iive yards nearer. ! "Bang!" down comes the cl 1 cock biri "B?tigr and bis mate follows him, fallin with a smash into the fence. Quick as thought Ida takes the empty gu with one hand and nasse-, him the cocked an loaded one with the other, "Bang:*' Auoibe bird topples head first out of the liliane covey. The}* are nearly sixty yards awa; now. "Bang!" again, and ch, joy and wot dorl the la*t bird turn? right over backv/ar j and fails dead as a stone some seventy pace ? from the muzzle of the gun. I He bad killed four birds or.t of using] driven covey, which shooters weil know i a feat not often done even bj* the best ?riv ing shots. "Bravol" said Ida. "T was cure that yoi could shoot if you chose." "Yes," be answered; "it was pretty gcc< work,'' and he commenced collecting tb j birds, for b}' this time the beaters were acres j the field. They were ell dead, not a runne in the lot, and there were exactly six brae I of them. Just as bo picked UTI the las j George arrived, followed by Edward Cossey "Weil, I never," said the fornier, wiri!' something resembling a smile stole over bi melancholy countenance. "That's the mas terest bit of shooting that ever I did sec j Lord Walsingham couldn't beat that himsei ! -sixteen empty cases and twelve birds picket . up. Why,"" and he turned to Edward, "bles I me, sir, if I don't believe the colonel has woi I them gloves for Miss Ida after all. Let's see i ; sir, you get two brace this last drive and om \ the first, and a leash the second, and tw< I brace and a half the third, six and a half i: I all. And the colonel, yes, he has seven brace one bird to thc good." "There, Mr. Cossey," said Ida, smilin: I sweetly, "I have won rn}- gloves, iliad yoi don't forget to pay them." "Uh, I v.dll not forget, Miss de la Molle,' i said lie, smiling also, but not too prettily. j "I suppose," be said, addressing the colonel j "that that last covey twisted up and yoi I browned them." "No," lie answered quietly, "ali four wen clear shots." Mr. Cossey smiled again au increduloti! smile, which somehow sent Harold Quaritch1! I blood leaping through his veins more quiekl} ! than was good for bini, and turned away tc j bide bis vexation. Edward Cossey woul<; I rather have lost a thousand pounds than thal his adversary should have got that cxtri j bird, for not only was he a jealous shot, bul he knew perfectly weil that Lia was anxious j that be should lose, and desired above ah ? Lhings to see him humiliated. And then be. ! the smartest shot within ten miles round, tc be beaten by a middle aged soldier shooting with a strange gun, and totaliy unaccustomed j to driving! Why, the story would bo told over the country-George would see to that. His anger was so great when he thought of it that, afraid of making himself ridiculous, without another word be set off with his bearer toward the castle, leaving the others to follow. Ida looked after bun and smile'd. "He is PO conceited," she said; "ho cannot bear tc be beaten at anything."' "I think that you aro rather hard or. bim," said tho coioucl, for the joke had an unpleas? ant side which jarred on him. "At any rate," she answered, with a little stamp, "it is not for you to say so. If you disliked, him as much as 1 do you would bo hard on "him, too. Besides, 1 dare say tiiat his turn is coming." The colonel winced, as well he might, but looking at her handsome face, set just now like steel at tho thought of what the future might bring forth, ho reflected that if Ed? ward Cossey's turn did come ho was by no means sure that the ultimate triumph would rest with bini. Ida de la Molle, to whatever extent her sense cf honor and money in? debtedness might carry her, was no butterfly te be broken on a wheel, but a woman whose dislike and anger, or, worse still, whose cold, unvarying disdain, was a thing from wbich tho boldest hearted man might shrink aghast. Nothing more was said on the subject, and they began to talk, though somewhat con? strainedly, about indifferent matters. They were both aware that it was a .farce, and that they wcro playing a part, for beneath thc external ice of formalities the river of their devotion ran whither they knew not. Ail that had boen made clear a few nights back. But what will you have? Necessity, overriding their desires, compelled them along the path of self denial, and. like wise folk, they recognized tho fact, for Ibero is nothing moro painful in the world than the outburst of hopeless affection. And so they talked about painting ard shooting and what not, till they reached the gray cid castle towers. Here Harold wanted to bid her good-by, but she persuaded him to come in and have some tea, saying that her father would liko to say good night to lum. Accordingly be went ruto tho vestibule, where there was a light, for it was getting dusk, and there ho found the squire and Mr. Cossey. As soon as he entered Edward Cossey rose, raid good night to the squire and Lia, and then passed toward tho door, where tba colonel was standing, rubbing the mud o:T bis shooting boots. As be came. Harold, be? ing slightly ashamed of the shooting match, very sorry to have humiliated a man who prided himself so much upon his skill in a particular branch cf sport, beid out bis hand, and said, in a friendly tonet "Good night, Mr. Cossey. Next time that" we arc out shooting together I expect I shall bo nowhere. It was an awful iiuke of mine kiding those four birds." But Eward Cossey tock no uotice of the friendly words or outstretched hand, but came straight on as though he intended to walk past him. T'ue colonel was wondering what was bosi to do, for it was impossible to mistake thc meaning of tho oversight, when tho squire, who was sometimes wry quick to notice things, spoke in a loud and decided tone. "Mr. Cossey." bo said, "Col. Quaritch is offering you bis hand." "1 observe that he is." he answered, setting his handsome face, "but I do not wish to take COL Quaritch's hand.'' Then came a moment's silence, which the squire again broke. "When a gentleman in my house refuses to take the hand of another gentleman," he said, very quietly, "1 think I have a right to ask tho reason of bis coaduct, which, unless that reason isa very sullicient one, is almost as much a slight upon me as up n him." "I thiuk that Col. Quaritch mu>C know tho reason, and will not press me to explain,'1 : said Edward Cossey. "I know of no reason." replied, the cul.?ucl, \ sternly, "unies.-, inde d, it is that 1 have j been so imf or tun ile as to get the best of Mr. '. Gcs?ey in a friendly shooting match." "Col. Quaritch must know v.vii that such ! is not the reason lo which I allude," said i Edward. "If be consults lbs conscience ho] will probably discover a better one.'' bia and her fallu r lo? ked at each other in ! surprise, while the colonel by a half involun- i tary movement stepped between bi< accuser and the door; and Ida noticed t hat his face j was v. bite ? iib anger. "Von have m:.'le a very serious implica-! tu?;, against in -, Mr. Cossey," he said in a I cold, vicar vt.?re. "Before yon leave this | room you ubi beso goodasto explain it iu lue presence of tuooe before whom it lins been made." "'Certainly; if you wish it," be answered, with something like a sneer. "Tho reason why I refuse to take your band, e'ol. Quar itch, is thal you have been guilty ol' conduct which proves to me that you aro nota gen? tleman, ano, therefore, not a person with whom I iie>iro to bo on friendly i- ; ms. ijhali I co on:' j "Most certainly you will go on," answered tho cok ?at I. j "Wry well The conduct to which I refer : is that you were once engaged to my aunt, i Julia Heston; that wii.hiu three days of the time ol the marriage you deserted ami jilted her in a most cruel way, as a consequence of ; which she went mad, and is to this momeut an inmate of an asylum." Ida gave an exclamation of astonish;neat, 1 ar.d the colene! started cad colored ap, while the s??tiire, looking at thai curiously, watted to bear what Le had tn:-:?.}'. "1: is ;>:-;.:*t:-^'-. Hr. Cossey,w he cr. swered, "that ? vms engaged twenty roars ngo be married to Jada Heston, though ! nov? rhr the first time learn that she was your aunt. It is also quite true that {!:.;; engagement was Lr -ken oiT under most painful circumstances, within three days of tho time axed for the marriage. VV nat tko^e eircarus:: aces - ere I am not at liberty io say. for. tho simple reason that 1 gave my word not to do so. but ti;is I ? ill say, that tliey were not t-? my discredit, though you may no:. '.*? aware <...' that fact. But as you are one of tue family. Mr. Osscy, my tongue is not t: . d. and i will do myself the honor of cubing tuarn you to-morrow and explaining them VJ you After that," he added, sig? nificantly, *i shall require you to apologize to mo as publicly as yon have accused me." "You may require, but whether I shall comply i., another matter," said Edward Cossey. and kc passed, out. "I am very sorry, Mr. de la Molle," said thc color.eh as soon as he had gone, "moro sorry tinta ? can say, that I should have been tho cause of this most unpleasant scone. 1 also feel that 1 am pieced in a very false position, and until I produce Mr. Cossey's written apology, that position must to some extent continue. If I fail to obtain that apology, I shall have to consider what course to take. In the meanwhile I can only ask you to suspend your judgment." [TO BE C0NT1NCKD ] DIPLOMATIC TOMMY. Ile Indoced His Sister to Attend tho Toot hall Game. "No. Tommy." said his sister. 'Til not give you 50 cor.ls to pay to see the football match ; you have seen a num? ber of baseball games during thc sum? mer, and I think that is enough." Tommy was deject ed for a while and kopi quiet, and Iiis 23-year-old sister j began to congratulate herself that she ' had silenced him for a time at least, ! and she would not be bothered by Iiis teasing. Suddenly Tommys face j brightened and lie" turned toward his sister, but she was busy with some needlework, and was all unconscious of the thoughts ihat were running through his mind. After a while he ! went over and stood beside lier and ? watched her fingers as they dexterously knitted the bright colored yarn into fancy mats and things without names ! for a church fair to be held in a short j time. There was silence fora while, only j broken by the far away notes of a harsh hand organ as it ground out, in j spasmodic time, the ''Boulanger j March," in the next block. At last j Tommy broke the silence and said softly : "Do you remember Mr. Nice-j fellow, who used to talk to you so j much at the hotel in Saratoga?* * "Yes, Tommy. Why?" "1 guess you haven't seen him re- j cently, liare you?" "No. Tommy. When we moved j last spring I believe he was in Europe, I and I did not know his address, so did j not send him a card. What makes ? you ask the question?" "Oh, nothin' much; only the last; time I went to the Polo grounds to see ! the New Yorks beat the Chicaros he i was there in the grand stand, and i talked to me. lie said he attended j nearly ever}- game. He had a lady j with him." "A lady. Tommy?" "Yes; 1 guess it was his mother." "Oh! (relieved). You say he talked to you, TommyT**" "Yes; he said he thought I had grown a great deal since lie saw me in Saratoga, and wanted to know how that good looking sister of mine was." ! "Goon. Tommy." " "And then he said: 'Let me see, j your sister is about 10 now, isn't she if' And I said I guessed that was about your age." "Well" (softly). "Then he turned to the lady who j ( was with him and asked her if she-1 didn't remember thc lady who looked ! so pretty that night at the hop; the i one, he said,-who had brown hair and I wore a lovely pale blue silk dress, that' became her so well, and made the j Rogers girls so jealous-1 guess he said the Misses Rogers. . And she said she rememSered her quite well; and j then she turf cd to me and said: 'Are you thc youno- lady's brother?' An' I said I was, anc' she said: 'You ought to be proud of i aving such a nice sis? ter,' an'I said i was, an' it made me feel good when I see how all the young ladies in thc block were jealous ol her" "Tommy!" (severely). "Well, I couldn't help it, 'cause I know it's so" "Tommy" (mildly). "An' then Mr. 'Nicefellow told the waiter to bring me a glass of soda water, an'' asked me if I didn't j want some peanuts, an1 I said I didn't | mind, an' he bought me some, an' just j then Buck Ewing made a home run, an' Mr. Nicefcllow said he guessed the Chicagos couldn't play ball, and he'd rather see a game of football any day, i especially between the college elevens, | an' he said he hoped 1 would bo at the J football games this fail, an' wanted to ? know if you liked athletic sports, an' I I said I guessed you did, but you had ! so many oilier things to attend to, visiting sick people an' making things for the poor heathens in ?l?rica, an' " "When did you say the football game was to bc played, Tommy?'' "On Saturday, an'" "Tommy (hesitatingly), would vou like to Like me to see the game if I buy thc tickets?" "Why, cert." Tlicn she kissed him and told him he needn't say anything about their go-! ing, and Tommy moved toward the door. When he ?^i outside he drew a long breath and exclaimed to him? self: "Gee! What a whopper! But it worked!".-Now York Tribune. That beautiful gloss) sheen, so much ad mired in huir, cnn be secured by the use of I Ayer's Hair Vigor. There is nothing better t than this preparation for stretching the scalp j and keening it free from dandruff and itching j eruptions. 1SS9-THE WEEKLY HEBALD-1S89 ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. To keen posted on the news of the entire world subscribe for the NEW YORK WEEKLY HERALD. i It is mid will continue to be thc greatest [ and cheapest family journal in the United j States. . The coming year promises to be crowded with stirring events. In the United States the entrance of new issues into the political arena leis been foi lo weil by a change of ad- j tn in ist rat ion. Hut the great economic ques? tion on which the campaign turned is still ? unsettled, and its solution is now committed to a Congress almost equally divided between | the two great parties. Europe is a vast camp. Army corps patrol i the frontiers, and millions of men await the signal for the most titauic war the*world has ever s< en. The Herald's news gathering machinery is unequaled. Hs correspondents dot the bab- j i table globe. Nothing can escape their vig? ilance, and no expense is spared in spreading j the result* of their efforts before thc lleiald's renders. All thc news of America will be found each ; week in tin- Herald, white it? Foieigu De- ; dart meat will contain a panorama of the Old ,! World, flashed under the sea over the Com- | uiercial Cables. SPECIAL FEATURES. Practical Farming, Progress in Science, Woman's Work, Notable Pulpit Utterances, Literature and Art, Stories by our Beet Au- j thoi?. Information on all subjects. Address JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Dec 10 New York Herald, N. Y. City, j Harper's Weekly, ILLUSTRATED. ! HARPER'S WEEKLY bas a weii-eidaUished i i?!;;ce iis thc- leading illustrated newspaper in i America. T?ie fairness of i td editorial c?tn : ments on current politics bait earned foi if the j respect and confidence of all impartial readers, ! an?i the variety and excellence of its literary j contents, which include seri?! and short stories ! by the best and urnsi popular writers, fit it for ' ?he perusal of people of thc widest range cf j tastes anti pursuits. Supplements are frequent? j ly provided. and no expense is spared to bring ! the highest order of arti*tie ability to bear j unon tn? illustration of the cbaugeful phases of I home and foreign history. A new work of fiction from the pen of William Dean Howells, ' and ?ut hy Capt. Charle* Kin)*, will be among the leading features of thc WEEKJ.T for 1889. Harper's Periodicals. Per Year: HARPER'S WEEKLY, One Tear.$4 00 HARPER'S BAZAR, One Year.............. 4 00 HA RPM R'S MAGAZINE, One Year_4 00 HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, one year 2 00 Postage Free io ali snbscribers in the United states, Canada, or Mexico. Tbe Volumes of the Weekly begin with the first Number tor January of each year. When no time is mentioned, ?ubscrrpt'ons will begin " i th the Number currant at time of receipt of order. Bound Volumes o! Harper'* Weekly, for three years lack in neat cloth binding, will be sent by mai ?"postage paid, or by exprets, free of ex? pense (provided the freight does not exceed one dellar per volume.) for $7 (JO per volume. Cloth Cases for each volume, suitable for hi h di tig. will be sent by nail, postpaid, on re? ceipt of $1.10 each. Remittances should be made by Post-Office Money Order or Di-*fi, io avoid obance of loss. Newspapers are not to'copy this advertise? ment without tbe express order of Harper ? Brothers. Address" . HARPER ? B*ROTHI?- S, New York. 1889.' Harper's Magazine. ILLUSTRATED. " HARPER'S MAGAZINK is the most useful, entertaining, and beautiful periodical in the world Am ng the attractions for I8S9 will be a new novel-un American story, entitled .?Jupiter Lights"-by Constance F. Wonlson ; illustrations of Shakespeare's Comedies by E. A. Abbey ; a series of articles on Russia, illus? trated bv T. de Tholstrup; papers on the Do*, minion o" Canada and a characteristic serial by Charles Dudley Warner; three '"Norwegian Studies.' by Bjornstj^rne Bj-?rn?on, illustrated; "Commodus." a historical play by the author of -Ben Uar." illustrated by J. E. Weguelin, etc. Tho Editorial Departments are conducted by George William Curtis, William Dean Howells, and Charles Dudley Warner. Harper's Periodicals* Per Tear : HARPER'S BAZAR.$4 00 HARPER'S WEEKLY. 4 00 HARPER'S MAGAZINE. 4 00 HARPER'S TOCK? PEOPLE. .. ......... 2 Off Postage Free to all Subscribers ?n the United States. Canada, or Mexico. The volumes of the Magazine begin with the Numbers tor June and December of each year. When no time is specified, subscriptions will begin with the Number current at time of re? ceipt of order. Bound Volumes of Harper's Magazine, for three years back.'in neat cioth binding, will be sent by mail, postpaid, on reeeipt of $3 00 per volume. Cioth Cases, for binding, 50 cents each-by mail, postpaid. Imiex :o Harper's Mag zine. Alphabetical, Analytical, and Classified for Volumes 1 to 70, inclusive, (rom Jure 1 Sot) to June, 1885, one vol., Svo, Cloth. $4 00. Remittances should be made by Post-Office Money Order, or Draft, to avoid chance ot lots. Newspapers are not to copy this advertise? ment without the excess order of Harper <fc Brothers. Address HARPUR & BROTHERS. New York. 1SS9. Harper's Young People. An Illustrated Weekly: HARPER'S Y?CNC PEOPLE begins its tenth roxine w:th the first numner in ..November. During the year. it wi ? containi five serial <tories. including .'Dorymates.'* by Kirk Mon? r.,e; "The Hoc Mustang," by W. O Sroddardji and "A Day in' Waxland." by R. K. Mur.kiu. trh-k ; "Nels Thurlow'* Trial/'by J T. Trow? bridge ; "The Three Wishes." by F. Anstey :<!id Brander Matthews; aseries of fairytale? written and illustrated-. by Howard Pyle; ..Home Studies in Natural History." by Dr. Felix L. Oswald: "Little Ex p?rira en is." by S.phio .B. Herrick; "Glimp es ?f Child lids ?r<?m Dickens," by Margaret E. Sangs ter; arti? cles on various ?ports and pastimes, short stories by the be>t writers, and humorous papers and poems, with many hundreds ofillua ira lillis of excellent qualify. Every line in the, paper is subjected io the most rigid editorial scrutiny in order that nothing harmful may t?t?erits columns. " An ceifoino of everything that is attractive ?nd desirable in j a vet ile literature.-Bolton ( 'ottn'er. A weekly feast of good ibings to the boys and sir!- in every family which it visits.-Brooklyn I it ?un. * It is wonderful in its wealth of pictures, infor? mation, and interest-Cf*ri*fian Advocate, N-Y? TERMS. POSTAGE PREPAID, $2 A YEAR, Vol. X commenc?s November I, 1888? Specimen Copy rent on receipt of a two-cent stamp. .SINGLE NI'MBEUS, Five Ce?ts each. H> mit tances >h??i?i be made by P sf Office Money Order or Draft, to avoid chance o? )>KS. ?'tc*p"p*r* -ire uol to copy thin *idcrrt?*ewent tcithon! 'tlc e.-j>-rv? order of 11 AUPKrt A ttlCTHKItS. Address HARPER Jc BROTHERS. Nc tv York TBS PANSY FOR 1889. Edited by PANSY-Mi?. G.'R. Aide?, The Pansy is an illustrated monthly coo tnioi::? fron thirty-fire to forty p?g*s of reading matter. It is devoted to young folks from i?i?!it to fifteen. Its contributors ?re amor.v the best writers for young folks. Pansy's New Serial will run throughout the vear.-iud is entitled The Wey Ont. Pan fy whl also continue ber Golden Text Stories Margaret Sidney has a serial story entitled Rob : A story for boys, lt is full of the ad? ventures, frolics and am't-iiions of a wide? awake boy. Mrs. O. M. Livingston has tales of chilcl li/e and child ways, in a new department,^ Baby's Comer. The Bible Bind Readings, The Queer Story column and the P. S- Corner will all be Con? tinued. The Pansy is only one dollar a year. A specimen copy for five cents. You can pet your own subscription free by sending two new subscribers with two dollars to pav for ss roe. You roust remit direct to.-^^ ' *; D. LOTH BOP COMPANY, Boston. BABYL AND, 1889. This is the one magazine-in the world that combines the best.amusement for Babies and the best help for Mothers. Emilie Poulsson will contribute the stories of some of Baby's Benefactors, being the tale of the flax and how it furnished linen for Biby; of tho lamb, the toy-maker, etc. Many pictures by Mr. L. J- Bridgman. Baby Bunting's Neighbors, verses and pic? tures both by Margaret Johnson, will tell about the stringe Babies of different nations. Dainty stories, tender poems, gay jingles, pictures beautiful, pictures funny, will fill each number. Large type, heavy paper, nrettv cover, twelve fimes a year-and all for tor onlv 50 cents. Sample copy 5 cents. D. LOTH KOP COMPANY, Boston, Mass. RUBBER STAMPS NAME STAMPS FOR MARKING CL0?HIN8 with indellible ink, or for printing visiting cards, and STAMPS OF ANY KINO for staaptng BUSINESS CARDS, ENVEL? OPES or any tiling else. Specimens of vari?os stvles ?U hand, which will be shown with pleas? ure. The LOWEST PRICES possible, and orders filled promptly.. Cali on C. P. OSTEEN. Ak tbe Wat?bman and SoJthrou Office Sumter, S. C.