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Flesherton Advance, 19 Jan 1893, p. 6

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JIR GUY'S WARD. STORY OK LOVK ANM> ADVKMTUHK. CHAPTKR IX " Th*re, (juy, don't ymi envy ma, with tuih a charming lime before me?" aays Cyril, returning her glame witli interMt. " No, indeed," says Lilian, raining her head and gating full at Clietwood*. who re- turn* uer glance siedi!y, although he is tin! jring grinding tnriiienU .ill tins time, and almost a/mm/ begins to hate hi> brother. " The last thing Sir (iiiy would dram of would lie to envy you :ny grades* society. Fancy a guardian rinding pleimnrc in the frivolous converatiun of hi* ward ! How could you suspect him uf *uch a weak- Here she let* her small white teeth meet in her fruit with all the. airs off little i.turmand>, and a most evident enjoyment of it* flavor. There is a pause. Cyril has left the room in search of his cigar-case. Lady Chetwooue has disap I pcarcd lo explore the library for her ever- ' failing k', tiling. Sir Cuy and Lilir.n are alone. " I < .niiot remember having ever accused yon of jeini; frivolous, either in conversa- tion or manner," says Chetwoo.le, present- ly, in a low, rather angry tone. " No ?" sayn naughty Lilian, wit 1 - a shrug "I quite thoiiL : : yon had. Bui your man- s*r is so xprei"ive al times, it leaves no occasion for mere words. This morning when I made (ome harmless remark to Cyril yon looked though I had commit- ted murder, or something worthy of trans- portation for life at the very least." "I cannot remember that either. I think you purposely misunderstand me " "What a rude speech ! Oh, if I had said that ! Itutsee how late it is." looking at the clock ; " you are wasting all these prerioux minutes here that might lie jpent so much more - profitably with your roiisin. " "You mean you are in a hurry to be rid of me," disdaining to notice her innuendo ; " go, don't let me detain you from Cyril and hi* eigar. " He turns away abrubtly, and gives the hell a rather sharp pull. He is o openly offended that Lilian's heart smite* her. "Who is misunderstanding now?" she says, with a decided change of tone. Shall you l>e long away, Sir Guy ?" " No', very," icily. " Thruston, as know, i lint a short drive from this. "True." Then with charmingly innocent concern, " Don't you like going out so late ? you seem a little cross. "DoIV " Yesi. But perhaps I mistake ; I am al- pardonable curiosity. Yes In spite of all that Cyril said, ahe is very nearly handsome, She i* tall, /.(/-.. , large and somewhat full, with ruther prominent eyes. Her mouth U a little thin, Iml well shaped ; her nose U perfecl ; her figur* faultless. She is quite twenty-six (in spite of artificial aid), a fact that Lilian perceived with secret gratifica- tion. She walks slowly up the room, a small Maltese terrier t'.isped in her arms, and presents a cool fresh cheek to Lady Chet woode, a though she had parteii from her but a few hour* ago. All ihe worry and fatigue of travel have not told upon her : perhaps her maid and thai mysterious close iy-locked little morocco bag in the hall could tell upon her ; but ahe look* as undis- turbed in appearance and dress as though she had but just descended from her room, ready for a morning's walk. " My dear Florence, I am glad to wel- come you home," says Lady Chelwoode, affectionately, returoin g ber chaste salute "Thauk you, Aunt Anne," aays Mis* Beaucbamp, in carefully motiulaled '.ours. "I, too, am glad lo gel home. Il WM qni'e delightful lo find Cuy waiting for me at Ui station I" She smiles a pretty lad> like smile upoii Sir Guy as she speaks, he having followed her into the room. " How d'ye do, Cyril?" Cyril returns her greeting with due pro- priety, but expresses no hilarious joy at her return. " This is Lilian Chesney whom I wrote to you about," Lady Chetwoode says, pulling out oue hand to Lilian, "Lilian, mydettT this is Florence. " The girU shake hands. Miss Boauchamp treats Lilian to a cold though perfectly polite stare, and then lurns back to her aunt. It was a long journey, dear," sympa- tin li- -ally says "Aunt Anne." "Very. I felt quite exhausted when I reachsd Trillion, and so did Fanchette ; did you not, ma bihicht, my treasure '"this is to the little white stuffy ball of wool in her arms, which instantly opens twopmk lidded eyes, and puts out a crimson tongue, by way of answer. " If you don't mind, aunt, I think I should like to go to my room." 'Certainly, dear. And what shall I send you npT" " A onp of tea, plese. and - er any- '' thing clae there is. Klis* will know wliat I fancy : 1 dined before I left. Cood-night, Miss Chesney. (Cood night, (iuy ; and thaak you again very much for meeting in " this very sweelly. And then Lady Chetwoode accompanies ways making mistakes," says Mis* Lilian, humbly: "lam very unfortunate. .^nd you know what Ontda ssys, that 'one is so ftcn tliougbt to lie sullen when only sail.' <- you sad her upstairs, ana the rirst wouderlul inter- riew ia' an end. "Well?" says Cynl. " I think her quite handsome, Lilian, entliu*ia*tioally, for (iuy'* says ipecial ,. ir ,. , , , Denent. wno is anting ai a nine uisiauo* No. y'-uy *'ll P~t.ndur.nee; , "Cynl. you are want- ' I am not. But 1 shoiilil like to know If whal I have done that you should make a '" point at all times of treating me with civility." " Are you thinkinu f me?" wilh a fine shew of lurpiise, and widely opened eye* ; " what ran you mean? Why, I shouldn't dare lie uncivil to my guardian. I should IM afraid. I should poiilively die of fright, ''says Miss Cheaney, feeling strong- ly incline I to laugh, and darting a li" Ic wicked gleam at him from her eye* ai sue peak*. "Your manner " bitterly- "fully bear* out your words. Slill I think Why doesn't (i ranger bring round the carriage * Am I to give the lame older hall .1 Jo .-n tunes'" this 10 a petrified attendant who has answered the bell, and now vanishes, as though shot, to give It as his opinion down stairs thai Sir (iuy is in a "h'orful wax '" "Poor man, how you have frightened him '" says Lilian, softly. ''I am sorry if I have vexed you." Holding oul a small hand of ainily,- "Shall we make friends before you go?" "It would be mere waste of time, "replies ne, ignoring the baud : "and besid-tt, why should you force ynrrself to be on friendly terms with me?" "You forget " begins Lilian, some what haughtily, made very indignant by hi* refusal of her overture ; but, Cynl and l-ady C4ietwoode entering at tin* moment simultaneously, the conversation dies. "Now I aui ready," ( 'yril says, ehoerfully. 'I t MiU some of yeur cigars, liny ; they re rather better than mine ; but the occasion is K.) felicitous I thought it demanded it I ' you mind ' "Von can ban the box," replies (iuy, nrtly. To leave s suspected rival in full po- t-ssHm of the tieM, smoking one'* choicest weeds, i* not a thing calculated to ....'he a r .'It. .1 breast. " I'll, ynu'ie not i|l ( old frlh. w, ar* y ju T" anys Cyril, in his laxiVst, runs' gnnd-iuMurmi- tours "The. whole IHII '. t.'onie, my dual J.ilmii, I pine to begin thxiu. Miss Uhesney finishes her peach in a hurry and prepares lo follow him. " l.i tan, you are like a baby wilh a sweet tooth, says Lady Chetwood*. "Take some of those (teaches out on Ihe balcony .With yon, child : yon srom to enjoy Ilium. And ron ID in m* to tho drawing-room when you lini ol Cvi il. ' Ik* Ust Dung (iuy sees iu lie leaves Itis r'lutil n L,^MI sii'l Ins luoili.-i *rDi*il with pen. hen l)(1 elgllV '(in Niett WH\ to 4 In balcony ; thn last, thing hr hears is a clear, ftweel, tinging liuuli that echoes tl.ronKo tin house and fall" litre wwllon lead upon bts heart. Hnbangi the hall door with mnoh nn neee**ary vlnlener, stun* into tli oarnatr*, ana goe* to me*t his cousin m aUiul the worst temper he has gi\ en way to for year*. IUII pant ten has ilrn.k. II. drawing loom is ablsse wiUi light, l^asly I lielwomle, ii'i..-i\ to .uiom, Is wideawake, tli*gray 01 K lying almost completed ii|Kin her lap. Lilian has been singing, lint is now silting ilent with her idl* little hands before her, while t 'y I'll n-ads lmi I lo ihrm dei-ent ex tracts from th* celebrated divorce case, n.iw drawing to us 'in pleasant clone. "They ought In he here now," *.>ys Lady lielwoiiili., sud.lenly, alluding not so much 10 the plaintiff, or the defendant, or the cor espondenU, aa to her eldest son and Miss Itnain hamp "Th* tun* Is up." Almost as she nays t Id word* the sound f carriage wheels strikes upon the ear, and a fsw inn. ulna later the door is Ihruiru wide o|M-n uo\ \li Iteaiicliamp enUr*. Ulla* ii"- al bur w th a good deal ul " Nol when I admire you,' replies ''yril, promptly. " Will you fiardon me. Lilian, if I go to see they send a comfortable and substantial supper to my couiin ' Her ap- pelile is all that her host friend could wisli. 80 staying, he qui some business of his uit* the room bent on own, that has very In iU- I" do, 1 think, with the refreshment uf Mi-s HHKII lianip body. When h has gaae, Lilian take* up Lady ('liHwuode's knitting and examines It critl .lly. For the Aral time in her life she re- (rets no* having given up some of lisr early year* to the mastering of fancy work ; then she lays it down again, ami lighs heavily. The sigh says i|iiite distinct ly how tedious a thing it is being aloin in the room with a man who will not iipeak to one. Better, far heller, be with a dummy, from whom nothing could be expected. Sir (iuy, roused to activity by this dolo- rous sound, crosses the room mid stands directly before her, a contrite expression upon his fa'-e. have behaved badly." he says. " 1 con'csa my fault. Will you not (peak lo me, I. ilia His tone is half laughing. hall |N- n It flit " Not" -smiling --" until you asure n:e you have left all your ill temper tMphinil you at 'I'm it. HI.' " I have. I swear it." " You are sure?" " I'.xiilitr. " " I do hope you did not bnstow it upiin pour Miu lleaiichamp?" "I don't know, I'm sure. I hope not," says (iuy, lightly; and thore is aoinething Until 111 hi* tone and win. Is that restores Miss Chesney lo amiability. She looks al him steadily for a moment, and then she smiles. " I am fiirgiren?" says I !uy, eagerly, lak ing oournge from her smile. " " Though you don't deserve it," she says, severely, " slill " " Slill you do accept me it, f mean, ' interrupts Cuy, purposely, closing his fin- gers warmly over her*. " I shall never forget that fact. Dear little hand '." softly nsissiing tt. " did 1 really acorn 11. an hour ago? I beg its pardon very humbly." " It i* granted," answers Lilian gayly. But lo herself she iays, " I wondbr how often he has gone through all this before?" Nevertheless, in spile of doubt* on both sides, the Iruee is signed for the present. ( HA1TKR X. ' How beautiful Ii the rainl After tin- <lut und beat. Tolhot'. ry (ra^iand the drier gru' How welcotuo U the ralo ! " hand* with m*, then," *ays he, hohliiig out his own. " Y<iu expect too niu.-h. ' returBS Lilian re. oiling. "Only an hour .1^0. yon relc I lo take :ny hand how then can I now ac- iiipl yours ? ' " I was a brute, nothing less! " ile.-larei lie, emphatically. " Yet do accept il, I im plore yon. There is a goo,! deal u.oi, meaning m Ins lone than rvsn he himself is .pule a WHIT of. MIS-I t 'bcsni-y either does not or will n it sec II. KAIHIII^; her beal. she laughs mil loud, u low Inn tin. roughly amused laugh. " Any oo listening would my yon Were proposing tr> me," she says, miscbeviouily : whereupon he laughs Inn, an 4 urats himsrll u|ion t tie low ottoman beside hr. "I shouldn't mind," he says; "shonhl you' " "Not much. I suppose one must go through il some time or other " " lluve you e\er bad a pio| osml " " U by doyon com|i*l me to give you an niiswei that must be humiliating ? No ; I have never had a proposal. But I dare say I shall have one or two before I die." " I dare say I'nlsss you will now accept mniK "jestingly "and make m* ihe happieat of men. ' " Ni> t haul you. You make me such an admirable guardian that 1 could not lieai to nspose you. You ar* now in a |>ioti, ponitioii (considering the ward you have! do not rashly seek to heller it." " Yiuir words ar* golden. But nil in time you aro keeping m* in terrible IMH peuxi You have not yet quit* m 1. ii icuiN with me " Then Lilian olau*tu*r hand m bis. Miss Cliesuey, whi>, had she neen born a man and a gardner, could have commanded any wages, is on her knees U-sid.- some green planu, busily hunting for slugs. The ravishers of baby flowers and innocenl seed- lings am Mia* Cheaney ' especial abboi rence. It iiin vain to tell her thai they must be fed, that they, as well as the leviathans, mutt have their daily food ; she decline* to look upon tbeir freu,neot depredations in any other light than aa wanlon mischief. Upon their destruction she waste* so mucii of her valuable lime that, could there be a thought in their small, slimy, gelatin- ous bodies, they must look upon her a* the fell destroyer of their race, a sort of natural enemy. She i* guiltless of gloves, and, being heated in the chase, has Hung her hat upon the velvet sward beside her. Whereupon the ardent sun, availing of the chance, is making desperate love to her, and is kissing with all it,miglit her priceless complexion. It is a sight lo make a town bred damsel weep aloinl 1 Miss Beauchamp, sailing maje*tically to- wards this foolish maiden, wilh her dia- phanous skirts trailing behind her, a huge hat upon her carefully arrauged braids, and an enormous garden umbrella over all, looks with surprise, largely mingled with contempt, upon the kneeling figure. She marks the soft beauty of the skin, the ex- quisite penciling of the eye-brows, the rich color o.i the laughing lips, and, marking, feels some faint anger al the recklee* ex- travagance of the owner of these unpurchas- able charm*. To one long aware of the many ad- vantages lo be derived from such pre- cious unguents a* erenie d'lspahan, vel- vetine, and Chinese ronge, is known also all the fear of detection arising from the daily us* of them. And to see another richly and freely endowed by Nature with all the most coveted lints, making light of the gift, seems to such a on* a gross imper tinrnre, a miserable want of gratitude, too deep I.T comprehension. Pausing nesr Lilian, wilh the over-tea Mslu*se panting and puffng hwdeher. Miss Beauchamp looks down upon her cutioucly, upon the roseleaf face, the little soiled hands, the rullled goldeu hesxl, and calcu- late* to a fraction the exact amount of mis- chief that may be dene by the possession of so much you ' and beauty. The girl is - I<M> pretty. There i* really no knowing >tat irremediable harm she may not have ne already ! "Whatamet you ar* making of)onr- self ! " say* Florence, in a tone replete with ladylike disgust. " I am, rather," says Lilian, holding aloft the small hand, on which five dusty linger* disport themselves, while she regards them coutemplativelv : "but 1 love it, gaidening, I mean. I would have made a small for- tune at rtower uliow*, had I given my mind to it earlier ; not a pri/e would have escaped me." "Kvery one with an acre of garden thinks that,' says Miss Beauchamp, "Itolhey?" smiling up at the white goddess lieside her. " Well, perhaps so. ' Hope springs eternal iu the human breast,' and a good ilnn.., too " Don t you think you will be likely to (rets sunstroke' " remarks Florence, with indifferent concern. No; lam accustomed lo go about with out my hat," answered Lilian : "Of ixmrse a* a rule I wear it, but it always give* me a feeling of suffocation ; and a- for a veil, 1 simply couldn't bejar one." Mi .i lloauchamp. glancing ourioualy a' the peach like complexion beneath her. wondtim enviously how she does it, and then .-eriecls with a certain sense of satis tactiuu thai a very littl more of this mad tampering with Suture's gifts will create such havoc as must call for the immediate aid uf the inestimable Ilimmcl and his fel- lows. The small terrier, awaking from the tune ful snoo/e that always ac oinpamm her mo menu of inaetiuty, whether she lie stand ing or lying, now rolls over to Lilian am! make* a fat effort lo lick her dear little (irreiaii nnae. Al which let no one wonder, as a prettier little nose w&s never seen. But i* Lilian so far unsympathetic that she Ktrongl) objects lo the rare**. " I'o M Kan.'liett* !" ah* Stay*, kiudl> ic .oiling a liitl.-, "yna mu*l forgive me, Inn the (set is I can't Wai having my face hi a- <-il 1 1 IK liad taste on my |i't . 1 know, and 1 hope you will grant te.pardMi N I cannot pet yon either, becMse \ think HIT earthy f ngors' would not impf o\ r jrotir snowy coat." ' * f -i '' "(Some away, Kanclicttr. mine away. petite, directly ; do you hear? " ofies VUn ttaanchamp, iu au agony le*t the rettrd Mceosul her "curled dai ling ' sboulU be <li liUd "tome to it* uwu mistreu. Mien Don't you M* you arc disturbing Lilian ' ' tin* last as a luihlnpology for thn unaffwteil -ri.ii of her former tou*. Su saying, she gathers u| Funohelte, and tirrs into the iluxiled shrublierirs lieyon.l hel. Almost as she disappears from view, (iuy I'omes njion lh* scene. " Why, what are you doing?" he rail mil while yet a few yards from her. " I hav IK-CU shocking your oousin," re iiinn Lilian, laughing. " I doubt ahr ihlnks me a horiible, milady like yoim. .'iii.\n But 1 can't help that. See how I >iav* soiled my hands I ' holding up for Ii ,in|ie. lion liei ten little grimy fingers. " And done your utmost to ruin yom I'umplexion, all for the sake of a few p slugs. \\ hat a bloodthirsty little thing you re I" "I don't Iwliev* thrie is any blo.nl ii iheui," says Lilian. " Do corns away. One would think thru wasn't a gardener about the place. Yoi' will make yourself ill, knoeling llu-re n he SUB ; and look how wurm you are : It s a pesitiro shame.' But I havs preserved the lives and the beauty, of al' these little plants. '' ' Never m.nd the plant*. Think of your own beauty. I came here to ask you if you will come for a walk iu the woods. I have just been there, and it is absolutely cool." "I should like to immensely," springing to her feet : " but my haaxls," hesitating. " what am I to do witli them ? Shall I lun in and wash them ? I shan t be one in mute." "Oh. no :" hastily, having a wholesome horror of women's minutes; "come down to tb* stream, and we will wash them there." This suggestion, savoring of unconven- tionaluy, find* favor in Mis* Chesney 's eyes, and they start going through the lawn, for the tiny rivulet that runs between U and. the longed-for woods Kneeling beaide it, Lilian let* the fresh gurgling water* trail through her fingers, until all the dust falls from them and floats away on its bosom ; then reluctantly she t ; on They withdraws her hands and, using looks at ' them somewhat ruefully "Now, how ihali I dry them?" auks she glancing at the drop* of water thai fall from her fingers and glint and glisten like dia- mond* in the sun's rays. "In your handkerchief." suggest* liuy. "but then it would be wet, and I should hate that. Cue me yours,'' nays Miss Chesney, with calm *elfishne-s. " What was 1 1 '" " 1 want you" coaxtogly " to taie me round by the Cottage, so that I may gel a glimpse at this wonderful widow." " It would be 110 use ; you would not **> her." " But I might-" " And if so what would you galu by it* Sht is very much like other womeu : she has only one nose, and not more than two eyes." ' " Nevertheless she rouse* my curioeity. Why have you such a dislike to the poor womau ?" " Oh, no dislike," says Guy, the more hastily in that he feels there it some truth in ihe accusation. " I don't quite trust her : that is all." ' Still, take me near the Cottage ; do, uow, Cuardy,'' says Miss Chesney, softly, turning two exquisite appealing blue eyes upon him, which of course settles theques (iuy laughs and produces au unopened j bee,,!, her. ii * *__ L:_L i U *T..I1 ... J . I handkerchief iu which he carefully, and it must lw confessed, very tardily, dries her fingers one by one. Do you alway* lake a* long a* tl.at to dry your < wu hands'" asks Lilian, gravely, when h* has arrived at the third bngei of thececond hand. " Always '." without a blush. " i on: dressing, altogether, mutt lake a long time '" " Not so long as you imagine. It is only on my hands I expend so much care." " And on mine," suggestively. " Kxactly so. Do you never wear rings?" " Never. And for ihe best reason." "And thai?" f " Is because I haven't any to wear. I have a few of my mother'* but they are old- fashioned and heavy, and look very silly on my hands. I must get them reset." " I like riu^s on pretty hands, such as your*." " And Florence's. Yes, she has pretty hands, and pretty rings also." " Has she ?" "What ! Would you have me believ* you never noticed them? Oh, -Mr tiuy. how deceitful you can 1*'." "Now, that i* just the very on* vice of which 1 am entirely innocent. You wrong me. I can't be deceitful to save my life. I always think it imist be so fatiguing. Most turn and take th* direction that leads to the Cottage. But their sffoit to see the mysterious widow i* not crowned with success. To Mist Chesney 's sorrow and Sir Cuy's secret joy, ihe house appears as silent and devoid of life a* though, indeed, it had never been inhabited. \\ ith many a backward glance and many a wistlul look Lilian goes by while Cuy carefully suppresses all expres- sions of satisfaction aid tr udges on silently say* Lilian, after a y>ung ladies have pretty hand*. I suppose ; " She must be out," lengthened pause. "She must be always oat so," says (iuy, " became she is never to be seec. " " You mast have come here a great many time* to find that out,' says Mis* Cheaney, captiously : which remark puts a stop to all conversation for some time. And indeed lack is dead against Lilian, for no sooner has she psssed oat of sight than Mr*. Arlington step* from her door, and, armed with a book and a parasol, makes for the small and shady arbor situat- ed at the en.l of the garden. Bat if Lilian's luck has daserted her, Cyril'* ha* not He has walked down her* this evening in a rather daepomUug mood, having made ihe name journey vainly for th* last three days, and now just a* he ha* reached despair find* himself in Mrs. Arlington's presence. "Good-evening '' h* says, gayly. feeling rather elated at nia good fortune, raising his hat. "(iood-evening," return* **M, with* faia* blusn born of a vivid recollection of all that passed at their laet meeting. " I had no idea I should see you to-day," savi t 'yril ; which is the exact truth, for a wonder. "Why? You alway* *ee me when you round here, don't yon?" say* Mr*. come round here, don't yon ? says , . . Arlington : which is not th* trurti, she hav- but I never noticed thoe of MUM Beau- ' j n g Keen th* secret witness of his joining champ, or her rings either, in particular ' many times, when she has purposely *bstin- Are you ton. I of rinss ?" I ,.| fro,,, being seen. "Passionately fond," laughing. .. j hops," says Cyril, gently, " you havs should Ilk* to have every finger and both forgiven me for having inadvertently offend- my thumlis covered with them up to '.he rd yoa laat month."' first knuckle "And nobody ever gave yon one ?'' "Nobody," shaking her bead emphatical- ly. "Wa*n't it unkind of them?" With this remark Sir (Juy doe* not con- ..>i 1,-idf : *o ne keeps silence, and they walk on some yards without (peaking Present- ly Lilian, who*e thoughts ar* rapid, find- ing the stillness irksome, breaks it. Sir Cuy " Missl'liesaey ' " Last week, you mean '" in a surprised tone. "I* it really only a week How long it eems '." says CyriL " Are you sere it was only last week ?" " Quite sure," with a slight smile. " Yea, 1 you are forgiven. Although I do not quit* know that T have auylhiug to forgiv*. ' " Well. I had my own doubt* about it al the time," says Cyril: "but I hsve been carefully tutoring myself ever since into the . .* As they all nail her "Lilian," *he glance* bli*f that I was wrong. I think that my up at him in some surprise at the strange ne** of his address. " Well, and why not, "says he, answering ihe unmntakeable question in her eyes, " wnen you call me ' Sir Cuy' ? I wish you would not." " Why T Is il not your name ?" " Yes. but it is so formal. You call Cyril by his name, and even with my moth er yon )ia\e diopped all formality. Why are you difterenl with ire ? Can you not oall me 'Cuy'?" "tiny! Oh, I couldn't. Kvery time the name passed my lips I should faint with horror at my own temerity What ' call my guardian by his Christian name ? How can you even suggeit tin idea ? t'onsider your age and hearing. " One would think I was ninety," say* he rather piqued. ' Well, you are not far from it," teasing- ly. " However. 1 don'to bjecl to a coiiipr.nii lie. 1 will call you I'licle liuy, if yon wish it." Nonsense !" indignantly. " I don't want to be your uncle. " "No" Then Brother tiuy." " That would be equally foolish.' " You won't, then, claim relationship with m* ?" in a surprised toue. " 1 fear you look upon me u a IIMIHYIK !_/>/. Well, ' then," withiidilen inspiration. " 1 know | what 1 shall dp. Likr I'tilui Smmnxraon, m ' BIL House,' 1 .ihall call yon ' liiiard- in. I'tirre :" clappmu her hand*, " is not that the very thing ' Cuardian ynushall be, and it will remind me of my duty to you every time 1 mention \our same. Or per- haps,' hesitating -" ' tiuardy' will be prettier." " I wish I wasn t your guardian," tiny says, somewhat sadly. " Don I be unkindei than you .an help,' rrjirochfully. " Y'ou won't lie my brother, or my guardian * What is it, then, that you would be:' To t lut * ( ue tt uni h* could give a very con- isse itnawe r, but iloes not dare do so. H* t|ierelor* it alatain* a discreet sileni-e, snd relieve* his feelings by tsJliug the hestel* off three datnlelions that chance to com* lu hit pith " l*o. - s it give you 10 very much tronlile. the guardianship of poor little me," she auks, with a mUchievou* though charming mile, "that yon so much regret it?" ' U isn't III il," hauswei,slowl\. "but I fear you look I'oldly on me in conarmieiiiv it it. You do not make m* your fri*nd, \nd tlm. . unjust, becauce it was nnt my tault. I did net ask to be your guardian it was your father's wish entirely. You nhould not blame me for whal he insisted on "I don't," gayly, -"and I forgive you for having acceded to poor papa'* proposal o dou'l i ret about it. After all," naught ly, " I dare say 1 might have got worse . you aren't half bad so far, which is wiss of you, because I war* you 1 am an 'in' lair ; and should you Tare to thwart me should Isatl you such a life as would make you rue the day you were l>orn." " You iprak a* though it wtre my desire M thwart you." " Well, perhaps It is. At all event*," > n h a relieved *lgh, " I have warned you >nd now It I* off my mind. By th* by, I .vaa going to say something to you a few . niutotaito when you interrupted *." prui ip*! fault lay in my expressing a hope that the air her* was doing you good ; and that to say the least of it was mild. By the by, t* it doing you good ?" " Ye*, thank you." 1 am glad of it, a* il may persuad* you to stay with ua. What lovely rose* you have ' Is that one over there a * liloire de Dijon' ? I can aoarcely *ee it from tins, and I'm so fond of ro*es." "This, do you meru'" plucking one. "No, il i*a Marirtal lii*l." " Ah, so it is How stupid, of me to niak* the mistake !" says (.'yril, who in reality knows a* much about rose* a* about the Man in the lion Mask. \- he (peaks, two or three drop* of rain fall heavily upon his face, one upon hi* uow, two into his earnest eye* : a large on* finds it* way cleverly between his partmt lip*. Tbi* latter ha* more effect upon him than the oihr thine combined. " It is raining," he say*, naturally hut superfluously, glancing at hi* coat sleeve for confirmation of hiswoids. (TO III UNTINl'ICn. ) MaaarrlHeal and Kr*nKllrasi B\*>er. Tl-e American* aie frequently found mak- ing comparison) between th* cost of mon- archical and their dwn republican form of (ioverninent They point, for instance, t* the immense sum necessary to carry oa the liovernwient of Cre*>t Itntain, and (he much let* amount reqnirm! to conduct the affairs if th* Tinted States. One of their own paper*, iwently referred to sonie items of expense which ar* not u*e<( in the compari- son spoken ot. Thi. paper say* : Is it not little strange that when our great et it is ticiaus take sUte and pom it to figure up the cost of government, they never take into th account the expenie of the election* * The .-011111 iv has lately gons through its great preaidrntal I'anvas*. How much tiid it cot ' The lutle items are (he expense of printing ballots and tlio time and tabor of Ike roen who sit behind Ihe rail and receive th* ballot* ; list the** expauditure* must foot up, t->r the whole country, many mil- lions of dollars. Legitimate expense* o( polili.il partie* would amount to other mil- lions ju*t ho'v many no man could guiui*. Knonnoii* hulls wero necessarily incurred for printing, for p.>sUge. forlherentof halls, tor the travelling expenses of delegates to con vention* and 91 stuniiispeakor*, forth* *i|ttip- ment of political olnlM with uniforms and torches, and for other purpose* soniewhal similar. Worst of all were th* axpendi- tureslor the secrot oorvic* of the poliiioaJ parties, the cost o( th* dawk and hiddsjm arts, purchased voUw, corrupt devio** t* cheat voters and to falsify ther will, lireatwaalh* money e\peu*e of all thi*\ t lie real - 1 1 of it is not measured by dollar* The country pay* for It in a loo* of noral lamina, in demoralisation of to* pabli* conscience. Just bofor* th* election a Nw York n*w*pap*r declared that in a cert*>BB city, which is name.1. contanr.ng t wnty fiws hundred voters, lhre were eight hundnsd votes for tale. Men wvr* *o sham, lf* that they even org*>nii*d to put up t(* price -" "truck" for more pay for their vote*. If the ilory it true, what a !al* it tolls of, still mtaner men who have taught these purchasable voUrt to ex*>*rt pay I t , .

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