JACK'S DARLING.

Bush Advocate, Volume IX, Issue 794, 20 June 1893, Page 4

JACK'S DARLING.

Chapter VII (Continued) •Captain Tregarthen, ; perhaps, would kindly escort me, aunt.' 'But Jack, is so busy just now.' • ' ' Not too, . busy for that. ; aunt,' interposed Jack, promptly. 'Besides, Pouncforb comes back to-night. *'l ilHis father is dead then V 'No; he is much better. He recovered once before after the doctor* had given him up.' *>d i Aid you think Mary is looking -^Teally better 1' observed Mrs Eyre, * presently.;- ■"■ • *'■"• Jack had said nothing of the sort ; - but lie did not contradict her. i ll - " 'I think she will be delighted, to have Lady Blanche,' he answered, evasively. ' 1 could be ready for the 12.15 express, ; if that would suit Lady Blanche.' " y :<r Quite well,'sho answered brightly. And then Mrs Eyre suggested that they should not write to Mary, <■ 'but let Lady Blanche's visit be a surprise. However to this proposition Jack gravely objected. * 'Surprises are always mistakes,' he iaio 1 ' esjjeciaLly when people are not stroflP. If J ou will take m y advice, aunt, you. will write and * announce Lady Blanche's intention, '.and telf Mary a,t j wlat hour to ' ; .ejcpecstier/., . . . -,■ ' Exactly.; , She m^T Me to go to {.'the. station to meet h.er,' said Mrs •jEyre, adopting the amendment with ,a ; cheerfulness that m.ide Lady Blanche give Jack a piteous glsnce. < c .',l am afraid,; Mary could not get ;so,;far »s that, , aunt,' he . remarked, -> ■quietly." : , . .' , c ; ' She never was a good walker, arespoaded her , mother, plaoidly, ; goipg on with her dinner. 'And '(.there are sheltered, seats at Folkestone, .where one can sit and gaze * .at the sea and the passing ships, and s)M%ry can always, take her book to Vjone. of .those.' >, v ,.. Jack did not stay all. the evening — it was, not. often he could spare so jimiich tim,e,;.but it .was settled before - : ,,tie ; left theexact time he. would come f )f to Tetch Lady Blanche. . i>t J&k decided tfcatshewasacharme ing travelling compapipn when he , ifouud the next morning that her ...jfonpedimentf,., consisted, of one {..moderate-jsized box only, and a.little .things Mrs Eyre (jj^as ; sending .to ,, Mary. And then tjjhpw ' perfectly , .high-bred she looked X , jin, her, taiior.-made ".."costume, of . black ■ a glove, and' j,,t}ie,..little hat jthat. sat so jauntily on' - jf^ck wished! tjiey ; 0 *Treje.Btarting for a.tour round "the . lfl .^prld.,[ji[e couldfancy 'how.'," plea-; . Bandit .migkt b 9, to have face TPP.P*" -.site him always^ the 'eloquenlj eyes \ .-turning to him for sympathy, the , 7-.- little hand; slipping sometimes into his | .spirited, .tenaer, discreet— a ; ..model wife, and a perfect .woman. i" f .. f So Jack ! thought, j and, watching' 1 ' her, found it hard work. , to keep ., <(1 th # isv thought out of .his eyes. But ...'^Lady'.ißlanche .chattered en,, feeling '".njpre athoine] with" him .now, and I-}., ©over guessed what -was in his mind.' ' ' "I^w^s.'d, long drive to CharingT |.^£oss,".pnt' Jack . enjoyed every moof, it ; he enjoyed, too,,'.seojrig j» ( ",r good stepper), and 'her 'perfect „ .anqpnscio.usnea,s, 'although two or .i' | ' i .three i '!TOpn ; 'stare4 ! ',in a.'.;way that ■^„infldß Jack' feel bad wolds) if ho did' .. not .utter thepi. ' .. ' ■' _ ( , w '! '"Xija^.vpuld ;ljke' to smoke, f sHe'said, demurelj-, q* when ne hW'set'tied her to her j jjeat, .and wrapped his rug carefully feet..; ' .'.'•'' ;V Jf , 'Smoke, 1 . ...he repeated; , v 'and '^ jeaye your' 'fair. side' a|l unguarded,' '.' . ytiiftn you', iun'der. my charge ' V r/i -li^" fc ! * & A c q."ite_safe. here, '\-_Gaptiiri, . Trpgar'then. ,V/ 6. don't .Tj'jßtop until we get to.Folkestqne.' . .\'..,. ,'The more, resasoh why you ' y .'jj^ould'not be alone, ijady Blanche, unless. "you ,\vish~'' , ''„.,[ . • „( , , ' No ; I prefer a companion,'. sh3 u^ admitted, rather hesitatingly.' ' Only .' n 'J know gentlemen, do not like to be . deprived of their cigars, 1 p.j.jj .'There is .something we prefer cigar,' observed Jack, his dangerously soft. .. :, Lady Blanch drew her skirts a i, ', little .closer, .then. to make room, for * is him, and wondered a little how it ,wa^ )t no one .'came, into their carpage; ; But cunning Jack had taken j v jCare. of ;tha*t., for ho had engaged the tia wjaple, and tipped the guard besides. so. that they wore absolutely un- , ni'ple'sted, eyen before they started. • > . : It was a cold day, and Lady, ,;' Blanche- could not do. less than offer )(<v Jack, half of his. own rug, which he . ls .accepted, gratefully, quite oyercpme, g^eyidenjiTj, ,by' her. kindness. This t ', b.raughli them cjdse enough together ,-';.', [jtft make.c onversation practicable, j u ' .^lid most pleasant to Jack, 'whose '. • .moustache was . sometimes,' of , ' t ne.cessjty, within a fevv inches ot :' .' \Ladyj'Blanche's round young cl:eek. M , Tliere might be sorrow and pain ! looming iii the distance for both ; }'' b'ufc th 6 present was theirs! and the ' ' Bup'reme sweetness of ' love's young ,*., dream 1 made it so bright and beautiful, '' ful, they did net need to look back:f: ' -ward or forward. «•••> ; i ; • I vM.sh this would last for ev^r,' *'■■■ said Jack, 1 with a long sigh; 'but ' : when one ishappy, the time jjasses ' ' 'so quicikly,' ' ';".? .'.I don't agree with you' there, '.-, -Captain Tregarthen. The days at ~'* Beaumanceused to pass like a dream, ,?^.one melting monotonously into the , u ,pfih,er,; as it were,, and yet I was far • a:b( f - rQrn..ha,ppy. Now that there is an , /; ,; events, of soine sort to keep each on«, ■j,,,, Saturday, does not seem to come ' round half so fast.' ,-,,., 'Does it soem it long or a short tayou, then, since we left .„, Charing-cross:?' asked Jack, slyly. i;\i ;.;' Quite ,an hour,' she answered, jj.wjth decision, . . , Jack consulted his. watch. i ; : 'You have made a good guess,' !>> $? s^'d. , lau gbing. <lt is just an "" hour and one minute.' tuu'l ' w o n S di^ y° u think it was, .Capta'm.Ti^garthen ?' " „ ten' minutes. 'But,' , n '.bending still closer, and speaking 'n '"a very insinuating tone, ' couldn't r^you'call m3jadr, like all the rest?' »"':• She^shook her head. - ■ 'I am not like the rest. I have only known you such a little while.' ■- 'But. it seems to me that one " : Vreek of real sympathy and friend--8h .)RFW I .4 fii ve me this claim better ',:..Wian-y.ears of mere acquaintanceship.