JACK AND MINORY: A TALE OF CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

Evening Star, Issue 8730, 23 January 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

JACK AND MINORY: A TALE OF CHRISTMAS-TIDE.

CHAPTER 111.

By 10 a.m., however, Wooloombe, having found his way to his room, had finished his dressing* and came down fully expecting a solitary breakfast. He rang the Dell, and asked if anything had been sent up to his guest, and was disoussing the question with Mr Lomax, when the young lady, apparently none the worse for the past night's experiences, entered the room. " Now this is really too good cf you," he declared, moving eagerly to meet her, and welcoming her with outstretohed hands. " A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you, Captain Wooloombe!" " Ah, now to think yon should have forestalled me. But, you see, I never believed you would have ventured down so early." "Why not? I slept splendidly, as I hope you did ?" "Magnificently!" and quickly turning the subjeot, "I hope you are ready for breakfast ?"

"Indeed I am delightfully hungry. But," and here she stopped. "Yes. Ah ! I see you are thinking of those most detestable Beauforts, Well, you may make your mind easy. I have sent off a man with a letter to my sister, requesting her to explain everything.'' "And you will have me Bent there after breakfast V

"My dear Miss Raymond, just look at the weather. It's been snowing hard ever since we parted, and does not look like stopping now. I doubt if a trap can possibly reach the Manor Housp. If it can, I will of course drive you myself. I asked Cicely to come over at onje; and if the road is at all practicable, you may depend on it she will come. I know as well as you do how anxious yon must be to go," he added, wistfully. " No, no, Captain Woolcombe, pray don't put it in that way. But you see," and here she stopped in pretty confusion. " I quite see, These awful rules of propriety, and that dreadful Mrs 3rundy, appear on the scene, and of course spoil everything." " It's not exaotly that," she hesitated. " I'm afraid it is just exaotly that. But perhaps my sister will turn up " " How can she, if the roads are impassable ?"

" They are not impaaaable to pedestrians, though I firmly believe no carriage can go." " Then why can't I walk there ?" " We might manage it, but we must, at any rate, give the weather a chance. It may clear later on, and, if the snow hardens, we could try and tramp it."

"So be it. I therefore dismiss all unpleasant thoughts. May I make tea for you?" "Will you? How nice that will be! You look quite as if you were the mistress of the house."

"Djl ?" she shyly said. " A poor substitute for Miss Woolcombe, I fear." "I have my own opinion as to that—not that Cicely is not the dearest girl possible." And so chatting gaily, the two got through the meal, and then rose and looked out on the lawn, where the snow still fell, but not heavily. "A dreary prospect, in sootb," be said.

** I don t think there's much chance o£ Cicely coming." "Then it does not look hopeful for our trip." " Indeed it does not. Of coarse, as far as I am concerned, I don't want you to go, but I suppose that wretched Mrs Grundy insists upon it." " Mrs Grundy, Captain Woolcombe," looking at him reprovingly, "plays a very useful role on occasions."

"Does she?" he rejoined discontentedly. "Perhaps so. None the less she is a nuisance."

"But eee! the sno.v has stopped, and I declare there is an opening in the sky. I believe, after all, it's going to be fine."

" What a bore."

"Captain Woolcombe," looking at him with a saucy look in her eyes ; " how can you ?" "For me only, of course," he laughed. " Well, I'll be magnanimous. Let us wait half an hour. A slight thaw will set the snow, and then we may be able to venture, and two of the men can carry our things." "Our thiDgs?" " Yea, our thiDgs, mademoiselle. Why, you don't suppose 1 am going to return to this miserable place, to live here like a hermit."

"I am agreeable, lam sure. I feared it was just possible you might be tired of my society by now." "How can you talk like that? Well, suppose, if you like, it is so, and the temptation is on me strong to return here alone, I Bhall resist that temptation, and—and " "Deny yourself?' " Well, if you will have it in that way. At any rate, I shall certainly stay at the Manor House."

She turned to him quite naturally and simply. "Yes, do. It will be pleasanter for me. You must know I have not seen Mrs Beaufort since she was married, some six or seven years ago, and I never met her husband. Is he nice ?"

"Tom Beaufort is a capital fellow," replied Woolcombe, heartily. " There are a lot of people in the house. My brother Trevor will come if he can get leave; he is at the depot. By the way, your name seems very familiar to me. I wonder it never occurred to me before. I was A.D.C. in Egypt to a General Raymond. Any relation of yours ?" "He U my uncle." " A dear old fellow he was, too. In India now, is he not ?" "No, in town. Mother and I live with him. Mother did not like my coming alone, but there was no help for it, for my maid was quite laid up with a cold. It's juat as well she did not go through last night's business."

"I am sure," he laughed, "I am not sorry she was absent. But that is selfish of me—to talk like this. She would have been invaluable to you." "No; in such weather as we enjoyed, she would have broken down altogether." " I fancy so. It is not every one has your pluck. Now, can you excuse me while I go and make inquiries as to the state of the road ? I'll be back in half an hour. First, let me show you into tho morning room. I have had it thoroughly warmed, and you will be very cosy there." Leaving his guest safely ensconced, he set about ascertaining whether the road to the Manor House was practicable, and learnt that no wheeled conveyance could possibly get there till the snow subsided. Returning to Miss Raymond, he informed her what the state of affairs was, and asked if she still felt inclined to dare the long walk, with all the chances of being buried in a snowdrift.

" Well, you see, Captain Woolcombe, it's the proper thing to do, I suppose; and as there now Beemß every ohanoe of its keeping clear, I think the sooner we start the better."

Just then Lomax came into the room holding a cigar case, which he handed to his master.

" James found this in the harness room, sir. I hope you did not oatoh cold sleeping there last night, sir." "No, no," hastily said Woolcombe, in some confusion. "It's all right. I fell asleep over the fire, and I suppose thiß dropped out." When the butler had disappeared Miss Raymond turned to her host reproachfully. "You make me very unhappy, Captain Woolcombe. I put you to enormous trouble, and finally I drive you out of your own house. Yes, I saw you last night go across the yard. I am sure you intentionally meant to Bleep in the harness room." "No. Well, the fact is, I lit my pipe and—fell asleep." " Oh, I know better. It is indeed high time I ran away from you." 11 How oan you be so oruel ? I wish yon would not talk like this," he protested. "All the same, it's perfeotly true. But," looking at him with sweet moist eyes, " you do believe I am very grateful for all your kind consideration for me."

"Oh, don't" he passionately implored. "If yon say more I shall Bat there, I am not fair to yon." And with an effort restraining himself as he took her hand in his own-—" I seem somehow to have made a Sreat deal oat of nothing. Pardon me. hall we start?" She recovered herself at once.

" Yes, by all means. We will make oar venture." "Together?" " Yeß, together," she made answer. " So be it," he muttered below bit breath. "The words have a good augury." (to be continued.)