Mildred: An Autumn Romance.

" I have changed my mind , and Avill take your advice , and go by the next train as you suggest , sir , " Marmaduke said as he looked in at the General ' s sanctum half an hour later . " That ' s a good boy , " the General replies ; he seems quite mollified at his son's compliance with his Avishes , and as the latter strolls off to get his traps put up , the General mutters to himself" Better so ; if he goes off now Avithout seeing herhe'll

, , £ or"et her in a week . It would never do for the future county member to marry Bethime's daughter . Never heard such a preposterous idea before in my life . Wonder AA'hat made Lord Kenarlon put the idea into my head ? Ancl Avith Lady Ida in the market too . " Now , the said Lady Ida was the youngest daughter of an Irish Earl AA'ho lived in the neighbourhood . He was A'poorof very old famUyancl had eiht daughters

ery , , g , only three of Avhorn Avere married . The General was Avorth , it Avas said , tAventy thousand a year , for property , ancl especially his property , had gone up twenty or thirty fold in value Avithin the last hundred years , for the fens had been drained , and what Avas once a swamp was noAv valuable corn land worth , £ 50 an acre . The Earl of Glenorne knew this , and although Marmaduke was the younger son , he knew his father Avould ive him a handsome fortune if he married as he desiredindeed so much had

g , been told him as coming from General MatheAv . So it Avas quite thought ( the Countess being a nonentity who always fell in with her husband ' s views , but who , so , far as her other daughters were' concerned , had not managed very well for the family ) that the Lady Ida , now eighteen , shoidd one clay become the wife of Marmaduke MatheAv .

CHAPTER IV . A PRETTY BIVAIi ! THE General woidd have opened his eyes if he had knoAvn Avhat Avas taking place at Colchester within a week of the events narrated in the dast chapter ; and when he did hear of itthe end was not far to see .

, "Well , Mervyn , old fellow , and what ' s the row about this time ? " Marmaduke says , as he alights from a first-class carriage at Colchester at twelve o ' clock that night ; he hael traveUed straight to town and come on by the mail , ancl his friend ancl brother officer had met him at the station . " What's the row ? Well , I like that , Mathew ; you know better than I do what ' s the row . Old Jarvisthe pettifogging attorneyhas been at the Colonel about ancl

, , you his daughter . " " What does he say ? " Marmaduke replies , as they drive off in a cab for the officer ' s quarters , putting a cheroot into his mouth at the same time , and lighting it leisurely Avith a vesuvian .. " Why , that you committed yourself in some Avay , attempted to — you understand ? " his friend repliesbluntl .

, y " It ' s an infamous He . " " Honour ?" "Honour bright . " " Saint , old boy , I ' m heartily glad to hear it . A man ' s a blackguard Avho takes way a girl ' s character in that way , ancl nothing short of it . I don't mind a flirtation , and all that sort of thing—and of course men are not angels—but there ' s no occasion to out

go of the way to injure any one , ancl I don't believe you are the man to deceive even a slaA'ey , or a little milliner . " " Thanks for your good opinion . I'm not a Joseph . " " No one said yo \ r were , Saint , at least no one who kneAV you . " Saint Avas a nickname Marmaduke had in the regiment , and probably had its origin m some supposed connection Avith bis surname . Mervyn said he AA'as called so because 14