CHAPTER XVII. PROTECTION FROM THE LAW.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 139, 30 January 1886, Page 5

CHAPTER XVII. PROTECTION FROM THE LAW.

When Rich reached home after leaving his new acquaintance, he found that Miss Waldemar was engaged with callers, so he passed directly to his own room to wait until they should go before joining her But she had heard him come in, and came to find him. " Rich," she said, 'smiling, and looking animated, "I want you to come and see some old friends." "Who are they?" he asked. " Come and find out," she said, playfully. "I want to see if you have as good a memory as I." He arose and followed her into their parlour— a room which Audrey's taste had made perfect in all its appointments, although it was not large -and there he found a tiny-looking lady of about fortyfive years, and a beautiful girl of perhaps Jjventy-one. v He had no difficulty in recognising either of them. They were Mrs Campbell and her daughter Grace, who had been among that party, seven years previous, that had taken the trip together up the St. Lawrence River. They greeted Rich with great cordiality, and he was equally pleased to meet them again. "We hear great things of you, Mr Waldemar," Mrs Campbell said, in her most affable tone, after they had exchanged greetings. "Indeed 1 You are more fortunate than I, then," he replied, smiling, but with a trifle more colour in his handsome face. "They say you are going to make one of the finest architects in this country," pursued the lady. "We were dining with Mrs Remington one day last week, and her husband mentioned that you were in his office, and could not say enough in your praise. I assure you, we were very proud to claim you as an old friend." "Mr Remington is exceedingly kind to speak so well of me— better than I deserve, 1 am sure," Rich returned, considerably embarrassed by this direct praise. " But," he added, "to change the subject, have you ever taken another trip rp the St Lawrence since we were so fortunate as to be of your party?" "No, indeed, we haven't," Miss Grace here interposed. " Perhaps you do not know that we have been abroad during the last five or six years, papa bavine an appointment in Germany ; so we have not seen much of our own country since that summer seven years ago. But part of our errand here to-day was to plan another excursion, to ask you and Mies Waldemar to join us, with some other friends, in a trip to the White Mountains. We have already spoken to her about it, but she seems to think it will not be possible." "Thank you," Rich responded. "I really wish Aunt Audrey would go ; there is no reason why you should not," he continued as she shook her head and smiled at him. "I cannot leave the office this summer; Mr Remington goes away for two months soon, and I cannot be spared ; but Mies Campbell, I would give a good deal if you could coax my aunt out of this hot, dusty city for a few weeks." Grace looked disappointed at his decided refusal ; but turned to Mies Waldemar and gracefully urged her to make one of their party. " I cannot leave my boy," Audrey repliod, with a fond glance at Rich ; "I am afraid he would be lonely without me, and I am very sure I should without him. You are very kind to remember us, and I am sure we shculd enjoy it exceedingly if we could go. What a pleasant excursion that wasjeeven years ago !" "Indeed it wa3," Mrs Campbell answered, heartily, and then they fell to recalling incidents connected with it. "I suppose you have not forgotten our queer fellow-travellers - George Washington Starkey and hia piater Martha Ann," Miss Campbell remarked, with a slight glance at Rich, while she blushed a lovely colour. "No, indeed, I have not," he replied, laughing, "and, do you know, Miss Campbell, she actually cent me a pair of those atockiogs for a present the next Christmas." Grace's merry laugh rang out like old times at this information, and then she told him the story of her lovely silk mittens. " I have them now," she said, in conclusion, " and I should really like to see the quaint little body again ; for, if you will believe it, I actually began to feel quite an affection for her after she had forgiven me for being so rude to her." " After you had made it up with her so nobly, you ought to have said," Rich interposed, thinking that his former acquaintance had grown exceedingly lovely since that memorable excursion. An hour passed in delightful intercourse for the visitors were exceedingly entertaining. Mrs Campbell was a noble woman and a perfect lady, while her daughter gavo evidence that she had improved, most faithfully, her advantages abroad. "We shall leave New York for the mountains, two weeks from to-day," Mrs Cambpell at last said, and rising to take her leave. lam more disappointed than I can tell you that you cannot go with us ; but you must come and dine with us before we leave ; you surely will grant us that much." "We shall be very happy to do so," Audrey said, while Rich bowed his thanks and acceptance, " and believe me, I am very sorry that we cannot go on the trip with you. Rich really needs change more than I do, for he has been working very hard ; but I know, as he saye, that it will be impossible for him to get away this summer, so I must stay and take care of him." " Well, we must resign ourselves to stern fate," sighed Mrs Campbell, regretfully. "However," ehe continued, "We shall be gone only about three weeks, and I promise myself that I shall see a good deal of you after our return. But about our dinner — will Tuesday suit you ? ' Audrey said it would, and it was arranged that the Campbell carriage Bhould be sent for them on that day, after which the ladies took their leave. "I must confess, Bich, I am glad to renew this acquaintance," Audrey remarked after their friends were gone. "I always admired Mrs Campbell, and she is tenfold more lovely now than she was.before Bhe went abroad." " She certainly ia a very delightful lady," Rich assented. '• And Grace — isn't she charming?" Mies Waldemar bent a penetrating glance upon " her boy " as she said this. "Miss Campbell is a beautiful girl, and her manner is very polished," he answered, quietly, while he drew the evening paper from his pocket and began to unfold it somewhat absently. Miss Waldemar smiled, and forthwith a Sretty little romance, in .which Grace ampbell and Rich figured as conspicuous characters, began to weave itself in her fer-, tile brain. ? But the young man himself was thinking of a fair, pure face, withdeep blue, appeal ing eyes, surmounted by bewitching waves of golden hair, which was far lovelier to him than the more brilliant beauty of Mis.B Grace. Campbell.

, It was a '^foregone conclusion " that Riohmond Waldemar had that day lost his heart to beautif ul.'Annie Hunting, although, as yet, he himself had not made the discovery, nor would he have been willing to confess to more than a friendly interest in her. But the next morning, on his way down town, he went directly to that corner, where she had told him her tormentor was in the habit of waylaying her, and interviewed a policeman who was stationed there. He related something of what had occurred the previous day, describing both the young lady and the fellow, and asked him to be on the lookout at a certain hour and use his authority to prevent the young girl from further annoyance. The officer was good-natured and obliging, and promised to interfere if everything was not all right. But for the next few days Annie Hunting rode, home, and John Crouch, though he lingered around the corner watching for her, had his trouble for nothing. However, this could not last, for the young girl's means were very limited, and one evening, about a week after Rich had come to her rescue, she concluded to walk, though she set out upon her return with fear and trembling. She took the other side of the street, hoping thus to avoid the dark shadow which had haunted her so persistently, But his keen eyes espied her, for he was, as usual, upon the watch, and, with a chuckle of triumph, he darted across the street and was soon by her side. ** Evening, Mies Hunting," he said, peering into her face with an insolent smirk. " You're altogether too modest to try to hide yourself in this way. ' Taint right that so much loveliness should be unappreciated, and I want to know that you've got one true admirer in this world." Annie Hunting's delicate face flushed an angry crimson at this offensive speech. She stopped shortand turned upon him, her eyes blazing with indignation. "I think it is time this was stopped," she said in a low but determined voice. " You have followed me and persecuted me with your hateful attention and speeches until I can bear it no longer. I do not even know who you are " '♦My name is Crouch— John Crouch, and I'm a carpenter by trade my beauty," he interrupted. ••I do not wisfi to know you," she went on, unheeding his interruption, " and if you ever dare to follow or address me again, I shall appeal to some one for help." "To that up town dandy, perhaps, who took you off with such scant ceremony the other day," the fellow sneered. The young girl did not reply, but hurried along as fast as the crowded condition of the street would admit. " A man may walk where he likes on the streets of New York, I suppose," continued the boor, quickening his pace also and keeping by her side, while he seemed to take a cruel pleasure in her anger, "you know a ' thing of beauty is a joy for ever, and I can't help being drawn to you, the same as the needle is drawn by a magnet. I guess you're a witch, for you've enchanted me, and I don't see but what you'll have to suffer the consequences." She waited to hear no more, but turning quickly, darted into a store, where she determined to wait until a car came along, and ride the rest of the way home. Her tormentor gazed after her with a wicked Bmile, then backed himself up against the building as if determined not to be outwitted by any such manoeuvre as that. But the next moment a heavy hand was laid upon his shoulder, and a steru voice said in his ear : " I guess, young man, you've played that game about long enough ; you're to let that eirl alone after this, or it may be the wuea For you." " What is she to you ? I'd like to know," demanded the astonished carpenter, losing colour a trifle as an officer loomed up before him. " She's an unprotected female, and I'm a-going to look after her," answered the policeman. "How do you know but what I'm a brother or a cousin, and have a right to her company ?" The officer gave an exasperating snorfc, half of amusement, half of derision, while he scanned the ourh fellow from head to foot with a look of cv rmpt. "The resemblance uin't strong enough fur that," heretortod, "and according to my judgment ehe didn't seem to hanker after your society, so you're to let her alone after this. Do you understand ?" and that iron hand on his shoulder pressed like a vice. "This is some more of that purple-and-fine linen up-start'a work, I suppose," he ! muttered, wrathfully, " the debt I owe him is getting bigger every day ; he'd better look out for himself." "You needn't stand there muttering to yourself like an idiot ; go along about yoxir business, for the young lady in there wants to go home," commanded the policeman. Not daring to disobey, the discomfited bully slunk away. Annie was still standing inside of the store, and had seen all that had occurred. As Crouch moved off, the'policeman beckoned to her |to come out and go on her way. Instinctively ehe knew that Richmond Waldemar had thrown around her this protection, and with a happy light in her eyes ehe came out at the officer's signal. "Well, little girl," he said, beaming graciously on her ; " you can go on your way in peace now, the eye of the law is upon you and you may rest easy after this." She bowed her thanks, and turned away with a light heart;, feeling' as if she had just been liberated from some terrible thralldom though she had yet to learn that the ' eye of the law ' was not so all-powerful as the officer would have had her imagine.