Blake's Burden

reet. A cool air blew uphill from the river and the patch of grass with its fringe of small, dusty trees had a certain picturesqueness in the twilight. Above it the wooded crest of the mountain rose

. Once or twice, however, when the throb of the traffic momentarily subsided, music rose faint and sweet from the cathedral, and Mrs. Keith, who heard the uplifted voices and knew what they sang, turned to listen. She had hear

ellers; she liked to watch the French Canadian girls who slipped quietly up the broad cathedral steps. They were the daughters of the rank and file, but their movements were graceful and they were tastefully dressed. Then the blue-shirted, sinewy men, who strolled past, smoking, roused her curiosity. They had not acquired their free, springy stride in the cities; these were adventurers who

ty English girl. He carried himself well and had the look of a soldier, his figure was finely proportioned, but his handsome face suggested sensibility rather than decision of character and hi

ng at so hard?" Mrs

ide," said Mrs. Keith. "They'

and, turning suddenly, stepped back behind a passing cab. They had their backs to him when he went

. "It looked as if the fellow didn't w

oined. "I think I've seen him so

iously seen the stranger's action, but Mrs. Keith did not wish to pursue the subject then. N

," he said. "We may go West to-morrow, though we haven't decided y

alloners passed on, and Mrs. Keit

accounts for it, but he shows signs of his mother's delicacy. She was not strong, and I always though

ss the doctors were satisfied

e're young and of developing later. Bertram has shown himself a capable officer, but

came out of the hotel with Sedgwick

me, but he's going on to Toronto to-morrow. I suppose you have seen the Challoners? Such a

d Mrs. Keith. "I

who was distributing a basket of peaches

? Miss Graham fits the part very wel

rl; you can see that she's sorry for the dirty little beggars. They don't look as

be more to the purpose if you gave th

Sedgwick coolly. "

who clustered round him, after which he stood talking to Millicent, whi

nished, we are going into the cathedral to hear the music. I'

three or four minutes, after which Mrs. Chudleigh moved forward imperiously and

d that he didn't mind

er suggestion, and I half expected something of a s

d her other suitors have, no doubt, deferred to her. It's a change to be defied instead of courted, and thou

or granted that she

done one or two dashing things of the kind that catches the public eye.

es led steeply down to the stately colleges of McGill and the rows of picturesque houses along Sherbrook Avenue; lower yet, the city, shining in the clear evening light, spread across the plain, dominated by its cathedral dome and the towers of Notre Dame. Green squares with trees in them checkered the blocks o

s than Montreal-I'm looking forward to showing you the work of the Moguls in India-but happiness such as I've had of

very young and much in love,

to let you indulge in it. Besides, how could you have had bad hours? You have been made much of and given ever

t? However, I got used to things and made art my hobby instead of my vocation

Rockies we will spend the days in the most beautiful places we can find and I shall take m

d my tormentors by caricaturing them. On

t to have done. You have talent. Indeed, I nev

f pictures, he looks upon artists and poets as a rather effeminate and irresponsible set, and I must own that he has met one or two unfavourable specimens. Then he couldn't imagine the possibility of a son of his

with. He was with Outram, wasn't he? You have his look, though there's a puzzling difference. I think th

not been a blessing,"

uthlessness about those old Challoners which you couldn't show. After all, thei

Challoner's face,

my faults." Then he added humorously: "Af

kle in them and dark lashes, though his hair was fair. As he drew nearer, Blanche was struck by something that suggested the family likeness of the Challoners. He had their firm mouth and wide forehead, but by no means their somewhat austere expression. He looked as if he went careless through life and co

anche knew he was the man who had brou

oice was cordial, though rather strained. Then he turn

whole he looked amused, but his face grew gr

iness," he said. "I believe it will be yours. Bertra

her judgment and be charitable, but she found that she pitied the man. He had failed in his duty in time of stre

re?" Bertram asked. "Whe

Peshawur? Well, after that I went to Penang and from there to Queensland. Stayed a time

a point you wouldn't let me talk about at Peshawur, but I've often felt guil

explanatory aside to Blanche: "For two or three generations we kept open house, and a full stable in Ireland, on a revenue derived from rent

when you left Engla

t prairie farming. Found it decidedly monotonous and sold the homestead

. "You could never be trusted to

s and take up a dollar's worth. Anyhow, I'm here to meet an American whose acquaintance I made farther West. He's a traveller in paints

erested in him. He reminded her of the Challoner portraits in the dark oak gallery at Sandymere, but she thought him lighter, more brilliant, and, in a sense, more human than th

he Col

am. "I heard that

erview was hard on both. He was fair, as he always was, and tri

troubled. There was a hint of emotion in h

re than I can ever repay. He brought me up after my father's death and started me, like a son, in an ho

me. My American friend hasn't turned up yet and I may be here a f

Windsor," Bertram said, and when Mrs. Challoner seconded the request t