Blake's Burden

f sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically. To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a

she had been reading, looked

ner than the river in Canada," she said. "Its width impresses one; the French villages with their church spires

Ontario forests and the p

cars, and I can't accustom myself to going to bed in public, without undressing. No doubt, it's a matter of pre

bered their experiences during

and generally cool at Saguenay. Then you'll have somebody to talk to, as

for the tickets. Still, Sedgwick was sent to Ottawa, where she d

on which she must try to form a correct judgment and she distrusted her inexperience. She was young and had a natural love of pleasure, as well as a certain longing for excitement and a willingness to take a risk which she h

when Mrs. Chudleigh openly claimed him as her property she acquiesced. Afterwards she met Blake on board the steamer and the gratitude and admiration which a chivalrous act of his had roused suddenly revived. Moreover she was sorry for him and felt that he had been unjustly blamed, while, though it was generally hidden by his careless manner, she thought she saw in him

s society," she remarked with ironical amusement. "Mine app

dds and ends. Mrs. Chudleigh was elaborately attired, but the large plumed hat and dress cut in the extreme of the current fashion became her. She made a stately progress along the deck with her

to have been writing letters, b

t greatly and find Canada a most interesting country. In fact, I wish I

t Keith wondered what her duties were, unless she considere

e doesn't see very much of the real Canada fr

ed with all I've seen. I'm afraid I belong to a frivolous set and find a change refreshing. Then several o

" Mrs. Keith asked, willing to give the

he was very raw and troubled by a seriousness he has s

Chudleigh's boldness in laying claim to the man by suggesting that she had come out for his sake was puzzling. It was not in good taste, but although Mrs. Chudleigh's position was assured, there was something of the aud

ng home soon

to make and I may stay some time with the Fosters in Shropshire

Have you

ldier. Somebody told me he never quite got over his nephew's disgrace and seemed to think it re

er. She wished to speak about Richard Blake and Mrs. Keith wa

the nephew was in

Challoner, whom I met in London, and the family likenes

him after that. What

dour. "I was puzzled and interested. I don't kno

boy, and even then he was marked by reckless daring

ave. "I feel much as you do. After all, it may have been one

wish to sug

he regimental honour was threatened and a scapegoat needed. A mistake may have

. "I believe in Dick Blake, but it mus

king a great sacrifice, though they're by no means numerou

t doubt it, though he ne

stigma reflected upon himself-an old man who has bravely won distinction and retains some influence! I'm t

uthority on frontier defence. Indeed, he gave up his command because he could not get some drastic change

f him. I must renew our acquaintance when I

on board the steamer at Quebec. As the girl laid down the opened envelope Mrs. Chudleigh recognized Sedgwick's writing and her face grew contemp

of it. Innocent or not, Dick Blake is a favourite of mine and when I speak of him I'm apt

as Captain Sedgwick. She drag

perhaps intended to put me off t

not learned m

ake failed in his duty; and, secondly, that Colonel Challoner has some influence. I think she was pa

ad pleased his eye, and he was a man who would boldly grasp at what delighted him, but love would not be permitted to interfere with his ambitions. He wrote in a tone of forced and insincere sentiment, a

n Mrs. Keith looked up. "You are treating

Millicent. "It's fr

Keith. "Has he anythi

icer above him has suffered so much from the climate that he has asked to be relieve

ose he doesn't waste much pity on his unfortunate chi

the usual th

victions, and I've a suspicion that another man I know made as great a sacrifice. However, Sedgwick will make every effort to

penetration, but did not under

told us they were old friends.

e, I'm now and then mistaken. Whether I'm right or not in the present instance time will show, but I must try to watch

a trace of colour; "I don

n the whole," she said pointedly, "I sh

ave the wild grandeur of the landscape scanty attention as she consulted the engagement book in her hand. It contained a list of the friends she wished to entertain and the visits she

she doubted Sedgwick, and she was disturbed by the way the unfortunate affair on the Indian frontier had cropped up again. Somehow, she felt Colonel Challoner's peace was threatened, which could not be permitted. For many years she had cherished a warm liking for him, and long ago, when he was a young lieutenant, she could have made him hers. Family arrangements, complicated by the interests o

some further information about the Challoners but without success, and one day,

have been here some time and I'm be

ing with the card. "Mr. Gordon told me this morning that Mrs.

eal office about our berths." Then, for the call had grown clearer, she smiled a