Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-26
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PARTED DX AHAIRs BREADTH.

room OF leT pace uOWu III DlaIkSNlre ana list
ems to the rain which falls drip, drip, upon the
stone terrace without. My lady is not there
from choice, but by reason of her medical ty.
rants. In her lstless hand is a novel, which
she does not read. Now and then she gances
Mt the fire, which is there not because ii is cold
but because the place in Bankshire is dreary,
dampness hangs about it and a chill--a very
queer sort of creeping, as though the dead Sir
Oliver still lay i'll state on the hearse-like bed
of crimson velvet in the western chamber.
My lady's own companion sits behind her,
occupied in a mysterious fancy-work called
tatting; but it is not upon her that those won.
dering glances fall as they leave tue fire it is
upon two figures at the other end of the room
so far away that in the dim light they can
rather be imagined than seen, and their voices
are inaudible. These are the daughter and
nephew of my lady Patterdai!e.
By and by the conversation is finished, and
they come up and stand together opposite my
lady's great chair on the hearth.
George Haughton," said her ladyship,
"why are you looking like a Gagged lion O.
"Twelve months ago." replied the young
man, "my cousin bade me wait patiently a
year-a whole, long year. 1t expires to-day,
and | am here to know my fate"
"Speak lower, George Haughton."
"She tells me, he went on, with gesture
of impatence, "that she cannot tetter herself
yet that l am still boy, and must serve yet
another year fer her"
"To which you have agreed, 'interposed a
softer voice, while little white hand touched
his arm.
''To which l have agreed. 1t is no boys
love have given you, Catharine, but my whole
life. You must not think do not know you ;
. it is because you love Observation-Disclosures
you would be accounted free to exercise your
fascination over Others-that you hold back
from keeping your promise. l can wait but
do not try me too long. You are mine and |
am yours for happiness or misery, and the one
shall not suffer without the other''
My lady Patterdae bent her false eyebrows
into frowu as he finished.
"These are strange words for lover young
Haughton."
Then the naughty face softened with sud.
den CLEAN of tenderness, and he took both the
hands of his betrothed in his own strong. earn
est grasp
"Catharine knows" he said, chat l love
her as my own soul"
He was gone. My lady's book slipped slow.
ly down 10 the stool at her feet, for she was
watching her daughter. a strange look came
into the eyes of the young girl as she pressed
her clasped hands together and ielt the touch
of George Haughton's ring.
"You are wise, Catharine," said her lady.
ship. "When we go back to town you will
have many better part at your feet"
"Ihd is not it,, exclaimed Catharine
scornfully. "And the man does not live " HON
should think worthy to compare with him"
My lady bent her uncertain old eyes to look
into her daughters face.
You are endowed with a singular power of
fascination" she said. "You would fiirt. nv
daughter, in your shroud."
A shudder passed over the beautiful crouch
ing figure, and the poor companion made a
false move in her tatting
Iiut do not trust to it. Kate with ,,....I.
and beauty it passes away-ah SO quickly r
Then my lady rang for lights, and began to
reckon up the days and weeks which must
elapse before she would dare to go back 10
town and gayety, from the dreary place in
Blankshre.
So that year also went by, and then another,
and another, leaving the promise unfulfed
and still George Haughton repeated as firmly
as ever, 81 can wait y while the hope that
had ripened youth was whitening away his
manhood.
Four years more had he served for her, this
was the fifth And my lady was back again at
her place in Blankshire, but no longer alone
with her unread novel.
She had filled the house with fashion and
youth and beauty. There were daughters and
sons to be merry, and matrons TO gather round
the card table OF lady Patterdalle, and to
squabble over the cards which she touched
lovingly Will UeT lTSuDllllB OH uDRGfS, WINE
the dancing went on around her.
On such an evening it was that George
Houghton again entered the large drawing
room OF the place in Banksllire He stood
in the doorway watching the light clouds Of
gauzy Elue and pink and white, with the black
coats that relieved them. George Haughton's
head was higher than any there, lie leaned, in
his lazy strength, against the wall, watching,
with a smile to which years of disappointed
81,
while his cousin drew ar, and stopped with
gesture of surprise. George made her low
bow and then offered his ungloved hand.
Have you forgotten the day Of the month Fl
'Let me spy ak.t) you moment" he said
taking her apart from the rest.
When they came back she was looking up
at him laughingly.
"When will you give me up, George Haugh-
ton 2"
"When that beautiful black head is streaked
with silver" retorted George.
She heard new sound in his voice. and
shrank from it /; but the next moment all her
gayety came back. for she said to herself, i'm.
periously, "He knows not my power; he can
not forsake me-"
"One word more" said George. "You call
that young lady who left you just now your
friend, do you not O.
"Oh, yes-ny dearest friend"
"Wel, and the fairhaired young fellow
leaning over the prie.dieu is stranger to
you?"
Gle was till this evening"
"But not to me. When came in, you were
flirting with him. When l tell you that he is
engaged to your dearest friend, will you spare
him ?"
With laugh she broke from the light re.
straint of his hand. He looked after her, and
smiled at the folly of asking such question.
He drew himself up and pressed his knuckles
together, and he muttered to himself, tiercely,
81 will | swear it p
So this year George Haughton did not take
himself and his answer away as usual, but he
stayed on day after day, patient and watchlul
amongst the other guests of his aunt.
One evening the poor companion knocked,
with her tatting in Eer hand, at the door of
Catharine's dressing room, and entered, trem-
bling at her own boldness.
"My DEAR" said the poor lady, and all the
rows of curls on her forehead quivered with
agitation, "forgive me, but could not help
it,"
"Hep what?" asked Catharine, gently
"My dear, MY dear, an old maids life is
not always happy one. do not say that
mine is unhappy, but others are differently
constituted-y oursef, for instance, If such a
thing were to happen"
A laugh interrupted her; but clasping her
hands, with one point OF the tatting needle
running into them, she went IN most earnest
ly:-
"Alas alas you would be so miserable
All, al, d,