Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-11-20

cheeks colored. Her hands ,trembleC
. over her work for a moment, and ther
= she threw it down, and went hastily from
the room.
/ noticed constant restraint in hel
: manner towards Leslie after this, and i
4 grieved me. 1t troubled me the more
/, because l thought that he noticed it, anC
that it made him very unhappy. l hat
t discovered his secret long before. II,
loved my pretty ard.
! Matters stood in this way, when one
; evening | saw Lucy walking in the gar,
den with man. At first thought her
, companion was Leslie, but second
, glance convinced me that it was not
He was not only more heavily built, but
apparently much older person than my
brother. | stood at tae window for a
long time, watching them as they passed
to and fro in the starlight, puzzlng my
self constantly hy unsatisfactory coniec-
lures. The man opened the gate at hst,
and went out, and, after watching him a
few moments as he moved down the
street, Lucy turned and walked up the
path to the house. I waited anxiously
for long time, hoping she would come
to tell me of her visitor, but she did not,
and | paced the floor for hours in trOu-
bled thought.
At breakfast the next morning she
avoided my eye, and seemed generally i'll
at ease. Her color came and went at
every breath, and she started neryously
at every sudden sound. AS we rose
from the table, Leslie said, carelessly:
what time is it, Lucy?'
Il do not-I-I have not my watch
with me- she stammered, with such
confused face that we both looked at her
in astonishment observing which she
left the room. That evening, when she
came to kiss me good night; held her
for moment and looked steadily into
her face. Her dark eyes flashed sud
denly open with look of alright, and
then, with a hlnsh upon her face, she
struggled from me, and left the room,
forgetting the kiss. / was not only anx-
ious and puzzled to account for her be-
havior, but seriously alarmed. Yet l
asked 10 questions, for | was satisfied
that the matter, whatever it was, was
something she wished to conceal from
me, and l would make no attempt to
force her confidence.
The days and weeks passed by, and
no explanation Of the affair was made.
Gradually ceased to trouble myself
about it, for Lucy assumed her natural
manner, and no other unsual circum-
stances occurred to my knowledge, but
noticed that she never wore her watch
as she used, and l wondered that she did
not, for it was birthday gift from me,
and she had always professed to prize it
very highly.
The winter came, and was doing
upon a lounge before the fire one even
ing, while Lucy was reading at the table,
and Leslie sat opposite her with bis eyes
fixed thoughtfully upon her face. The
room was very sill. Suddenly there
came the sound of three sharp raps upon
The window pane. The noise was very
slight, so slight that Leslie did not notice
It at all, yet very distinct and unmistak-
able raps. After moment she rose and
eft the room. was terribly excited.
could hardly refrain from following
ler.
l head the hall door shut softly, and
hen qdick, light steps upon the snow of
he garden walks. paced the floor with
ny brain in a whirl for nearly an hour.
At the end of that time she re,entered
he room, coughing violently. Leslie
lad gone to bed, and we were alone to-
yether.
Lucy, said l, sternly, Il shall not al
ow this again. If you have any friends {
'ou wish to see in private, invite them }
MO the house..
As finished speaking turned to- r
Yards the door, but she sprang after me, /
nd flung her arms around me, crying:
Don't, don't! You will kill mep
'And you will kill me ? retorted, g
assionately. what have l done, that n
on have lost all faith in me? What Z
re you doing that you cannot trust me ? =
Il have been trying to do for the best,
le replied, with a sob, sinking down oni il
er knees before chair, and hiding her II
ICE upon her hands upon the seat-I y
ave been trying to stay with you, my v
lardian. That is ALL Il
What do you mean, child ? said I, a le
nderness for her stronger than any u
Id ever before felt sweeping over my -