The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-10-17
From the London Society.l
ALPS Well that Ends Well.
[Concluded.l
e oHApTER9H. ; !.

separation. when Arthur went to sea
at. fourteen, was her first grief Since
then her fife was divided into the
time when lie was with her and the
time he was net. She lived, on, from
one to the other as it were; and now
that he had come home on long
leave, she could scarcely imagine that
others would not view her hero with
her eyes. Maud had never built for
herself chateau en- Espagne, ;, Or
INDUCED in a day-dream, in which
Arthur Jermyn was not conspicuously
When she came down sta stairs and
entered the drawing room, prepared
to accompany her mother to
the ball, she found +. a. few of
the habatues of Lady Laura's house
still there. Amongi them was the
Earl of Preston, very wealthy, mid
dle-aged man, who still affected youth.
and had of late been very kind and
accompanied them to Lady Standish's.
quadrille. As Arthur was not there,
1t was matter of the greatest indiffer-
ence to her with whom she. danced :.
and she listened with vacant smile,I
and thoughts far away, to Lord Pres
ton 8 dull conversation. She could
not help g specializing on what Lady
Laura's reception Of Arthur might
be, and longed for it to be over, in
order that they might drift into their
old relations. Lady Laura; received
many compliments that night upon
her daughters looks; but they fell
on unheeding ears, for she was too
much absorbed in "a new idea which
had gradually taken possession of her
mind.
It was impossible for, her not, to no.
tice what IA constant visitor Lord
Preston had become how he continu-
ally consulted her about his affairs;
his fatheriy interest in Maud Gas she
considered it1s his u1remitting atten,
tions to them all. It was q bright
prospect, which, suggested a very
agreeable solution to the difficulties
and perplexities of her life. Lord
Preston,spropDsal to accompany them
to the ball, and his impatience to
dance with Maud took her, by sur
prise; and when she found, on pro-
posing to 60 home, that her daughter
was engaged to dance with him again,
she thought IL quite unnecessary for
Maud, who was never at a. loss for
partners, to dance 4 twice with the
same person, and that person Lord
Preston. But when he brought Maud
back to her mother, and, after escort
ing Lady Laura to her carriage, said
in a low voice, and with a tender
pressure of her hand, May | come
to morrow p and shall T find YOU
quite alone?'o then all Lady Laura
resentment O vanished, and gracious
indeed was her assent, as she smiled
UPON him. HT2 EIAA ga on ,4uoes-s5las.
To Maud's surprise, her mother
made no objection the next morning
to her riding. as she usually did after
| ball and short time after she was
gone Lord Preston arrived.
| Lady Laura had denied herself to
| all other VISITORS; so, secure from
interruption, she Z received him,
dressed in the most becoming
of morning toilets, in her own espe-
cial sitting roon, where the shaded
| light, and most luxurious arrange
ment of furniture, invited repose and
confidence 70 sss4ABT9ATJgAw. ~
u" l need not ask you how you are,
dear Lady Laura said Lord Preston,
taking her hand Your looks tell me-
that . but, how cruel of you to keep
your secret from the world" aHoa'ti
What do you meanfa she asked,
gently.
Il mean your secret of perpetual
youth: it is really hard upon the rest
of mankind. But q now he, said,
drawing a chair close to the arm of the
sofa, en- which she was half sitting,
half reclining, promise that we shall
be free from Interruption. want
much to speak to you alone .sTa y
1T isvery good fyou to have come
so early, Lord Preston No one is
/ ever admitted here.2 yogq y0gt.g9E1
| And, arming herself with handler
chief and vinaigrette, she awaited in
silence the declaration she, now fully
i expected. s9'fss - 81
"You must, have seen, dear Lady
Laura" he began. with some hesita-
ton how" much I rely on, Your
friendship-how frequently [ come to
yousfor comfort and COUNSEL 77sas ..t'-
Lady Laura. murmuredIea gracious
assent, adding that it afforded her
real happiness tozbesof useIto one she
so highly esteemed "a HMadA .,..,.,,
| Under these circumstances" he
continued, rather 1nervously, you
will not wonder If am anxious to
secure the life long cnmpsnionship of
those I value so much. and to have
always at hand what | now can only
obtain at intervals and uncertainty. |
can quite understand that you would
not like to give me any definite reply
without your daugh er's knowledge !;