The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-05-09
crimson and the bonny blue eyes


answer her, 1 saw Bell in the full
light. She was a little stouter, her
hair was dressed in a different way,
there was brighter color in her face
than [ remembered to have seen be-
fore, and deeper light in the full
hazel eyes that looked back into
mine; still she seemed unchanged,
and the years collapsed again.
If it was not for Milly, L could
scarcely believe so many years have
passed since went away, aunt, said
I; " Bell does not look bit differ
emf"
MY growing days were over before
you went away" said Bell, quietly;
Il cannot say you look the same
but then climate and all that may
have changed you.
And so we fell talking again. 1t
was strange evening; Milly did not
speak much, but I knew She was
watching and listening Bell talked
as quietly as if [ had been away only
week; and although | threw out a
hint about the curate, and told them
of Mrs Vigne, how she had put me
up to Devon gossip, [ made nothing
of it, and. as I walked home. was ut
terly miserable. and dissatisfied. I
wished Milly had been my fancee,
and yet hated the unseen curate,
and mentally adjured Bell as heart
less flirt. -
When / got to the cottage the next
day the girls were out, and my aunt
lying down. So, sheltering myself
from the sun in summer seat, COW.
cred in by Roman creepers and hon.
eysuckies, lay down to enjoy cigar
and make up my mind how I was to
begin the conversation | had de-
termined on, and which was TO decide
my fate. My meditations did not last
long; Bell came up the walk and sat
down upon an iron chair facing the
bower. She looked paler than the
night before, and spoke very quietly;
but there was something In her face
that l had never seen before, and
which. though it made me look again
and again, could not understand.
Presently Milly rushed up, painting
and flushed, her hair loosened from
the net, and her hat in her hand.
20 Hal r she cried, leaning against
one of the wooden pillars, and speak
ing in great hurry; I have seen your
friend; she's coming here with her
sister, and she told me such things
about you; and so / took short cut
over the fields, and nearly ran over
your curate, Bell; he was going to
call at the manor" e
/ had no gratitude or affection for
Mrs. Vigne. / remembered too well
her story, and Milly's alIusion to the
curate was gall and NORWOOD. asa
So you keep a pet curate, Bell,T
you'll scarcely believe I heard of
your curate, as Milly calls him, before
/ landed, os ssl4gs ast
Bells face flushed, land then grew
deadly pale; but her. eyes never
finched, looking back into mine with
a steady gaze, defiant and yet sad with
a something that set me thinking, and
kept me SO till scorching breath
from my cigar reminded me sharply
of its feeting existence. Throwing
it down, [ uttered an exclamation of
anger. thus letting off small bit of
my suppressed indignation anent
Bell. Now, it is a bad plan,
one of the very worst, in
deed, -t to take an inch of latitude.
when you are secretly angry. IL
glanced at Bell, as [ spoke, and her
face was cold and quiet. 24'A
Has it burnt your" said Milly.,
just enough to make me wiser for
the future, answered savagely.
An old cigar is like an old love-
apt to burn out, if kept long Of |
course it was an idiotic, meaningless
speech. / knew that at once. and
dare not look at Bells face; SO [ |
went on.
'Apropos Of nothing, Milly. Do
you remember promising to be a
woman when / came home?' F
.as" Yes; and have [ not kept nv
promise?" said Milly, with brighter
color in her face, and her eyes turned |
away and fixed upon the gray feather
in Bells hat. /
So well, that I want to keep |
mine f.. seq
Is Milly's face turned away little |
more; but / could see wicked smile |
about the corners of her
mouth. There is nothing like uncer-
tainty to spur a man on and although |
/ had not the slightest intention, of |
giving Bell up without making fight |
for it, nor was i in love with MiIly. |
yet, in spite of these things, I rushed |
on, until [ was as good as in for both. |
and had not voices from the house |
suddenly broken in upon the silences |
| scarcely know what the immediate |
result might not have been. AS it
was, Milly pointed up the lawn, where
/ saw Mrs. Vigne, with a very hand, |
some man by her side. at whom she
was launching her full battery of mods
and wreathed smiles ~
:. Bell" whispered Milly, she's
got voylr cl1rate ~ Ars