The Evansville journal., 1868-11-12

that [ think they were staggered il
their certainty of misfortune aud be.
lieved her for the moment. The
young footman, who had just been
begging me privately to speak a word
for him to secure him another place
gave Ine a stealthy imploring look
begging me, as it were, not to betray
/ him. The old gentleman was out
/ going over the house and grounds
/ but Mrs. Gresham ate a very good
i luncheon and continued her large
and ample talk. "They sent me a
message this morning." she said, as
| she ate, aud ordered me TO como
things right. just like boysl Give
me some sherry, John Thomas. L
shall scold them well. L promise
you. when they come back : up
setting poor Ada's nerves, and turn
ing the ouse upside down like this.
| don't know what Ada would have
done without you, Mrs. Mulgrave; !;
and [ hear you had their stable men,
| trainers. or whatever they call them,
to puzzle you too?'
Yes" | said. struck dumb with
wonder. Was all this an invitation,
or was she herself deceived? Poor
Ada sat with her eyes cast down. and
never spoke except in monOsyllables; /;
she could scarcely raise to her
lips the wine which her mother
in. law made her swallow. I
could nos but admire the en-
ergy and determination of woman.
But at the same time she bewildered
me, as she sat eating and drinking,
with her elbow Oa the table and her
rich lace mantle sweeping over the
white table cloth, conversing. in this
confident way To meet her eyes,
which had not shade of timidity or
doubt about them, and see her evil
dent comfort and enjoyment, and be-
lieve she was ling a downright lie,
was almost more than was possible
[ did not know Mr.. Gerald was a
racing man." taltered, not knowing
what to say.
i" o yes, he IS. on the turf" said
Mrs. Gresham, struggling her shoul
ders; he is on everything that don't
pay. That boy has been a nuisance
ali his life Not that there is any
thing bad about him; but he's fash
ionable, you know, aud we are known
to be rich, and ever5 body gives him
his own way; and Harry's such
a good brother = said the rash
woman all at once, to show how much
at her ease she was. But this was
taking a step too much. Ada could
bear it no longer. There was sud
den sound of choking sobs, and then
she sprang from the table. The strain
had gone too far.
| ht ar baby crying; I must so to
baby" she sobbed, and rushed from
the room without any regard to ap-
pearances. Even Mrs. Gresham, self
possessed as she was, had gone too
far for her own strength. Her lip
quiveTed, In spite of herself She
looked steadily down, and crumbIed
the bread before her in her strong
agitated fingers Then she gave
little laugh, which was not much less
significant than tears.
Poor little Ada" she said, she
cant bear to be crossed. She has had
such a happy life, when anything goes
contrary it puts her out" Perhaps it
was the quivering of her own lip that
brought back her vernacular. And |
then we began to discuss the ball as
if nothing had happened. Her hus-
band came.in while we we're talking, |
and shrugged his shoulders, and |
disapprobation, but she |
took no notice. She must have been
aware that knew all; ana yet she
thought she could bewilder me still. |
TO BE CONTINUED