The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-10-23

they all c1ung to, though he had gon
so far astray. What a change it
would make in their situation and
prospects, and everything aboutstheml
You may say it was an iguoble found
alton to build family comfort upon. [
do not defend it in any way; but
when | saw what Lottie meant, my
heart ached for her. 1t did not seem
to me ridiculous or base, but tragic
and terrible; though to be sure in all
likelihood there is nobody who will
think SO but me-.
Before Lottie left me, Mrs. Gresh-
am came rushing over, in her pretty
summer dress, with her curls and
ribbons futtering in the breeze. She
came to ask me why / had been so
unkind, and to plead and re monstrate.
We have so much we don't know
what to do with it." she said: Harry
Is always finding out some new WHIT
age or other, aud the cellars are over
flowing. Why would not you use
some of it? We have so much OF
everything we don't know what to
do"
II would rather not, thanks" 1
said. feeling myself flush; what a
lovely day il isl Where are you 60
ing for your drive? The woods will
be delicious to-day"
20, l have so much of the woodsl"
cried Mrs. Gresham. II thought of
going towards Estcott, to make some
calls But, dear Mrs. Mulgrave,
about the champagne?'
ut is a little to1 early for the
heath" said L0ttie steadily, looking
our visitor in the face. It is always
cold there. What they call bracing,
you know; but l don't care about be-
Ing braced, the wind goes through and
through one, even on a sunny day.
1t is because you are so thin"
said Mrs. Gresham; II feel
the cold, for my part; but | shall not
drive at all to-day forgot-I shall
go and fetch Harry from the station,
and come to you, Mrs. MulgraVe; and
you Will not be cross, but let me send
back John Thomas with
my dear, / am going to give you
some tea" said /, and my maids !
can manage beautifully; the sight Of
a gorgeous creature like John Thomas
distracts them; they can do nothing
but stare at his plush and his powder.
We shall be very, glad to have Mr..
Gresham and you"
But = she began eagerly. Then
she caught Lottie's eye, who had
made some sign to her, and stopped
short, staring at me with her blue
eyes. She could not make it out, and
no hint short of positive demonstra-
ton could have shown her that she
had gone too far. She stopped In
obedience to Lottie's sign, but stared
at me all the same. Her prosperity,
her wealth, her habit of overcoming
everything that looked in the least
like difficulty, had taken even a
woman's instinct from her. She
gazed at me, and by degrees her
cheeks grew red; she saw she had
made a mistake somehow, but even
up to that moment could not tell what
it was.
"Harry's brother is coming with
him." she said, a little subdued;
may / bring him2 He is such a
man of the world. OF course he
might have married when he liked,
as early as we did-there was no hing
to prevent him-but he got into a
fashionable set first, and then he got
among the artists. He is quite VIII at
they call a Bohemian, you know. He
paints beautifully-Harry always con-
suits Gerald before buying any pic
lures; | don't know what he does
with all his money, for he keeps up
no establishment, and no horses, nor
anything. L tell him sometimes he is
an old miser; but | am sure | have
no reason to say so, for he gives me
beautiful presents. L should so like
to bring him here"
Yes, bring him, by all MEANS"
said /; but [ could not help giving a
little sigh as | looked at Lottie, who
was listening eagerly. When she saw
me look at her, her face famed scar
let, and she went in great haste to the
window to hide it from Mrs. Ores
ham. She saw | had found her out, and
did not know what compassion was
in my heart. She gave a wistful
glance up into my face as she went
away. Don't despise mel" it said.
Poor LOttie! if it ever could be law
full to do evil that good might comet
They went away together, the poor
girl and the rich happy young wife.
Lottie was a little the older of the
two, and yet she was not old. and
they were both pretty young women.
They laid their heads together, and
talked earnestly, as girls do, as they
went out of my gate, and nobody
could have dreamed that their light
feet were entangled in any web of
tragedy. The sight of the two who
were so unlike, and the thought of
the future which might bring them
into close connections, made me mel
ancholy, | could not have told why.
ITO BE CONTINUED