Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-12-24


while the keepers opened out slight re
past they had brought iwth them.
Suddenly the noise of horses gallopinJ
rapidly along the road fell upon thei
ears; with this was mingled the CHATTER
of wheels and the cries of women, ap
parently in dreadful state Of alarm.
Sir Charles Evander was up in mo-
ment, looking eagerly along the high
way.
| Presently he beheld carriage drawn
by two fiery horses, over which the ter
rihed coachman had lost all control, de-
scending hill at rapid pace. He was
just able TO perceive that two ladies oc.
cupied the carriage, then, without mo-
ment's hesitation he raised his gun and
shot one of the horses dead, thus bring
ing the carriage to stand still. 1t
turned out that the lady occupants OF
the carriage where Mrs St. Aubyn and
her daughter Lily, who were at once con-
Quoted to Caldecott Hall by Evander
and Lord Carisbrook.
When they reached Caldecott Hall,
the blushing girl who was hanging on
Evander's arm at once attracted Lady
Carisbrook's notice.
| A pang shot through her heart.
What she exclaimed to herself,
Am / jealous? ?" Oh, it is absolutely
necessary for my peace of mind that that
man should leave this house"
! The pleasant party of Caldecott Hall
was soon broken up. The st. Aubyns
| returned 10 town. and Sir Charles Evan
der growing tired Of the country and its
amusements, made his excuse to Lord
and Lady Carisbrook, and also sought
the gay metropolis. Her ladyship felt
very dull and miserable when the young
baronet took his departure.
She longed also to go to town, and
soon made her husband acquainted with
her wishes. He was so satisfied with his
country home and the sports he there en-
loyed, that he combatted the resolution
hut in the end she gained her point
Caldecott was shut up and the servants
sent to town, to house which his lord.
ships agent had taken for them, in a
fashionable part of the West End 1t
was IN Wilton Crescent, and they were
not far from Hans Place, where the St
Aubyns resided
Her ladyship did not much care about
them, because she fancied that Sir Chas
Evander paid the lovely Lily too much
attention; but she was obliged to keep
on friendly terms vito them, because
they were invited everywhere, and she
would meet them at all good houses.
Sir Charles was soon made aware of
Lady Carisbrook's presence in town, and
he laughed in his sleeve, for he knew
enough Of women and their characters
to understand that as he had gone away
from her, she had followed him.
The gentlemen whom Lady CarisbrooE
met, and to whom she talked about ST
Charles, did not give Evander the bes
possible character There were two friends
Of his, Captain Vavasour and Mr.. Fred
eric Mordaunt, the latter Of whom was
constantly at the St. Aubyn's and at all
places where he thought he should meet
Lily, and this conduct of his was not at
all surprising, for he loved her passion
ately, though she had not in any marked
measure encouraged the preference which
he exhibited for her.
Mr.. Mordaunt had taken strong dis
like to Sir Charles Evander ever since he
first met him at Hans Place. The atti-
tude which the latter assumed toward
Lily convinced the jealous mind of the
lover that he was in love with her, and
that she did not object to his admiration
Mordaunt's affection for her was SO sin
cere that if he could not win her himself,
he wished to see her married to one who
would insure her happiness, and this he
felt certain Sir Charles would not do.
lie could say nothing to either Lily or
her mother, because they would accuse
him of an interested motive in villifying
a man he had treated as his friend.
To Lady Carisbrook, however, he was
not SO reticent. Ee told her his opinion
OF the baronet, though there was no tinge
of acrimony or malice in what he said.
He spoke his mind freely, with the air of
one who was fearless of the consequences
and knew that he was uttering the truth.
Lady Carisbrook had invited this conf
dence on the part of Mr.. Mordaunt and
Captain Vavasour, but when she had
gained it she was displeased with them
for running down one whom she liked,
and on one occasion said, with some as
perity:
"If Sir Charles Evander is such as
you describe him to be, wonder that
you associate with him.
For my part" replied Mr.. Mordaunt,
can answer that for metime | have
ceased to do so. am coldly civil when
ever we meet and he must know that |
do not class him among the number of
my friends"
That must be great deprivation for
Sir Charles, Mr. Mordaunt," said her la
dyship. But | hope to meet you in
more forgiving humor at Mrs. St. Au-
byn's reception tomorrow evening. /
shall be glad to see you both there, as
have so few friends in town. Carisbrook
leaves London for week tomorrow
morning, to see after his poor dogs and
horses, about whom he frets so much"
The party given by Mrs. ST. Aubyn's
to which her ladyship had alluded was
merely reception. Visitors dropped in
as they liked, went from group to group.
chatting first with one, then with anoth
er, and took their departure, when it
pleased them, without any ceremony.
Lady Carisbrook made her appear
ancc about ten o'clock, superbly dressed,
and almost the first person she met on
o. tar