The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-05


that In few weeks she would be eighteen.
IL was twelve years since he went, that
February day. to plead her cause and his
own with Evelyn Neville. He used to 20
now sometimes to the window and look
OUT, anu remember the day when he had
stood nj that other window watching bare
ORANGES, aud wondering about his future.
lie Knew 1t now. IL he only could find
out why II was thus. What had changed
her at once, on her wedding-day, from
the very moment, rs 1t seemed to him,
that she became his wife?
! Sir Hugh pushed his hair away from
his forehead and sighed. He was getting
gray by this time, but then he was past
forty, and Evelyn, his wife, must be two
and-thirty at Least. It occurred to him
tfStrhc had noticed no alteration In her.
She was rs beautiful as ever, with the
beauty Of q statue that chllls you when
you touch II. He thought he would look
at her that evening, and see IL he could
| trace no change, such as there was In
himself. He did look, when the room
washrilllant with soft light, and she sat
Ian fas,aly .Arning over book Of engrav-
ingsfl'ith Cseil. They formed d strange
contrast; Tho cold, proud, Indifferent
beauty of the one face, and the eager an
ima~5n of the other. The girls one hand
rested on Lady Rainhan's shoulder, ca
ressngly, for the tic between these two
was more like the passion of first friend
ship than the affection Of mother and
daughter. Suddenly Cecil pointed down
the page. and said something In n whis-
per, and Lady Rainham turned and look
cd at her with smile.
| As hc saw the look, just such q thrill
went through Sir Hugh's heart as he had
felt when She came to him twelve years
ago 70 give him his answer. No, time
had not done her so much wrong as II had
to himself, and there was one hope In
which she hatl never disappointed him
her care for his daughter.
For her sake he said that night when
Cecilia was gone, Il am always grateful
| to yOu.'
But he did not wait for any reply. He
never did. Perhaps he might not have
got one If he had; or perhaps he thought
the time had gone by for any change to
be possible. r..
Lady Rainham looked from the window
the next morning, and saw Cecil under
tall laurel, reading something. And the
sun had come out. there was twittering
of birds In the shrubbery, and the sky was
| all flcckcd with tiny white clouds. Ii was
Valentines Day, and Lady Ralnham knew
| that the girl was reading over again, the
| one which Sir Hugh had handed her with
sncl, n troubled face ut the breakfast tn
bic. What did that unquiet expression
mean; and why did Cecil, when she saw
| Il, look from him to herself, Lady Rain
ham, fold up her packet hurridly and put
IL away?
II meant, on Sir Hugh's part, that hc
knew what ii was and didn't like IL; that
he could not help thinking of his life,
| dOubly lonely, without the child. But
this never occurred to his wife. Present.
| ly some one joined Cecil In the laurel
walk, and though of course, Lady Rain
ham could not hear their words, she turn
ed instinctively away from the window.
Cecil was saying just then, No, IL isn't
likely. Who should send me valentines?
| They're old-fashoncd. vulgar, out of date.
Charlie, mind won't have any more
| 'Why nOtr
'.Because-I'm serious nOw-fOr some
reason or they don't like my having
| thcm,n said Cecil, motiOnlng towards the
house. "And It's q shocking thing to
say, but I'm sure there's something not
straight between papa and Lady Rainham,
some Misunderstanding. you know. I'm
} s,iraA III they Observation-Disclosures Of cacb
other, really; but It's all SO strange; do
| so want to do something that would bring
It right, and-I shall have nothing to say
to you till 1t Is right"
"Cccilw
~ mean 1t. am a sort Of go between
no, not that exactly: but they both care
for me so much. They don't freeze up
when I'm there. can't fancy them with
out me; 1t would be terrible"
"But Cecil. you promlsed-',
"No, didn't. And If | had, shouldn't
keep Il. of course; that Is. you wouldn't
want me to. 1t would kill papa to lose
me, and rs to Lady Ralnham, why never
cared for any one so much In all my life.
| / didn't know II was In me till she woke il
up. You remember what ! used to say
about her eyes. They are just like that;
likes beautiful deep pool; all dark, you
| know, till IL draws yOn close and makes
| you want to know so much what Is under
ncath."
Here Lady Rainham came to the win
| dow again. but the two figures had pass
ed out OF the laurel walk, aud she saw
| them no more.
| In the afternoon Cecil went rs usual to
her fathers study, but he was STOPPING
over book and did not notice her. He
was, In. fact, thinking the thought that
had troubled him In the morning, but &C.
ell fancied he was busy. and looked round
| to see what mischief she could do. Ii
flashed npOn her that here was u fine OPP
portunity for the old chest, and so she
seated herself on the carpet and began
her rummage. Presently Sir Hugh, hear
Ing the rustic of papers, looked round.
| ~ should like to know who Is TO be my
fairy Order" he said "amongst all that
mess"
I II will, papa. I shall give tap with
wand, and you will see II all come
straight. But look here. Isn't this to
mamma? IL has never been opened, and
It's like-a valentine"
Sir Hugh looked mt the large "NIiss Ne
vile" On the envelope, and knitted his
brows IN vain effort tn remember any
thing about II. He couldn't. Il was very
strange. lie fancied he knew the writing,
but vet could not tell whose Il was-cer-
tainly not his own-nOr recOllect anythiny
about the packet. He considered u little
and then said, "iou had better take It to
| her."
He took n pen and wrote on the cover,
"Cecil has just found this amongst my old
papers. have no idea how or when 1t
came into my possession, neither can I
make outythc hand, though II doesn't
seem altogether strange. Perhaps you
| can SOLVE tho nvs