The Republican journal., 1871-03-09

gratitude towards her prOtege, for having
forborne to taScinate either of her own
four marriageablc boys, and this gratitude
cropped out in active kindliness under
the cXultation she felt over Paul's match.
Georgy moved easily about the we'll
furnished rooms. Somehow she seemed
fitted for such surroundings The sub
dued, well-bred manners, the faint per
fumes, the refined faces and rich dresses,
were like a stmuant to her. She need
ed such quickening to be fully herself.
Her composed, delicate beauty unfolded
to perfection in this atmosphere.
She had been talking with one and an
other, taking in shapes and trimmings
with her quick artists eye, and in Il pause
was just rejecting upon the hang Of the
new curtains, when 4 voice said near
her:
II seem not to be able to recall yon ut
| all, Mrs. Randall. Yet | must have
known you before | went away. My
mother has Just told me your name, and
I have come to claim acquaintance, if
you will permit me-"
81 remen Der you perfectly, Mr. Hall
burton" Georgy returned quietly. Il
was hardly grown up when you left US
five years ago
Five years? All, true enough! Won't
| you take this chair What q lovely lily!
| Why, it Is not real y
mo these wax flowers are very like
nature, though almost plagiarism; don't
you think SO, Mr.. Halliburton ?''
| "Why, yes, it must be quite difficult to
make them. dare say they bring
good price"
| Under her serene smile, a quick thought
went through Georgy Randalrs mind.
| She began to examine the gentleman be-
fore her with interest.
Stephen Halliburton was u gentleman
by habit, and man of the world by force
of circumstances. But nature intended
him for a diligent. pans-taking, persever
ing man of business.
If he was not q great or very good
man, it was because he had so much time,
SO much money, so much flattery. He
was spoiled by his opportunities, yet he
needed only the right touch to elevate
him beyond himself. He was thirty years
old now; he was past the age when u
man disdains to be led by Il woman. But
| Stephen Halliburton had never disdained
it. He had always been led by the keen
eyed, beak-noscd woman in the steel
silk, who, as Georgy talked with the heir,
sat holding her wine up to the trelight,
not far off.
The heir seemed to like Mrs Randalrs
talk perhaps because there was 50 little
of it, In return, he was rather unreserv
ed-gossipping about his plans and pros
poets
He said that he was glad to get home
He meant to settle down at Millville now :;
look alter his factories and operatives; !;
introduce some Improvements. want
ed better class of work, more tasteful
designs. He hadn't a pretty print from
the factory. Did not Mrs. Randall agree
with him.
Yes; she agreed with hln It was u
strange basis for parlor gossip-oils,
chemicals, designs for calcoes He was
surprised to find how much she knew
about it, and she-she WAS Il little sur
prised herself. The delicate pink began
to flush her checks, the irises Of her eyes
grew into great black flakes, full Of lus-
tire. All at once, at last, She turned q
casual glance without the window.
'Why," she said, with slight start.
sit is almost dark. And | believe it is
raining must 90 at once
She stepped towards the window
Great splashng drops We're falling upon
the tlagstones. The dull November lay
light was almost gone.
Mr.. Halliburton rose also.
Ibid you walk ~ lie inqnired LET
lis take you home. NY mother will be
going soon"
The little stir attracted Mrs. Appleton,
who, most Of the guests having gone.
was devoting herself to Mrs. Halliburton.
"Stay to tea, Georgy,' she suggested.
John knows you are here, does he
not ?"
eyes; but it is raining. | think had
better not stop
81 have been asking Mrs. Randall to
take seat with us, mother,' interposed
Stephen Halliburton.
"Ah, yes" said that lady, with con-
tracted nostrils and prolonged lips again.
81 shall be happy"
And then the keen eyes overlooked
Georgy, as if to ask if there were any
cause why the Halliburton horses, and, it
might be, the Halliburton heir should
traverse the length of Millville to take
home this young person who had married
one of the Hallburton's employees.
| Georgy stood unmoved, a little con-
cerned as to whether her last dress and
bonnet should walk OF ride, not at all
concerned as to her own disposal.
The factory bell had done ringing, and
John Randall was in sight of home Just
as the carriage of his employer stopped
at his door, and his wife stepped from it.
He did not, however, overhear her say to
| Stephen Halliburton, ''if you will come in
tomorrow afternoon, | will show you
what mean"
''Had you pleasant afternoon ?" her
husband asked, by and by, as they sat at
the tea-table.
every pleasant" she said thoughtfully.
"It was very polite in Mrs Halliburton
to bring you home.'
Eyes; l should have spoiled my new
dress"
1t was with some effort that John Ran
dali got his wife to talk. and she seemed
peculiarly silent tonight, and absent as
silent. Her eyes were brighter, too, than
common, her cheeks Il little flushed. He
was too generous, too unselfish Il man to
begrudge her even a happiness in which
he had no part; but something in her alb
straction filled him with uneasiness. The
uneasiness was not decreased when reach
ing home n little before the usual honr
the following afternoon, he met Stephen
Halliburton just leaving the house, nor
when he found Georgy with the same
frightened eyes and heightened color as
the night before.
That was the beginning OF John Ran
dall's troubles.
1t was not so much common jealousy
a mans instinct of revolt at another mans
admiration of his handsome wife--as it
was a fear, a desperate, death-like fear,
that Georgia needed something he could |
not give her to make her happy. He could
never give her luxuries. He could never
say such things as he fancied Stephen Hal
iburton must be able to say to women.
But he loved her SO! Oh, heavens he
loved her sol How could he endure that
anything should come between them!
81 won't wrong her and tease her with
my suspicious" he said to himself in the
depth of the night. ''I'll just fight my
way the best l can against it. I'll keep
steady; perhaps she'll see it right, by and
by"
Poor fellow! he did not realize how his
own determination implied that her heart