Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-25
The Little Rift Within the Lutte,

happy IN the world. lHWardly was one OF the
most miserable of Gods creatures.
was engaged, with eveTybOdy's consent, to a
man " no was OF suitable age, position and for
tune. was young, and the glass and my friends
told me was exceedingly gOod-lOOking. loved
change, and was staying for the first time in q
country house, Just such a one as had always
been my ideal of residence. Yet with all this
Il was wretched.
NV engagement had been brought about in
the usual way, L believe. Mr.. Richard Leices-
ter and had met and danced with one another
at a good many houses during the season, and at
the end of IL he had come and proposed 10 papa
in due form. His prospects were good; he was
the eldest son of an old house; his character was
unexceptOnable; his protestations were feryent.
Naturally, therefore, both my father and myself
were satisfied, and We accepted him.
Then his mother came and called on me, and
then asked me TO their place-welby HAHN
SOmersetshire. was there at the end of August,
from which date my story commences.
Il was an only daughter, but was not on that
account a spoiled child, by any means. On the
contrary, my father and mother had been un-
usually rigid and particular with me in nv
bringing up; consequently, did not go down to
welhy Hall with overwhelming idea of nv
own Importance, although i was an heiress and
beauty. Indeed, had every reason to be well
satisfied with my reception by the family. Old
Mr.. and Mrs. Leicester welcomed me cordially,
and the girls, Richards sisters, expressed most
gratifying appreciation of their brothers choice.
Richard himself was polite, attentive, affec
tiOnate-all that girl need desire the man TO
whom she is engaged 10 be. Nevertheless, be-
fore had been in the house three days was
profoundly detected and uncomfortable.
i had gone down to dinner the night of nv
arrival and found that it was a strictly family
party I0Other guests would arrive on the NOR
row, Nj Leicester told me, but Just this one
night they wished TO have me to themselves
just after he had given me this piece of intor
nation the old gentleman glanced rapidly round
the table, and then calculated
" Hallooi where's Iily?r
"She doesn't feel we'll, papa, and won't show
same moment Richard (who had also only come
from London that day. exclaimed:
OH she is here. is she?'
"Ies, didn't Won know it?'' his mother said
1anguidly. ''Dear child. she is invaluable to
mean orphan neice of mine we are speaking
Of, Helen, my dear" she continued, in expiana-
tiOn TO me.
al am sorry she is not well enough for me to
be introduced to her Tonight - said, as civiy
as could in the face of the fact that was per-
fectly Indifferent on the subject. And then
thought no more about my future mOther-in-
laws orphan niece.
But in the course of the evening her existence
wasrecalled To my memory rather disagreeably
4 was showing one of the Misses Leicester a
stitch had recently learned in the modern point
lace work, when Mr.. Leicester suddenly said:
" Isn't that the rubbish Lily laughs at You for
wasting your time over, girls?"
90 Its all very well for Lily to laugh," Mrs.
Leicester put in deprecatingly; but the girls are
not like her"
docs she do anything better with her time.
them Il asked, feeling antagonistic on behalf
or NV future sister at once.
% oh yes" Mrs. Leicester explained, in a tone
OF surprise; 'she writes the most charming
".
surely you must know her by her nom de plume
Heather Beli?'"
Now must confess that bad read manv of
Heather Bells productions, and had been much
charmed with them. But felt displeased with
the girl now for not having come forward like
the rest OF the family to meet me; so 1 only
said:
"Oh yes, l think have. Richard you never
told me You had a cousin who was a blue-stOck-
ing" and directly had made ii repented of
the speech. for j knew that il had ring of i'll
nature about IL.
The next morning when came down to break
fast; | found all the family, save Richard, as
light, absorbed apparently in the perusal Of the
Tunes; but she looked up when Mrs. Leicester
said, ''Helen, dear, let me introduce my niece,
Lily BRAY, TO you''-loOked up and disclosed to
NV view entirely different face to the one l
i'm my imagination endowed "the authOress''
with.
She was about three or four and twenty at the
time made her acquaintance, but she was so
slenderly and delicately made, and her face was
so bright and viyaciOus, that she looked con-
siderably younger. / could not help feeling
rather aghast at her appearance. She knocked
10 pieces all my precOnceived notions of what
women ought to be like who wrote. And wjthal
she was eXqUistely dressed. Nothing could
have suited her clear, dark complexion. the
time of day, and the season, better than did the
blue brilliant Swiss cambria, triled with dainty
talenClennes lace.
She rose up and extended her hand to me cor
daily. ltwaS little mite OF a hand, but il gave
mine firm, true, strong clasp, a. she said in a
peculiarly full voice:
=" know my cousin Richard so we'll that can
honestly congratulate you most WARMLY NJ iSs
Burton and then she sat down, and rCsum cl
the reading of her paper as III she found the
greatest interest there.
By-and-by Richard came in and exchanged a
general good morning greeting with every one
Miss Bray Just looked up and nodded, and said.
All. DICK! a. he seated himself by me. and
found mySSH cOnjecturlng whether or not she
could have seen him before since his arrival yes
terday. But before could make up my mi nd
on this point, some other point of interest arose
rrrNH ~
appealed 70. and compelled 10 throw myself int
matters OF the moment.
Before breakfast was over, Miss BRAY had
seen enough OF the Tunes apparently, Tor she
threw il down with laugh At its dullnesS, and
joined eagerly and amusingly in the general
conversation.
Mrs. Leicester mentioned some art,cle of dec
oratiye furniture that she was ANXIOUS to have.
in the course OF conversation, ana Lily Bray said
at once:
al must be in town in the course OF a few
days. and will get il for YOU, aunt
"Must be IN town in the course of a few
days they all exclaimed. 'Why, you've only
81 must. indeed" she insisted seven such
tTifes novels go astray in the press ii they are
not well looked after, and 4 am very anxious
that my new one should come out free from
other tmperfectiOns than those have endowed
il with"
But You'll come back soon?" they ehorused
Tor they we're all very fond well As proud OF
Lily. Indeed, the reader may have observed
that the two sentiments generally go together.
"iesat least with sudden eonfuson,) can't
say when"
HYOu win find London very dull and empty
now said, with my grantest society manner
I'm only going on business" she said quietly:
$50 the emptiness and dullness won't make any
material difference. Dick" she continued adj
dressing my lover, "why don't YOU express some
OF the interest I'm sure you must feel about my
new novel ?' and she laughed as she spoke in q
very free and unnmbarrassed manner.
"You know that always wish your books sue
cess, Lily" he said: and then breakfast came 10
IN end, aud 1 ssuntered out into the grounds
!. with Richard.
His pet horse was led out and patted it. His
pointers and greyhounds leaped and bounded
about me, and vowed that delighted in their
rough gambOls. Then he spoke of his sisters, and
i told him thought they were delightful. And
then spoke Of Lily.
"YOu never mentioned your cousin, Lily BRAY,
10 me, Richard" said half reprOaehfully. :.
wish you had done so; she must have thought il
20 fOrgetful and begligent Of you"
She never mistakes, o. takes HI m at nothing "
he replied. And then there was a silence be-
tween us for a minute.
/" She's rather pretty" then I resumed.
Do you think No ?'' He spoke indifferently.