Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-15

low-voiced orders bosides. Then she draws NV
arm within hers while looking dainty. and pink
tent, Leo, that can't he1p mntely Oommsnfing
wa: have done to dooerve this honor?D and
VIC walk together in the direction Of . charming
tiest ponies conceivable. BY the side OF the
carriage waits tall gentleman with slight
yellow mustache; conceited-looking, but hand ]
such haste to nnenton the yellow lniustac b q:
possibly because u Is rendered rather conspicu-
Gus by its owners dark clothing. Then YOU
viii remember L have always had a liking
for them. Dear me what bad EnglishIe
Them refers to yellow mustaches, not dark
clothing.
"of course, I. haven't the ghost of doubt,
Leo, that am in tn presence of Mr.. Cameron.
MY hostess filings th.t doubt TO the four winds,
however, by presenting the gentleman as Mr..
Forsythe. He Immediately helps me into the
II IS for Young strong, non-rheumat girls to be
helped in this A matter y and after Mrs.
Cameron hastakena seat next me, jumps ap
himself beside the coacaman.
''He is silent ~ a sphinx during the drive to
Fernfell; and, as far 'as concerns even once
turning round, he avoids such an action as
though his resultant change into pillar of salt
we've . paster OF tn most complete certainty.
But Mrs. Cameron IS very laxative and pleas
ant shan't record evsrything-I shall record
only little. on second thOught-tlat this anna
bic person SAYS ItmouId not amuse YOU, Leoi
It IS al lady-Hke platitade, wsightless, and tri7
fling, and fOam-lise.
~
gate of Fernfell, she m entions her husband.
feel rather relieved to learn that there is a hus-
band, ana look Interested.
'.'He never gocs TO town during the summer {,
she proceeds, In low prattling tonesLtones that
strike me a. Perposeiy made insuiIbie to Mr.
Forsythe. HE Is very queer about his passion
az. 1--we Tor the country and retirement, and all
quality, my dear. / dare say that some of his
eccentric ways will quite astonsh YOU Then
there Is q little pause, during which try to look
"a for hat G
though il must be owned that am not eager to
hear what do not doubt will prove the descrip-
ton OF some very commonplace eccentricity ON
iieve it, my informer presently goes on, smii-
ing as though her subject were one of the
most richly amusing nature, she has somehow
gotten an idea into that odd old head of his
that-but you will think it so strange If L
tell you. Perhaps you will think it little
81 look at her with wide eyes. ooh. no.
though; OF course, you won't. WHY should you:'
Mrs. Cameron throws back her head and per-
petrates soft little peal of laughter, as if her
mysterious joke were were funny beyond con-
ception. HE actually believes, my dear, that
You and Mr.. Forsythe, here (poifting to Mr.
Forsythe, and whispering risibfy,) 'have known
deed, at that! Think of it,
81 certainly must be wearing the demeanor,
OF one who Is thinking of it, Leo. known
each otherr presently murmur, IN an amazed
style. What gave him such an idea. Mrs
rect it?'
"Mrs. Cameron possesses herself yery fond
ingly OF one of my hands. .Ah, you don't know
him! When he has once gotten a fancy of this
sort firmly fixed In his mind, all the world
couldn't alter it, Here faint look of pain
crosses her face. Il suppose Won will under
stand without my speaking much more plainly
and she touches her forehead with a quick
meaning gesture. 1T is great trial to me:
though laughed about il a moment go. But
one gets more or less accustomed to these sad
matters; and then, he isn't nOticeably queer i'm
everything. Sometimes there is nothing strange
In his behavior for days together
IAN extremely awkward silence. The car
rage enters the gateway of Fernfell. what
charming grounds J, i take the opportunity OF
eNeialmlng. Mrs. Cameron begins TO fondie
my hand for a second time. Promise ME some
thing, my dear. Will you?'
"'Certainly,' assent; 'if il is in my power to
Don't contradict nv husband if he sneaks
o. your imagined intimacy with Mr.. FOrSythe
He would only get offended, and suspect that
has given up ali thought OF Changing hi, opin-
ION. Promise me that YOU will merely let mat
tiers take their present harmless course. Ii NAV
save me worlds OF annoyance, and you worlds OF
MIS- Cam IRONS whisper has become almost
eagerly pleading; her palm presses mine with
. force thaf besPeaks strong anxiety. What
can do, Leo: Common pOifteness makes me
answer as promptly as possible, You have
my promise, Mrs. Cameron. L shall say moth
sAs we are getting out of the carriage a little
gray man appears on the piazza, holding a huge
book under his arm, and wearing a pair of gold
spectacies. L have scarcely left the carriage
before ne has hurried forward to possess him
self OF my hand, and to shake it with prOnounc-
ed cordiality, peering into my face at the same
time over parapets OF spectacles, and, in brisk,
following statements: Glad to see YOU Miss;
delighted to see YOU. Hope your little trip here
will be OF benefit in every way. Change of air
and scene often works wonders: thou Oh Won lOok
n. In ae5 moi
indoors body myself, that you'll have to depend
on Mrs. Cameron and MIR. FOrsythe for YOUR
drives, walks, sc. However. feel sure, you'll
md them CAPITAL entertainers
$50 far so well, Leo. Even with the memory
OF Mrs. Camer0h's significant little point fore
yet very fresh i'm NV mind, it isn't a
this small, gray-locked gentleman and Nearing
nothing Of a more insane character than his
rapid stream oil genial sentences, wherefrom
as though it had committed some deadly mis-
demeanOr, the prOnoun Of the first person is
rigidly excluded. But, after he has mentioned
Mr.. Forsythe's name, affairs promptly wear a
more disagreeabie look He winks at me. He
presses my hand while shaking it. The fine lit
tie labyrinth OF wrinkles at either corner of his
mouth seem doing their best to conceal sly
smile. My heart begins to beat with nervous
embarrassment, II not terror. A miserable in
stinct teaches me what is coming. And it comes
And, while II comes, bad luck 50 manages that
Mr.. Forsythe, with his cOnceted appearance
and sphinS-iike department., shall be gazing
straight Inv my direction.
"'OM friends, it appears, you and Mr.. For
sythe, eh?' At this point in his remarks our
host scans the face of each guest with searching
though rapid scrutiny. 1t is perhaps needless to
add. Leon0ra, that become tomato-cOlor.
:" Not such very old friends. Lemuel, objects
Mrs. Cameron, gently. Then, addressing me:
1T is nearly dinner-time, my dear. We dine a.
early as five in the country. had better show
you to your ROOM
!" Thanks manage, furious at myself for
blushing so hotly; and especially furious be-
cause Mr.. Forsythe looks self-possessed enough
to make me suspect that he is different as
granite TO all which Ii passing.
"But Mr.. Cameron Is not to be repressed so
easily. He has dropped my hand little while
ago, yet the subject of my supposed friendship
with his guest Is something that he evidently
does not propose to drop. My dear Miss
Forbes he Resumes, the instant his wife has fin
Isbed speaking, syca must believe that feel
much gratfed by the fact of your previous ac-
quaintance with MIR. Forsythe. 1t will make
your visit far plcasanter than IL you were both
strangers to each other After which he bows
with such a sincerity of courteOusness that /
should surely pity him for being the victim to
30 sad deluSi0u, If embarrassm mt would
leave me capable of feeling pity at this precise
moment
''NTS. Cameron has the mercy now TO come
forward and draw my arm witiiin hers, saying
something more about it, being nearly dinner