Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-26


nance OF his life he can have 10 second, but he
thought he could be quietly content and Apply.
be had not noticed Edward Claytou's At
tachmeut TO Miss Ashton. Possibly, Ii he n ~
he might have made up his mind differently,
for he cid make up his mind that usv: ami
when he had once done -, be was not slow 20
follow il mp by action. SO now he Oalv wait--i
Bis opportunity of asking her; ana Audrey little
guessed v hat treasure was awaiting her ACCEPT
suce. She as then sitting at her sunt's feet in
the big bright drawing room. She had found
Miss Ashton little saddeT than when she lett,
ard Audrey had stolen in aud passed her arm
lovingly round the still pretty figure IL was
the woman be loved, Audrey told herself. she
had been l. Is III the time long gone ~. Could
Audrey be mean enough To he jealous OF tust
%hich baf existed when she was only 3 child?
no, 10, not that; whatever her sorrow at her
own great lCSs, she wOG't think taufgTlv Of her
aurts love tor WTigEtou. She tried - talk OF
bin; hUt hes aunt tanned To other subjects ". tn
LeTvCu- nes- Will n show Ell A udrey thAt hv Va,
lar flCsI tCf gotten. She tired 20 take her tx
with her :" LorrineT Hall, hIt Helen >nook her
head, and Audrey knew persuasion was impcs-
sible.
- shall only stay tall after Christmas Eve. I
shall b back here OF Chris Us - morning, Auu;
Helen. J Am determined - spend the dsv " tt
yen her.; there's no use saying any more abOu
il, toll Mr. Huntiey to-,ay, and she agreed.
oven. dear, Il Won have it So Miss A.hton
said. with p sigh, for she Thought \ Iirey
changed, restless, and excited, AMI unlike her
self. The girl Was unusually loving thar ltv:
aud when at last Audrey said "G0oI- bva,' sue
claSped her aunt IN her arms and bIrst into
tears.
Il wish l we're not going" she said: 81 would
hucI rather stay here quietly with YOU. Aunt
Helen. | hsys had 50 much visiting an tired
OF IT, think ! am growing DID, sas continued
with poor little attempt AZ smile.
My darling, your LIES journey Is only Just
begun, while am far on mine. God gram,
Audrey dear, that You may have less trouble
in II than lie has been pleased to send me-"
The girl hid her face for moment, while a
storm OF tears shook her. Helen tried TO calm
her with gentle words and kisses, aud when sns
had partially succeeded Audrey vent away.
but before she had driven far down the avenue
che stopped the ponies, got out, AMI went back
to her aunt.
AUNT Helen. I came back to say gosd bve
again, and God bless you for ali your goodness
To me, aud make you happier than yOu have
been. thought I'd like 10 say If again." she
SAID, kissing her, ana running back to the
pbTton.
Miss Ashton stood by the window and watched
the pretty bright-clad figure as II passed by,
then she covered her face with her hands, ex-
claiming, so, Audrey, my darling" and burst
into tears.
No one would have cried over Audrey Ashton
II they could have seen her few evenings after
at the Hail. Gay and beautiful she looked.
with rich color on her young face. lt seemed
to h, r that Col. WrightOn had tried more han
once to join her, but each time Audrey fOuni
some excuse to get away; then Mr.. Clayton
came, and she was glad of his society to help
her to pass the time, which seemed intermina-
BILE that evening. Her manner to Mr. Clayton
was changed; she put aside every cndesVOr to
charm, which was but natural to her, aud
Ihlhti 10 nim IN quiet earnest way, tlaJ be
lett " as Inherent from what she hal been &C.
custOmed TO use'with him He thought her better
AID sweeter in this mood; but, poor boy, his
heart had become her property long ago!
At last, sitting by her side for long time, he
was called away TO sing-an accom- lishment in
which he eXCelled-and Audrey got up and went
into the conservatory, which adjoined the draw
ing-rOom. Here che stood, listlessly looking at
the pink and white heaths. that we're almost the
only flowers in bloom then. She had stood thus
few moments when voice sounded close to
her, voice that made her heart beat in wild
confusion.
"Miss Ashton, you seem to avoid me to- night
L have tried once or twice to speak to you, but
without success
She had moved little further away, and her
hand had relentlessly broken of a pale-plnk
HaNen blossom. When she turned 10 him her
face was calm, but her lip had a slight trembIe
in il that Col. WrightOn could not see.
81 have been talking to your cousin. Is he
still.singing? What wonderful voice lie has?'
"Has he?' absently. "Will you give me that
piece of heatL?' he asked, not because hs
wanted 1t or would have priced it, but because
he vas at a loss for something TO say just then,
"Nou don't care for flowers" sue SAID. "Why
should give 1t to yOu2' fastening it in the DO
and fast; for somehow Audrey guessed why this
man, Inc haC been indifferent TO her till then,
had sought her, and she prayed that the words
be had come to say might never be spoken; for
did she not love him with all the strength Of her
heart? Then how could she stand by and hear
him offer her love which she knew he had al
Teauy trIevoC2bIy given 10 another, a. she knew
be would Go II he spoke to her, Audrey Ashton,
Of love?
They stood facing each other with very diff
fere!t thoughts at that moment. Then he
- Oke, coming close and looking down on the
girls beautiful face, that seemed 10 avoid Ia p
ey that sought hers. She put up her hand a.
II TO step him; but WrghtOn, having come for -
purpose or his Own, took no notice OF the ges
tUIe, but went on.
81 am not a man of many words, Miss Ash
ton, and we may be disturbed at any m0m5n..
| here IN WI
Surely the red blood never rushed to any f8C3
Snd neck as did to Audreys then; il seemed to
light up her very eyes.
t'COl. wrighton, do you know what you are
asking me?'5
"TObe my wife"
"TO be your wife!" Audrey repeated in a kind
o. dream.
els il SO very strange to you? the idea,
mean," he added.
Eyes, it is very strange" she said. "Not
strange in others, perhaps, but very strange in
you, Col. WTIghton. But perhaps you are not
different from other men, }" she said, half won
Gerng still.
off you have fancied l am in any way better
than other men, you are wrong; but do not ses
that have committed any sin in asking you to
marry me, Audrey"
"Why do people marry?' she asked.
"FOr different reasons"
because they love each other in one, L be-
heve, she said, her face crimsoning once more.
Somehow, girl though she was, she was his
master at that moment. He was doing the only
mean thing he had ever done in his life, and the
Consciousness or the meanness was beginning to
dawn upon him.
"Col. Wrighton, what could have induced
you to come TO me with such request?" she
asked, her pretty lips half curling with scOrn.
He saw the expression, and felt the superiority
she was assuming, and tried to free himself.
81 have right to choose whom will ask to
become my wife, Miss Ashton. But you have
not answered my questiOn-Wiu you be my
wife?"
81 WILL" she said, ''if you will answer one
question of mine satisfactorily
"What Is it?''
Sis there any woman living you care for more
tbs n you do for me, Col, WrightOn?"
He had been calm, almost cold, all the time,
but at this questionable hardest for him to
answer-it was his turn to fush, and his brOnzed
face grew nearly as bright as hers had done. He
stood silent, looking down, and she stood with
her hands tight twisted together, and her eyes
restlessly fixed on his face. Then his answer
came, and he did not seem so mean to Audrey
when he gave 1t.
81 have done you wrong, Audrey Ashton,
but not so deepa wrong as you think. L hal
hoped and believed that the woman L loved
many years ago was nothing to me now, but il
answer your question truthfully, can only say
she is still dear to me. Forgive me-" he said,
going up to her and holding out his hand, al
do not mean TO wrong you. had hoped il you
married me L might have made you happy.
You will forgive me?" he asked, still holding
out his hand Tor hers.
HOp oua cOpditioD 7