The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-01-13

MARIA VeAed ana angry with herself for
the Outburst of feeling, had dried away
her tears as hastily as they came, and was
going on with her dinner with what appe-
tite she might. Sir Arthur went on with
his, glancing at her now and then between
his eyelashes.
"When did Mr.. Raby die?" asked Mrs.
Ashton.
81 do not know yet that he is dead - re-
plied Sir Arthur. HE was alive when
quilted London, week ago; but it was
certain he could not last long"
did you see him, papa?" continued
Mrs. Ashton.
81 saw him several times p
"You seemed to be very much interest,"
ed in that young man, papa" was Mrs
Ashton's interruption.
81 was so" quietly replied Sir Arthur.
81 looked up to him as to one of supe-
rior order
Superior" somewhat slightingly re-
marked Mrs. Ashton.
Yes; in my opinion. l bow to genius;
L respect misfortune: Kaoy ftaby wa-riela-
in both. Had he lived, l should have
done something for him: as it is,.all l
could do was to render his deathbed lit
tie more comfortable than it might other
wise have BEEN"
''Does he suffer much?'
81 hope not. The doubt was, that he
might towards the last. | invited Mr.
Janson to come down for day or two
when all was over, and bring the account
of his last hours"
"Who is Mr. Janson, papaY'
"a friend of Mr.. Raby's. A young sur
geon, who has been much with him in his
A gay, gentlemanly, pleasant young fell
low as ever L came across" somewhat
warmly added Sir Arthur.
Papa, | think you evince great lik-
ing for young menu
Possibly do, Louisa. The having no
sons of my own may have induced it. 1t
is not often, though, one meets with so
charming young man as Mr.. Janson."
as he gentleman?"
"By birth, do you mean? never ask
ed him the question. He is one in mind
and manners, and that is enough for me.
You were always oyer-fastidious, Louisa"
Maria, meanwhile, said not a word.
After the rebuff administered by her faith
er, she could but show some sense of il:
though, indeed, her thoughts were too
busy to admit of her joining lightly in
the conversation. Heartily sorry was she
to hear of the death of Raby Raby; and
certain qualms of conscience were re-
preaching her. In the midst of all her
vanity and her flirting. her laying her
charms out for admiration, aud her lin
gering interviews with Mr.. Raby, she
had not lost her heart to him. In point
of fact, that vulnerable portion of the
human frame was yet intact in Maria
Saxonbury. Bat she had liked him much.
She had admired his beauty OF face; she
had reverenced his great gift. genius; she
had sat most complacently 10 listen to his
softly breathed words, and their scarcely
tttsyutsrt theme, love. 1t had been very
reprehensible. Maria had conveniently
ignored that fact at the time; but she was
feeling it deeply now. Putting aside her
vanity, her consciousness of beauty, her
love of admiration, she was a noble>
hearted girl; and she was wishing Just
that she could recall Raby Raby to life,
almost at the sacrifice of her own. That
she had wrecked his happiness, she had
had some cause to believe; but to have
wrecked his life-Maria turned all over
in hot glow, and wondered whether she
might yet dare to ask God to forgive her.
why should some peoples nature be
so sensitiveT she somewhat peevishly
asked herself. "They are not fit to be in
the world"
No, they are not And many a one
has had cause to know that truth besides
Maria Saxonbury.
She sat in her dainty dress OF white,
the jewels shining on her fair neck and
arms-sat Tin her old favorite attitude,
after she went into the drawing-room-
leaning back in fauteuil, her black satin
slipper tapping petulantly the carpet.
Not so much in petulance, possibly as in
sorrow, was that pretty foot moving. Life
seemed to her particularly gloomy that
evening; as if it were to have no future.
For one thing, she had been vexed by
the nOn-arrival of Arthur Yorke. He was
to have spent Christmas at Saxonbury, to
have been with them that day, but let
ter, telling Of the serious illness of his
mother, had come instead. Maria liked
Arthur Yorke very well; quite sufficiently
well to be grieved at his non-arrival, and
to feel it disappointment. And yet she
did not love him. She did not love Ar
thur Yorke any more than she had loved
Mr. Raby. 1t is capr;cious passion,
one that will not come for the bidding;
and, perhaps; the very fact of Maria
having gathered hints that she was des-
tined to be Mr.. Yorke's wife, had Kept the
love away.
Sir Arthur Saxonbury had never said
Maria, "All going well, L wish you to be
the wife of Arthur Yorke." Lady Sax
onbury had never said it. More than all,
Mr.. Yorke himself had never said it.
And yet, that Maria knew that such was
her projected destiny, was certain. Sir
Arthur Saxonbury wished it; there was
not the slightest doubt that Mr.. Yorke
wished it; but neither of them had spoken
directly to Maria. She was very young,
and Sir Arthur, who would not for the
world have pushed on such project
against her inclination, had desired of
Mr.. Yorke that he should not speak at
present "Give her time to get liking
for you first" he said And the advice was
good. But the project had in some way,
Oozed out; and Maria knew it as well az
they did. In fact, there was a tacit I'M
derstanding that she did, between herself
and Mr.. Yorke. At present she was
pleased to show off her caprices and her
coquetries to him, as she did to others,
secure in her own power.
Lady Saxonoury, a confirmed invalid,
suffering under an inward complaint, re-
clined in a fauteuil opposite Maria. Mrs.
Ashton, who had always some work in
hand for one or the other of her children,
sat at the table between them, doing some
thing 10 the lace Of little cap, and grum-