The Morning herald., 1877-08-14
CHAPTER XVIII.
HAPPY HOURS,

being wrapped IN bluepaper, the purchaser
took it up carefully, and then walked
iaway-always In one direction.
Had he been followed. he would have
been found TO go down Parliament Street,
along Great George Street, enter at Storey's
Gate, pass along BirdcaQe Walk, take the
paved passage on the left, and thus reach
! ing Great Queen aud Park Street, he would
have been remarked knocking ever at one
door, and never apparently in vain.
The individual who so watched would
have also had the opportunity of remark
| ingthat this gentleman was closely follow
ed by small, frail. and far from good
looking man, who followed the first about
Twenty PAGES off. and who did 80 until he
tturnel up the passage leading from Bind
cage Walk.
At this point he continued on.past sever
al houses, where he let himself in ut gar
den gate, which he closed after him. He
then entered the house by the back door.
And these proceedings taking place in
February, it need not be said that it was
dark, when both men entered the same
house the one by the front door, the Sec
ond about half minute after him) by the
garden entrance.
The first man entered q brilliant draw
ling-rOOm, where was seated beautiful
woman, who received him with smile.
| The second man, with noiseless step,
stole up the staircase, opened the door
window on the first landing, thus reached
balcony, and crept along until he was
hidden amidst the shrubs with which the
wide, long balcony was filled. From this
point he could see into the back drawing
room, where the beautiful woman was al
ways seated waiting for her visitor.
A brilliant fire blazed cheerfully, and the
scene was Lit by great lamp.
These persons were, as the reader knows
already. Austin Sivory, Margaret Mayter,
and Paul Webber.
Austin and Margaret sat near each
other
She was still in deep mourning; but
close examination of her toilet would have
shown that faint attempts had been made
to modify the severity of the costume,
while Nlargaret's very beautiful black hair
vas not worn SO plainly as when first she
vas introduced to the reader. On the par
ocular night at which we have now arriv-
ID, a sprig of white lilac lay in her hair.
it was Austin who bad brought that lovely
Cover.
Dare I believe your said Margaret,
continuing a conversation already COM
|ncnced with Austin. "Dare give implicit
Faith to your oaths3 Do not all men be-
lieve that promise made to awoman is
not binding7 have already been the VIC
tim of a lovers treason. A man is engaged
TO an honest girl-pure, faithful and conf
ilent. She demands stern fidelity, equal
to her own. In her innocepce, her faith,
Iaer womanly honesty. she cannot think it
s possible to be otherwise with Dlm. No
Iloubt or suspicion crosses her brain.
; Would SHE think of deceiying him she
oyes9 But while she preserves thus
Ter faith, sincere. true, even In thought,
le in whom she 80 fully trusts-to whom
he is prepared to give up her whole life
nav think fit to turn his thoughts In an
!, ,ther direction, and yet suppose that he
las perfectly fulfilled his duty to ber whom
le is about to honor with bis name. 1t is
: nonshous."
Bat be could not love the first, if be be-
laved thus" urged Austin.
Then why cid he say that he loved
. herw
"He thought, perhaps, that he did. There
. l,re men who naturally live 50 calm and
yuict a ufe-are so sheltered from the
! lHhi1lwnds of passion-that they are quite
j,apable of deceiving themselves, and OF
, ;supposing that they are devoted, when
they are positively nothing OF the KIND.
Their hearts beat little faster.they thlnk
little more of certain woman than they
DO of any other, and they fancy themselves
desperately in love. Tis but rose-water
love which is felt by these men," :,
1t was impossible that Margaret could
avoid admiring this man, whose almost
: feminine deIcacy but nhanced bis man
liness.
She did not perceive that Austin had
y drawn nearer to her-that even one OF his
' Lands touched hers as it rested ON the
! sofa. 80.
1 This scene the blazing fire encircled with
y ts brilliant. flame, which mingled Will
the subdued light which streamed 1roh
> the lamp.
Ont in the cold, heavy darkness which
held possession of this balcony, crouchlne
down near the lead that no passing lndlvld'
ual on the path below should see his NEAR
form outlined on the glass-Out in this des'
oation Webber watched tne4l.
j., He was suffering an agony of hopeless
4 helpless bitterness. He could not avoil
, admiringAustinSivory. Willingly he coult
have killed him, but he admitted to himself
u that Sivory was handsome man, and thai
)be knew how to speak; for in his hiding
{ place, his ear close to the division of til!
door-window, he could hear every wore
! when no passing carriage or cab drowned
the sound of the inging, pleading voice.