Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-11
CLARISSA'S CHOICE.

briskly grey hound, very handsome speci-
men Of Its Kid lies sleeping on the hearth
rug. There Is general air OF comfort in all
the sufroUIdtI gs yet Mr. Dugdale-whoSe ad-
mfratinn for the country is not unrestrained,
and who has come down to bis neglected estate
only because long forgotten sense OF duty
and new steward have called him-is sitting
with his bands before bin. wondering. In a
melancholy fashion, what on earth he Is going
to do With himself for the next month.
IL, he solilr quizes, he even knew any one In
the county, or course they will all call, the
Katkins especially. but new acquaintances are
such bore. And dinners where French COOKS
are unkHown--pah, He doesn't know ten
ant on bis estate. or landlord in the district.
except old Major Hyde who, probably, would
be considered uncomfortable in town. He Won
ders, vaguely. what Thistleton Is doing now,
and Dunmore, and all that lot; perhaps
"a LADY wishes 10 see you, Sill" says Hlck-
SOD, speaking III respectful undertone from
ii sincerely hope not Hickson," responds his
master, laziv. without turning his head: Il
really couldn't. You know. / have come down
here against my viii. partly to escape al that
kind OF thing. And having sacrificed myself, l
insist on quiet"
"She says, Sir ="
81 know all about IT," with an impatient ges.
ture; Just say am Ill. dying, dead, bu led
anything, only send her away"
% beg your pardon. Sir with an Apologize
cough, but she seemed so urgent, and could
not posi- bly, take i. upon myself TO dismiss the
lady IN question. believe you would not wish
II, Sir, IL"
"You have evidently made up your mind
shall receive her" resgnedy; "there is, there
fore. Nothing fer il but to submit; am iucaD-
able Of argument under my present depressing
circumstances Is she,' desperately, "a woman
or lady. HickSon?"
"A lady sir gpife the lady,
"Ah,-old or youDg?"
mot old Sir and not too young, either"
"Neitier Old nor young. That generally
means forty. * She fOrty?'
fDear ne. no Sir-nothing of the kind. / beg
pardon, sir, / mercy meant to imply she was
good deal hIpI han eighteen"
"You are Invaluable. HickSon; have always
said it. with flash OF admiration. "Show
her In"
"Another Of the personal begging-letter
Sort Say S Mr.. Dugdale to himself with meek
Shrug, unlocking drawer that contains money.
Better have it ready; the only thing l know
OF 10 get rid of them in hurry" Sinking back
In his chair he puts on his most miserable air,
and prepares for an ignomniouS defeat.
There Is some slight delay; then the faint
rustic of a wemanS skirts, word or two from
the admirable dickson, VINO then throws wide
the door and announces " Miss CareW," in his
usual WE'LL red monotone.
.Dugdate, rising from his seat with some pre-
cipltancy mates her deferential bow. There
is extreme respect, though good deal of ire
p essi Die surprise, In his manner as his eyes
meet hers.
she is young-about three and-twenty--very
sler der, very eXcellenty formed, of middle
height. and extremely pretty. Her eyes are a
clear, dark gray; her light brown hair is covered
by large iat. trimmed handsomely with fe ath-
ers: gay gown fits her rounded figure to per-
lection; her har ds are incaSed in trreproacha-
Bile gloves. Du-dale, as he looks at her, repentS
HIM OF the :. begging letter. Idea, and at the
bare remembrance OF 1t, colOrS slightly. 50
does his visitor, though from far different mo-
tives.
81 must ask you to pardon this-this intru-
Sion" she says, In a low tone, though perfectly
distinct and full OF dignity and sweetness 81
would not have come myself, but my brother Is
quite an Invalid, suffering from an accident,
and arc 1t was necessary one of US should see you.
When we heard you were returning to town
again so soon 1t frightened US into action"
90 not return to London for a month"
'Indeed.'' with suppressed chagrin. I'VE
were tod you intended leaving tomorrow or
next day. Had known the truth"
Pray sit down." says Dugdale, courteously
handing her chair, "and let me know what
j can do for you"
~ should have introduced myself" she SAYS
with a faint smile. my brother and are your
tenants Mr.. Dugdale and have, think, some
slight claim on your forbearance. The place
Weston Lodge; you know it?-haS been Ia the
possession OF our family for years. FIRST my
my father had it: now my brother has it; but
our lease has expired She pause5.
You make me feel ashamed that know so
little of my tenants, or their wishes or con-
cernS," he says. II know. indeed nothing OF
the neighoOrhood. My living so much abroad
Is my only excuse. But that my late steward,
poor fellow, died, and that the new man insisted
on NY presence he. } for few weeks, 1 should
not be in this house LOW. Yes, you want new
lease-is that it?'
'.That is IL . with glance Of surprise at his
evident indifference to- or ignorance OF, all that
has been going on OF late. 1.-The question Is,
shall we get IL? The new man you speak Of
Graham.has, think, advised you to the con-
trary. He wishes TO take our farm and tncor-
porate 1t with the fields that lie beyond 1t, and
let II all out at a higher value. OF course we
can retain the house. but without the land it Is
useless TO US, as my brother is fond of farming
We are willing you should raise our rent-We
would gladly take all those fields speak Of
that stretch to the south of US; but, unfortu-
Rately, just low we cannot. l thought, If |
were to ask you, you would perhaps reconsider
your stewards advice, and let us keep oul
home
The sweet voice trembles ever such a little.
the gray eyes fall, the little dencately-g loved
hand taps nervouSly upon the table near her.
:. Have you spoken TO Graham?" asks Dug
dale, who, Just at this moment, could have
soundly rated his own Jealous manager.
NO. We thought 1t better to see you, your
self. VIII you think OF it7" She raises her
eyes again, and regards him earnestly entreat-
ingly. ITO me it would not so much matter"
she adds, gently, ''but my brother-hiS heart Is
In, the place; he has been delicate of late, and
all this anxiety pFeys upon him, and reCards bis
recovery. We have been good tenants; would
ask you not TO dispossess u.s.
al shall speak TO Graham tomorrow. Pray
DO not disturb yourself about it; l promise
you,' says Mr. Dugdale, who is singularly pill
able where beauty pleads, 'you shall keep your
home. Nobody shall dlspossess you"
How shall thank your cxclaims she with
grateful warmth, rising. Tears of emotion shine
In her dark eyes. Al hardly dared hope when
came, and now"-she pauses, and again smile
Sui 'Co hci hPo- Sdu ~ DdCh W OeOTS6 anu
make him happy"
alt makes yourself happy, too, trust?"
A little shadow falls into Miss CareW's eyes,
They droop.
.'Thank you-yes," she answers, but there Is
faint WEAKNESS, curious pain, discernIble In
her tone.
She bows slightly and turns to the door,
''Let NE see you to your'-carriage he Is 90
ing TO say, but heSitates. She certainly looks
like woman who should have carriages at her
disposal, but he remembers hearing from ezra
ham that Weston is but small place, and
checks himself.
"Yes-I drove over" she says, quietly And
then he follows her TO the hall door steps, and
sees there waiting for her tiny ph9ton, a tiny
pony, and COCOON holding its head. AL Is well
appointed, and, though small, perfect
Miss Carew gives her hand to Dugdale, and
steps into the phaeton: the groom springs in
behind ard hands his mistress the Telns; she
turns and beStowS upon her landlord SMILE
short, though exceedingly sweet, and in another
minute pony, tiger, lady, and all have dlsap-
pedreQ down the avenue
He, left standing upon the gravel watches
neT Iedrea' until distance has indeed, swallowed
up All traces OF her, and as he looks he muses.
What So d little face she had, but how eX-
pressiyel what sweetness In the ewes, yes.
beyond doubt II all lay in her eyes: there
wasn't much 10 speak OF in the rest OF her feat
ures. except her mouth, which was charming.
Dut there was certainly fascination in her eyes
what did Graham mean by creating such con.
fusion, all about few paltry pounds year,
MN