Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-15


vigor Of her pose and the faint rose on her thin
cheek. he said to himself that the springs of our
neighbours life and health may often lie among
little thoughuulneSses and ktndneS5eS which we
too often forget or neglect.
Poor thing" he thought, ''lf I may pre-
scribe quinine for her, why may not do this?'"'
And then he added, aloud, Miss Lydia, will
you like to take another drive with me to-mor-
row."
answer for moment. DR.. Hardy made men,
tai note: 'More nervous than l thought she
was" Her voice sounded full of tears, as she
replied
Indeed do" he returned.
"Oh, DR.. Hardy!' she said, chow can answer
such question like this?'
why not?" asked the young man, quite feel
ingly, for he was shocked at what seemed to
be such fatal sign of exhaustion and feeble-
ness. why not? 1t concerns nobody but you
but am so old and so stupid" she said. 81
should think you were hooking me, but know
you are too good to do that"
"She has Staid at home and been ScOldel until
her brain is softenng," reflected the Doctor;
'but certainly never saw any signs of this be-
fore Why, there is nothing to make fuss
about, he cried eheeriy; lust yes or no, and
"Then yes, she said, adding, with sudden
burst OF tears, sit ought to be mo- for your sake,
for it is not fair to you.''
'Why, Miss Ray went on the Doctor, pre-
tending not to notice her agitation, the very
chaise is made for two, and l don't believe the
pony Knows you are mere to-day"
What will Eliza and Jane say?" she asked.
presently, in very subdued voice.
''Hang Eliza and janet said DR.. Hardy.
And your mother? she Suggested, timd.y.
The Doctor burst into hearty laugh, and re-
joined: 1.-THE dear old nanny does not mind
what else do, so long as keep little Of my
charming society for herself"
" And of course you viii give her as much OF
that as ever" said Lydia, and indeed hope l
may be some little comfort to her myself"
''What sentimental way OF putting things
hnvTc /, r,frNt
hint that she would like to come to our house a
little. l don't wonder at it, the dear old mammy
and her knitting-needles are quite lively dssipa-
ton compared with those dreadful FateS and
their everlasting embroidery"
'.Well never expected this; it never occur
red to me that such thing was possible, SAID
Lydia gently as to herself.
~ don't quite see why she need have expect
ed it," thought DR.. Hardy, glancing down at her,
and thinking how bright and hopeful she looked
and marveling how one short drive could have
wrought such change In a woman'S face.
60 have heard some say that they felt when
this was coming" she went on softly. "Im glad
didn't, or should have been frightened, and
then it might never have happened. But, Oh"
she said, looking up, with a pain fitting across
her forehead, "noW the people will think that
they have every right to say what Jane said they
would"
"And in the name of wonder what was that?"
asked the Doctor, pulling at his reinS and not
profoundly interested, though he feigned civil
curiosity.
''She said they would say was trying to de-
lude you into marrying me-" answered Lydia
I'm sure l did not. Pm sure you, at least
know that did nothing to make you to ask me
so suddenly"
Dr.. Hardy's heart jumped and pounded heav-
lily against his side. He saw it all now His
drive With me tomorrow had been cen heard qtI as
"Wiu you let me take you to be my wife for
ever?" or words to the like effect. The offer he
had never made was accepted, and he was an
engaged man against bis will. What could he
do? A word would set it right-would drive away
the strange sunshine that was beginning to
palely glimmer over that barren life-aye, and
Onment with new stamp of shame and wrong
upon it. And Dinnent was already in sight. And
here were Mrs. Rowe and her two daughters
walking toward them up the hill
That buXom matrOn hailed them with loud
and hearty greeting-Was glad to see the invalid
looking so well, and hoped DR.. Hardy was not
OverwOrking himself.
Sand upon my word, Miss Ray" went On the
wears widow, accustomed to plan and control,
'.noW We've met you, think we may as well
go back with you to Briar Cottage. for want
TO ask your father question about my life in
surance. II you can get down here I'll take
charge of you to your home. You can lean on
me as much as you like, and that will spare DIR.
Hardy driving out Of his way to set you down
atyour gate; for I'm sure he looks as If he needed
his teal"
won't you come home with me now" said
Lydia rather piteOuSly to the Doctor as he in
stantly prepared to alight She knew nothing
OF the ways and manners Of lovers, so that she
was not hurt by his alacrity in parting from
her. But she felt frightened to meet her father
and sisters, to whom she felt it was her bounden
duty at once to announce the strange and mo-
mentous change in her existence.
I'll come in this evening"" he said huSkily,
sin about an hours time" 1t seemed tmpossi-
bic to break the truth to her here and now; it
would be easierwhen she was resting on her
own little couch in her own shady parlOr.
He hurried on to his own home. His stable
boy wondered what was the matter with him
when he flung him the reins without his usual
word and joke: His mother was out-had gone
to take tea with neighbor, and the surgery was
full OF people-tedious, worrying people, with
chronic neuralgias and Indigestion. DR.. Hardy
could find neither the sympathetic society
which sootheS nor the solitude which strength
ems; yet, had his mother been at home he
doubted ii he could have told her of his diem
ma, its ludicrousness was so patent, its pathos
was so subtle. She would certainly have
laughed, and somehow laugh would have
Jared him. And he fancied she might have
made some severe remarks on Lydia Ray, and
they would have Jared him still more. Besides
he had no right to share this trial with anybody.
He and Lydia must. get through it by themselves.
Women must forgive him that he did not re-
member this at once, 1t only escaped his mind
because, being man, he did not fully realize
how disgraceful it is for woman to be ready to
fall in love!
from the surgery, hastily swallowed a cup of
tea, and then set Off to Brian Cottage. He would
not give himself time to think. ''The best oper-
ations are often done tmpromptu," he said to
himself.
AS he turned into the lane where the cottage
stood, there was Mrs. Rowe not hundred yards
from its gate. In full conversation with the
greatest gossip in Dfnnent, and both were laugh
ing heartily. "Was 1t posSble?"-but no, he
would not believe it, and pushed forward man
fully, intending to pass the ladies with wave
OF his hat and brief good evening"" But they
both held cut their hands to him!
"Let US wish you joy, Doctor" cried Mrs.
Rowe, in voice strong enough TO reach Mrs.
Simeon, who was watering the flowers in her
garden hard by. ''Let US wish you joy. Bat
you have given us turn, for all that. You've
put US quite on wrong SCENT And to see how
grave you looked this afternoon, as If all the
poor sick babies and grandmotherS were weigh
ing on your mind. But why did you let me sep
arate you? I've had counting time myself
Doctor, and l have feelings. Poor thing. 1
noticed she was trembling like leaf, and when
led her In said to Eliza, Take her away to lie
down awhile And in five minutes time Eliza
came down and told us all the news"
Now, what could DR.. Hardy do? Could he tell
Lydia'S blunder to these two amused women
before she even knew it herself? Perhaps he
could scarcely do better than he did, which was
to say quietly: ''Thank you, ladies'; 1 am sure
you Will excuse me from any delay"
Oh, certainly" they both said. And he felt
they turned and watched him as he went On.
That's not love" observed the gossip. "He's
thinking OF old Rays money. Perhaps he's In
some difficulty; one never knows"
'POOr fellow!" said Mrs. Rowe. "He doesn't
know what he's doing. Money may pay for the
hflf 1ncay