The Russellville Democrat., 1880-09-23

.iiouehls III the dreary little bar parlor A great variety of whips hung agains the wall, and over the mantel-piece wa, q photograph of a fine chestnut mare under It was written, Being Mir. Hun ter's favorite mare, who died in he fourteenth year" A short way on wal . photograph of Mrs. Hunter. A large Bible and photograph album lay on th, 1 table.
 Seton mechanically opened the album Here was atinted photograph of younl girl with profuse golden ringlets, large round face, and meaningless blue eyes Under It was written, Presented tc Miss Hunter by her affectionate friend Isabella Grant" Poor Isabellal How many honest country hearts, wonder had she caused to ache while her h iii was gold and the figure still shapely?
 For want of something better to do, Se ton began to write letter; but he made slow way with it. For minutes together he sat holding the pen listlessly in his hand, leaning his arm wearily upon the table, listening, as we all listen when l alone, to what sounds may be going on near us, from feeling which is not curi. osity, but more overpowering.
 Suddenly what must have been a very light vehicle dashed swiftly down the road, and drew up with great precision at the door of the Green Dragon, 2 while the voice of new conner became audible. Seton, however, could only catch a few disconnected words, such as caught in the --delicate-shelter- Chiselhurst-closed carriage.n
 Then the door opened, the landlord presented binea1f on tho fhracbnf and said, in very pointed manner
 If you please, sir, young lady driv- ing over to Seyenoaks in a light, open trap has been caught in the rain, and her servant wants to know if I can give her sitting room while he drives back to Chiselhurst for closed carriage"
 And this is the only one you have?' rejoined Seton. ''Ohl ask her in by all means. However, am sorry the room smells so of smoke" he added as he knocked the ashes from his pipe.
 Don't mention it, sir, and thank you very much," replied the landlord.
 In another moment the door opened again, and the unexpected intruder en. tered--a lady, tall and very graceful having pale, Madonna-like face, and gold hair shining like an aureole round a small, classic head.
 Seton's face had grown white to the very lips. and his voice quivered per ceptibly as, extending his hand, he said
 "This is very unexpected meeting"
 'Very unexpected" echoed the lady, removing her wet mantle, and sitting down on the leather sofa. The recognl ton had been mutual, but women, a.s g general thing, have more selfposses sion than men.
 Let me recommend this chair" said Seton. laying his hand upon the one from which he had just risen.
 "No, thank you. prefer sitting away from the fire !"
 T am sorry the room should smell SC of tobacco" observed Seton, after a pause, but you see did not expect the pleasure of visitor"
 She smiled rather forced smile by way of answer, and Seton folded elabo- rately and put into an envelope blank piece of paper.
 "The country is very beautiful around here," he observed, writing his owr name, with great care, upon the envel ope.
 "We have only been back from tho Continent six weeks" she observed after pause. "Mafnma has taken { house near Chiselhurst. I was driving over to Sevenoaks this morning, and was caught in the rain and induced to ask for shelter here."
 "And how is Mrs. Clarefield?"
 Mamma is quite well, thank you Then, alter pause, in full, sweet, low h, h,J 1r .,, finite pathos, Are you stopping here?"
 "Hardly," said Seton, with an as sumption of gaiety Tn his tone, "but Fl tell you all about it. My friends kindly took it into their heads that was stick ing too closely to work-that l wanted fresh air and exercise-so they bound me over On my word of honor tC walk from London to Hasting in week I acquiesce in every thing now, so, O course acquiesced in this, and this is my first day of hard labor and imprison ment."
 But you used" began the lady, anC then she colored little, and seemed un willing to finish her sentence; "you useC to be so fond of waking"
 But a man changes good deal il three years" he replied, wearily.
 Then came long silence, broken a last by the pop of an ale cork, at whici they started as if an explosion had taker place.
 "Oh, you will grow used to it in time, observed Seton.
 It seemed impossible to imagine these two persons, more formal to each othel in manner than the most distance ac Quaintances, could ever have been pas sionate and devoted lovers. Wha thoughts had they, wonder, as they sal together, and yet so far apart, of the ole days wherein love led them, and all wa; well? It would weary you, dear reader to purpose, were l to set down here the dreiry commonplaces with whicf these two tried to beguile the time fo l over an hour. At length, worn out by the arduous effort of trying to entertain each other while their thoughts were sC far away, they took refuge in silence while the wind roared, and the rail lashed the window, and the dusk camt on prematurely, and Saton, looking ou on the cheerless prospect shivered a with cold. Then the other person ros' very quietly and stirred the fire into blaze, and resumed her seat on tn sofa.
 "No, you shouldn't, really,' said Setol not turning round, however, thougi with look of great pain on his face. l | IS wonderful what suffering some small commonplace word or action may caus us. What vistas of impossible joys ma, l they not open to us.
 "1 suppose the carriage will soon b back" said Alice, presently, and speak | ;na with effort Hand our coachmal