Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-23
"What is 1t, Mrs. spenser7 Can be Of ser.

what is it, Mrs. spenser7 Can be Of ser
mo, thank you-Ethel,, said her mother.
turning now to that young lady, who had aG
length come forward. ~ wish you would 60 to
to show Mr.. Dudley" The missions were ap-
parently used UP. and horticulture reached.
Sir Cecil inteFPosed, saying that he would get
Miss Spenser should not be troubled: but the
latter had already passed into the conserva-
"Win you allow me to reach If. Misc snenso,,n
asked ne, coming up to Ethel as she was 10
me acI Oh stretching out her hand to gather the
Upon hearing the freezing tones of his voice
Ethel turned In surprise, and thus met his stern
regard, matching the accents In which he spoke
THANK you, have managed answered she
with quiet dignity
IL was such pity for your very interesting
conversation to be interrupted" said Thorpe
WIN what he intended to be cutting irony.
MOI. MOI at an; was glad OF the change
EtlelS innocence was disarming ana Thorpe
nad no intention OF suffering in Silence. SO he
IesOrted TO plainest protest. ..How could you
60 on with that detestable puppy In the m amer
you nave Deen doing all the evening?"
what have done wroDg?" asked Ethel the
sweet mouth beginning to droop, and the tears
10 gather In her dark eyes. The poor child was
ignorant as 10 the nature Of her offence, but Ii
diSmay
Sir Ceeil was in part notified by her peni-
tence and her loneliness, as she stood there in
her great beauty, looking up at him in meek
appeal. Ethel, don't you know that you be-
long 10 me?" demanded he, grasping her hand
specimen.
Ethel saw the passion In his face that was
Dent over hers. heard IL In his thrilling tones,
and she turned quickly away, but She was
meLt.
Perhaps her trembling silence and swift
aEeItlng OF her countenance satisfied Thorpe
better than any speech for he drew her toward
him whispering: MY darling, do you love me?
Am so blessed?'
The next moment a sound close at hand
startled them. What smote upon their ears
was the rustic OF wOman'S dress advancing,
ana IL was followed 10y sharp and clear voice
In peremptory summons.
Miss Spenser, are you cOming?"
The foolish young people mad but lust time to
start aSunder when Miss Dudley made her ap-
pearance, rounding pyramid OF tall plants.
gagiDg candor, quite mastering the situation
with those cold Shrewd eyes OF hers. 81 think
Mrs. Spenser Is waiting for that flower, but
VIII carry 1t to her. it would be pity for you
to shorten your botanical studies,
AS YOU like" said Sir Cecil fronting the in
truder daripgly, his handsome face flushed and
Triumphant
But Ethel had already flown Off to the draw
iDg-rOOm.
III.
The course OF Sir CecllS love had up to this
time been of an even, prosperous, character,
one uncalcuated to rob him OF sleep or aD
petite; but upon the night following that brief
scene IN the conservatory, Slumber was ban
ished from bis eyellds by the fever OF passion
that burned In his veins. Giving speech and ut
terance TO his love seemed to have awakened it
10 more conscious eX1Stence-an activity OF life
that would not allow to its subject repo5e or
CAM SO with the dawn Thorpe arose; and at
10 having with difficulty restrained his arior
tlll that nour, he ordered his dogcart to drive
INTO Brlarford. The golden corn was waving in
the fresh breeze: the many tinted woods and
flashing river lay bathed In the glorious light OF
the morning sun; but it was Of none of these
Things Inat Sir Cecil was thinking; it was none
or the cOmelneSSeS OF nature that brought the
light into the young man S eye, and the smile
about his mouth. AS he was being swiftly borne
through that fair scene, Thorpe's mind was
centered entirely upon the coming meeting
with Ethel Spenser: he was picturing her shy
consent to be his wife, and planning how he
would extort from her sweet lips confession
made many times.
just as Sir Cecil Thorpe reached the vIcarage
door IL was thrown open from within, disclosing
Mr: spenser, who was preparing to issue forth.
That gentleman would not have permitted
prince OF the blood to delay him In a parochiaI
DUTY, lar less young man who was constftut.
ing nd hlIaselI INTO regular member OF the house.
mold; SO now he only paused to fling wide the
briefly. -'0-'
GLOW do you do? Walk In perhaps you will
urgency"
Sir Cecil would have excused him for all time
Win the most absolute content; the estmable
clergyman was not the person whom he wanted.
BUT CHANGING round the room into which he had
Deen so suHmarily shown, Sir Cecil found Il
also empty OF his divinity, The apartment was
quite vacant an unusual circumstance, for tt
was the ordinary family sittlng-room at that
period OF the day. " ''-'
One OF the French windows which opened
into the verandah stood alar and Thorpe ad.
Vanced TO look II Ethel had stepped out into the
garden, as she would often take occasion to do
II Liner her attention were attracted by a specially
alluIlng rose, or flower In need OF tying 10
nything, in fact that would furnish plea for
straying forth into the early sunshine. But
MISS Spenser was nowhere in sight, and Thorpe
was turning again within doors to wait, with
What patience he might when his glance fell
upon the davenport, which had been very Ell
IDENTITY drawn up to the window that the writer
the !, might enjoy the morning air.
Miss Spenser had apparently been INTERRUPTED
III the midst or ep!stolary laborS. There was
pen laid down; carnatlon tied together VITA
Iern'leai seeing the little bunch the young
man smiled 10 himself, he could SO well picture
Ethei placing such between the folds or her in
n0cent noteS,-on the plotting pad was a letter
just commenced, and beside it one that had
come through the post, the empty envelope OF
which had fallen TO the ground. the sI1perscrin.
ton being like the han 1Wrting OF the note. bold
and dashing. Peculiarly So
nIhat fellow must have a small tree felled
when he wants new pen" said Sir CacIl 10
hlinseil Win lghthearted laugh, as he picked
up the envelope from the carpet and put iC back
In Its place on the desk.
ire next moment ST. Cecil's face had turned
or CHASTITY hue, and word OF bitter meaning
and emphasis burst from his lips. What was
there In that simple scene to cause this excite
ment? Enough. In the glance which Thorpe
had had OF the open letter In laying down its
cover upon the table, some words In the large
black characters had been apparent to hin.
They " ere the conclusion:
And now goodbye, dearest and sweetest,
Ever your own loving
''BEvIs TREHAwKE"
There could be no mistake the syllabIes In
that bold; decided writing stood out as clear as
daylight burning themselves into his brain
ana there beside them, her delicate caltgraphy
Offering strong contrast, was EtheFs reply:
my OWN DARLING BEvIS-I have had your
letter and kissed it a hundred times; would
that 1t had been your Dear self" At that point
Ihorpe stopped; even In SO terrible moment
the Instinct OF the gentleman rose to prevent
MS reading words meant for another and
cieDch1ng his teeth and hands In his fierce
wrath, he strobe away to the other end OF the
room. ~ "
the coquette." he muttered grinding his
leetn ln his bitter sense OF betrayal An! was
HOl thaI what those women were saving last
hght, those women to whom had they heen
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