The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-02
MRS. LANCASTER'S RIVAL.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "A FRENCH HEIRESs
INNER OWN CHATEAU
Continued

II was very pretty face that was
looking up at him in the twilight; fair,
with soft blue eyes, and The red-gold
hair that the old painters loveo-the face
Of Dicks first love, for whom he had
dared his grandfather's anger and his
aunt's alternate laughing and remon-
STRANGE. Sine had been everything to
him for few months then-all the hero
ines of romance rolled into one; and
she, clever, ambitious girl, four or five
wears older than himself, whose relations
were nobodys, had seriously thought Of
marrying him, simply because he was a
gentleman. Aunt Kate, by some wise
strategy of hers, had prevented any SEN
timental parting, at which Dick might
have sworn eternal constancy; and Flora
Cardew had soon after consoled herself
with one Of the curates. They went
away at once from St. Denys, and report
said it was not happy marriage. Any
how, the curate died in few years, and
Flora, having quarreled with his rela-
tions, came back to her own. She now
lived quietly at home, and was kind to
her old father and mother. No one in
st. Denys liked her, and yet no one had
much to say against her; perhaps, as she
herself calmly remarked, it was jealousy.
One attraction in Flora was, however,
that she never seemed conscious Of her
own beauty. Her eyes, as they looked
up curiously, gently, almost tenderly
into Dicks face, we're not asking for ad-
miration. They simply said, Chow we
are both changed! but you, my old
friend, are very much improved, and l
should hardly have known YOU"
All the confusion was on his side. In
the moment of dead silence, as they
stood there looking at each other, he
caught himself wishing bad thoug ghts
about Mrs. Lancaster. Did she suppose
he was the same fool that went away
ten years ago? Then he repented lit
tie, collected himself, and hoped she was
quite we'll. Mrs. Lancaster sighed.
"Not very well, thanks. l see you
think am sadly altered. We can't be
young forever. l dare say ! look like a
ghost tonight; have been shopping at
Morebay all day long, and this hill is
such drag when one comes home tired"
A great pity for weak things was one
of the strong points in Dicks imperfect
character He looked down, saw that
she was carrying basket ard large
parcel, and took them out of her hands
at once, with the authority OF an old
friend.
90, never miud-tliank you," said
Mrs. Lancaster, family.
"How can YOU attempt to carry such
load up this hil?' said Dick.
"There was nnbody else. Our little
maid was too busy to come down to meet
me. But can't let you do it. You
are waiting for your aunt; and you only
came to-day"
"My aunt is safe for ten minutes, al
least. Yes, l got here this evening. Die
you come up by the boat?'
II did. 1t was so lovely on the water
I was thinking ofyou as I came up, be
cause heard you were expected. Dc
you remember frightening me so terribly
one night" ......
"What, by dropping into the water
down at Morebay--awkward asst" said
Dick, with slight laugh. "But you
were not frightened; you laughed at
me-" a--
20, but indeed was. / wonder now
YOU were not drowned, or did not strike
your head against something. | have
been nervous at stepping aboard ever
since. Frightened! how little you knewp'
"Well, It might have been bad affair
as was out without leave. However
as no harm came of it, suppose we for
get it. Except Mrs. Cardew's kindness
in drying me so thoroughly before SHE
sent me home. What plague l mus
have been! How are Captain and Mrs
Cardew"
"They are very well. They will b.
glad to hear that you have not forgotten
them." c"s
"One does not forget old friends s.
easily"
"Don't you think so? Then hop
you will prove it by coming to see us:
'."I shall be most happy" said Dick
new quite sure of having conquered him
self, and placed his old acquaintance Oh
thoroughly unsentimental footing.
Mrs. Lancaster's behavior was as goo'
as could be expected from born firt
and good deal of Dicks security wa
based on being able to meet her on he
own ground. He had it in him to be
come one Of those idle wasters of the bes
thing in the world, and probably nigh
have done so had he stayed in England
but the truth and freedom of his col
onial life had both hardened and soft
ehed his heart in the right way; and
think one might say for Dick, at thi
time, that he only flirted with firts
When she had got the promise of
VISIT Flora became much more Cheerful
and dfscreetly avoiding old times, aske
many intelligent questions about Nev
Zealand and his doings there.
They turned up to the right, sti
strolling slowly up the hill, and stoppe
at the iron gate of little square garder
Here Dick gave up theparcels; but afte
he had opened the gate again with tn
old familiar catch, there were still a fe'
last words to be said, and he stood lean
ing with his elbows on the top bar, til
stars coming out over his head, the al
A..