Litchfield enquirer., 1881-11-24

love;p which was more than he did, for he bobbed down and kissed her. plump on the nose, and barely smiled at his mistake. . With this he dashed out of tLe room, leav- ing Amelia little bit disconcerted at his ill., concerted excitement A moment later she heard the sound of wheels, and looked cut of the window. MT. Fitzgerald, in white chapel, was going down the drive. . Gone to meet the Verulams in that thing lmpoasiblei" cried his wife. sI ordered the carriage"
 But Lucius Fitzgerald had gone to meet the Verulams, and so had the barouche He would just drive himself to the station, and see them into it, he thought; after all, it would only be courteous
 3:30, and the little station at tAbbotscraithiel IS in state of fluster, for the train from the south IS due; visitors, too, are expected up at 'the house," and porters are running hither and thither. each more anxious than the other to show assiduity and attention. And natural enough to. Other people may be looking out fer friends who may be false, for relations whom they may not love; but these honest fellows are welcoming silver charms most um- likely to prove false, and of whose claims npon sae heart not even skeptics are skepticel. No one, however espresse though they all seem, IS in so great a state of real fuster as the master of 'the house" himself, impassive as he looKs standing there on the platform, his usually long, pale face just a little longer and paler than ever, his large dark eyes Eurn- ing just little more brightly in their deep setting of heavy lash.
 At last the bell has rung, and the train pants with slow dignity into the station, Still Lu- cins- Fitzgerald does not move, but leans on, as though watching to be recognized, against the office-door A second or more and the bright color mounts to his brow, then sudden ly fades away into sort of blue-pallor He walks forward to carriage, but with no haste yet, from that carriage window is gazing on him fair young girlish face such as even an indifferent passer-by in crowded thorough fare would turn to look at such face as a painter might have chosen for Calypso when looking seaward from the shores of Ithaca It had the stamp of blighted love upon it. A busy porter opened the carriage door, and Lady Constantia. fat, rubicund, and fifty, came tumblipg out, How do you do" ing Lucius with easy familiarity4 He gave his hand to the girl. She did not attempt to speak as she stepped down on the platform, though her hand seemed to finger in his just mo- ment longer than was necessary. Perhaps it was the whispered My darling !" which he uttered, in very low tone as she stood beside him, which so surprised her that she forgot to be conventional
 What right had he to call her s'darlng," /" with Amelia sitting at home waiting for them. and in spite of the far-of pained look in the sweet Brides eyes, which should have thrust the work back unspoken into bis heart It did not bring glad look into her face, as ''dar- ling" uttered by Lucius Fitzgerald six months joy had died out of Birdie Verulam' life since then. She turned away from him and spoke to her maid about the luggage, as though seeking refuge in triviality. Why had she come to Abbotscraithie? Even Amelia, had she been at the station that day, could not have failed to note that Birdie Verulam had been to Lucius in the past what every law of honor forbade that she could ever be still in the future. Like Lucius, Birdie was accom- plishing her destiny; like Lucius, she had a firm belief in her OWE strength. How utterly weak they both were perhaps they discovered with startling reality as they stood side by side on the Abbotscraithie platform.
 Lady Constantia was Brides step-mother, and the girl was dependent on her for food, shelter, and clothing utterly deDendent; and pated widow was calculating, though kindly, and had moreover but a limited income To marry Luclus, Birdie knew was utterly
 
 first love-futter agitated her heart; so she re- signed him-gave him with her own free will to Amelia. She had morbid longing to wit ness the success of her work. and had accom- panied her mother to Abbotscralthie, delud- ing herself into the idea that she would hence forth endure the void in her life with less bit ter bangs if she were but allowed to see Lu- cius rich, happy, and contented
 So when Lady Constantia told her that she had received an invitation from Mrs. Fitzger- aid, and in her blindness and love of living a. other peoples expense suggested that they should accept it, Birdie had offered no Oppo- sition.
 She got into the carnage and seated herself by Lady Constantia's side, the maid opposite. Lucius preceded them in his cart. He had chosen wisely in leaving Birdie to her refec- tions for while; furthermore, he went up the back way into the stable yard to avoid be- ing present when Birdie and Mrs. Fitzgerald should meet.
 He could easily made an excuse for not be- ing at his post to fulfil the ceremony of intro duction. Perhaps, even in the abstract, he was right. although his action. or rather, in- action, iu the matter was due on this occasion solely to his inclination. Where people are bound 'aOLeas Uole,as to make themselves ac- quainted, the formalty of an introduction is very likely better omitted. At all events, in this instance the affair passed of comfortably enough, and the impression on all sides was favorable. But this fact by no means tended to mend matters as far as danger was con- cerned, and Mss Verulam was too wise and too honest to deceive herself into a contrary belief. ei +-a eti ssi S-.i.
 When d woman allows herself to love a married man, she may tell her conscience that every fault from the wife palliates her guilt but she must be morally blind indeed if she imagines that all the qualities of all the angels centered in the wronged one would ever have weighed with her in the indulgence of her un- lawful passion.
 There was. something artless-au evident desire to like and be lked-about the woman in possession which went straight to the Brides heart and disarmed her-disarmed her of any ill-feeliug against Lucius's wife that is to say-nO more.
 ''This is the first time have ever met any really great friends of my husband," said Amelia, pouring out the tea, ''and you don't know how l have been looking forward to your coming D
 Lady Constantia declared herself delighted to be there, but the journey
 ''Oh that railway carriage! I thought I should have died of heat apoplexy; and that horrid old-young man--ridicuious creature, he must have been fifty at least-would insist upon having the windows up all the time, and Birdie would not snub him. Why would you not, Birdie !? Oh, he was good looking very, but not my style; in fact, quite one of the have beens.'" >" +-
 She was something of rattle was her lady ship, and not over-particular about being lis- tened to. This the Birdie had long since as- certained. At that moment she was dreamily contemplating Amelia 3 a zs. ~ @zs