Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-19

Claims upon the neart not even skeptiCS are
skeptical. No one, however in,presse though
they all seem, is in great state of real frls-
ter as the master of 1.-THE house" himself. impas-
sive as he looks, standing there on the platform
his usually long, pale face just little longer
and paler than ever; his large, dark eyes burn
setting of heavy lash.
AT last the bell has rung, and the train pants
with slow dignity into the station. Still Lucius
fitzgerald does not move, but leans on. as
though watching to be recognized, against the
ohce-door. A second more and the bright color
mounts to his brow, and then suddenly fades
away into sort Of blue pallor He walks for
ward to carriage, but with no haste yet,
from that carriage window is gazing on him q
fair young girlish face face such as even an
indifferent passer-by in a crowded thorOughfare
would turn to look at; such face as a painter
might have chosen for Calypso when looking
seward from the shores of Ithaca 1t had the
stamp OF bghted love upon it.
A busy porter opened the carriage-door and
Lady COnstantia, fat. rubicund, and fifty, came
tumbling out. ''HOw do you doing Lucius
with easy familiarity. 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 linger in his Just moment longer
pered MY darling!" which he uttered in a very
low tone as she stood beside him. which so sur
prlsed her that she forgot to be conventional.
What right had he to call her darling" with
AHtiid SiltIHI al home waiting them. ana
In spite of the far-Of panied look in the sweet
BRIDES eyes. which should have thrust the
word back unspOken into his heart: 1t did not
bring glad look into her face. as darling ut
tered by Lucius Fitzgerald six months ago would
have done. All the sunshine and iOy had died
out of Birdie Verulam's life since then She
turned away from him and spoke to her maid
about the luggage, as though seeking refuge i'm
triviality. Why had she come to Abbotscraithie?
Even Amelia, had she been at the station that
RI
Nerulam 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
accomplishing her destiny; like Lucius, she had
a nrm 6ellef In her own 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.
ana the girl was dependent on her for food.
shelter. and clothng-utterly dependents and
her fathers chattering, gOOd-natured, shallow
pated widow was calculating. though kindly.
and had. moreover, but a limited income
TO marry Lucius. Birdie knew was utterly
lmpOssibe-knew it from the moment the first
love-f1utter agtated her heart: so she resigned
hlm-gave him with her own free will to Amelia
She had morbid longing to witness the sue
cess OF her work. and had accompanied her
mother to Abbotscraithie, del uding herself into
the idea that she would henceforth endure the
VOID IN her life with less bitter pangs if she were
tented
So when Lady Constantia told her that she
nad received an invitation from Mrs. Fitzgerald,
and IN her blindness and her love of living at
other peoples expense suggested that they
should accept it, Birdie had offered no opposi-
ton.
She got into the carriage and seated herself
by Lady Constantia's side. the maid opposite
Lucius proceeded them in his cart He had
chosen wisely in leaving Birdie to her reflec-
q w jJn. fllrth hox
back way into the stable-yard to avoid being
present when Birdie and Mrs. Fitzgerald should
meet
He could easily make an excuse for not being
at his post to fulfil the ceremony of introduce
ton. Perhaps, even in the abstract he was right.
although his action. or. rather, inaction in the
matter was due on this occasion solely to his in
cilnatlon Where people are bound nOens
rotens to make themselves acquainted, the for
maiity OF an introduction is very likely better
omitted. At all events, in this instance the
affair passed off comfortably enough, and the
impression on all sides was favorable But this
TACT by no means tended to mend matters as far
as danger was concerned and Miss Verulam was
TOO wise and too honest to deceive herseIiinto
contrary belief.
When woman allows herself to love mar
RED 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 conferred
with her in the indulgence of her unlawful pas
sion. rN
There was something artless-an evident de-
sire to like and be liked-abOut the woman i'm
possession which went straight to the Brides
heart and disarmed her-disarrned her of anvil
feeling against Lucus' wife-that is to say
no more.
This is the first time have ever met anv
really great friends of my husband" said Amelia.
pouring out the tea, land you don't know
no lnnk
ing"
Lady COnstantia declared herself delighted. to
be there, but the journey
"Oh that railway carriage! thought should
nave died OF heat apoplexy; and that horrid
old-yOung man-ridiculOus creature he mnst
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
blfdie! on. 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,
snip, and not over particular about being lis
tened to. This the Birdie had long since ascer-
tanned. At that moment she was dreamingly
contemplating Amelia.
How man might love that sweet little
woman if she had only got the first chance of
hlm. was the mental ejaculation.
Dinner that night was not altogether sue
cessful attempt at being festive Percy had
arrived Just before and decidedly second rate
than one OF those present felt grateful to him
Tor Keeping up the conversation, his brother
in-law, perhaps the most of ALL
Next day two or three men, invited by Incins
for shooting, put in an appearance. and the mas
ter OF Abbotscrathie, in doing the hOnors to his
male friends, avoided on all possible occasions
being brought into anything like close compan-
ionship with the ladies. Only he would look at
Birdie sometimes with such a longing. wistful
look in his large, flaming eyes that it made the
girl more than once creep away up to her room
and send the excuse of headache instead of
reappearing at dinner. Meanwhile Amelia saw
nothing except that Percy's attentions were re-
ceIyed by Miss Verulam with cold dsdain. and
that Lucius looked sadly weary and jaded, which
she entirely ascribed to his having Over-walked
himself shooting on the mOOrs Thus week
passed, and Birdie suggested to Lady Constan-
tia that it was time they took their leave and
went to the house of some other friends; but
Lady Constantia was comfortable and contented
IN luxurious Abbotscraithie, and she would not
oe hustled Birdie must endure her torture
little longer.
She had gone out alone one lovely September
afternoon, taking volume Of Shelley to dream
over, not TO read In BRIDES frame of mind ALI
the lines were one blurred mass. all the words
were indistinct. She sat down in a little arbor
that had been built at the edge of a wood