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

toward the house. When he was about half
way some sound attracted his attention and he
looked around. Lucius, strOlling back, gun in
hand and alone, had reached the arbor and
stopped another second and he passed inside
and out Of view.
$3.50, my lady! please leave me; would
you will not carry on your little games at Alb
botscraithie If can prevent it.
In less than five minutes Amelia, fOrewarned
by Percy. was creeping along through the
orushwood to the back OF the arbor. in order
to learn. if possible, herself unheard, some
thing Of what was going on between her hus-
band and Birdie verulam.
II would never have come If had known;
but, oh Lucius, Thought could have borne it.
why did you let her invite us?"
my darling, Il did my utmost to prevent it;
but she was very positive and I-well, you
bade me marry her, and well, you see, I did
not think you would care so very much"
20 Lucius, should have made no sacrifice
Tor you If had not really cared, but I thought
Twas Drawer. If only Lady Constantine would
be persuaded to take me home
my poor, poor, sweet love, Birdie" was all
the man could murmrlr
There was no consolation to offer now.
49,, You must not kiss me, Lucius-well. only
If you stay longer-I cannot, indeed. Besides,
IL Is not right to yourself or her."
tie took her in his arms for moment. left on
her lips one more forbidden burning kiss and
was gone-not toward the house, but down the
NIL on TO the moOrs. where, with nature reign
ing in wild beauty all around him, he could fight
unchidden with his raging love,
IN the ar6Or, for q long space, the soft. buzz
Eng, lazy summer sounds were disturbed by
Blroles sobs; while outside, with nothing be-
tween them but the thin. bark-cOvered, wooden
partition, sat Amelia on the ground among the
underwood, her head on her knees, which were
surrounded by her ciasped hands. She had heard
1t all, and was thinking it over bit by bit.
what should she do? The future, which but
an hour ago had seemed so bright to her as she
believed in Lucius Fitzgerald's love, had sud-
denly become dimmed by mist which looked
eternal. She could not see through it; it was
thick as that which gathered about the summit
OF her own north country hills. Still she must
try and find her way through it; and as she sat
there motiOnless, listening to the sobs within,
and thinking more earnestly than she had ever
thought in her life before, depth of feeling was
awakened in Amelia's heart for which no one
who knew her only in the light comedy of life
would have given her credit She was the first
to mOve-very carefully, lest Birdie should
hear-ana to go slowly to the house. She met
Percy at the door.
well. what was up in the arbor?'
Nothing. believe you purposely sent me
toward Raeburn's farm
What an invaluable article is stupidity in the
proper place!
Two hours later the husband and wife met at
u'aHci. DIule Hdu one OF nef usual bad head
aches. No one could have guessed that Amelia
mad learned the truth; only perhaps Lucius
noticed that she was even more tender and
Womanly in her manner than she had ever been
before.
For many days Birdie lay i'll up stairs in
darkened room. Amelia never intruded herself
unbldden into the sick girls presence; but all
that love could think of and attention carry out
she gave to Birdie. and with no demOnstrative
outbursts. Nor did she ever tell I4ucus that
she knew aught of the past. but helped him
quietly with soothing tenderness to bear the
anxiety and irritability produced by BRIDES ill
ness. Amelia had seen her way through the
mlsts and the road along which she had elected
to travel was that of patient sympathy
AS months passed on. and time cicatrized the
wound in Lucius' heart that destiny had made,
was not much of it's healing due to the woman
who loved him well enough to bear silently and
unmurmingly her share of the burden with
winch he was so heavily weighted.
Birdie Verulam has never married She went
abroad with Lady Constantia for a while; on
her return she studiOusly avoided all meetings
with Lucus, and pointedly refused to pay
another visit to Abbotscrathie; but she is al
ways on friendly. almost loving, terms with
Amelia, who scarcely ever undertakes any
scheme OF Importance without first consulting
Blrdle.-ILlS(eV'S Md00ziup