The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-04-16

chatting when storms compelled him to
remain within.
"He looks miserable lonesome" was
Msr. Harden's mental comment every
time she served his meals.
One day she brought him dainty
little handkerchief, with faint sugges-
ton of perfume about it, and asked if he
knew where the ladies had gone, so that
she might mail it to them. He took it from
her eagerly it had Zaida's name mark
ed in one corner.
"They expect to spend their winter
in London" he replied, but did not
offer to return the handkerchief. She
fingered as long as she could possibly
find excuse to, hoping he would give it
back, then returned to the kitchen, say
ing, gloomily; 8" wanted to keep it my
self, it seemed just like her somehow
but that's just my luck; born to dis
appointment"
Mrs. Burdett and her daughter had
gone to London, and were settled in
apartments for the winter. They had
their windows full of plants, some OF
which were in bloom, and they had ca
naries Gagged among them. Their apart
ments were bright and cheerful, and
furnished in warm colors they seemed
suitably situated. Mrs. Burdett was
never weary of talking of Norman La
mar. He seemed to have impressed her
wonderfully. His fine presence, his
noble bearing, and his mild, beautiful
face were constant themes of delight to
her. She described him so often to the
rosy-cheeked little woman who served
their meals, that one day she exclaimed:
"In million I'd know him !"
You could not fail, for you do not
find one such in every Million" had
been the reply.
Zaida never mentioned him. She did
not even appear to listen when her
mother talked of him, but usually
caught up her Kensington work and
became intent upon it.
The girl had changed, She had lost
some of her old vim and fire. She read
great deal, and spent much time with
her cheeks pillowed in her hands, gazing
dreamily out at the window.
One day her mother said to her, a
trife sadly:
Il am afraid you are growing digni-
fed. / never have to correct you any
| more"
1t was only when they were walking,
as they did every day, that she was he1
old vivacious self. The crowded thor
oughfares gave her new life. They
seemed to have hope in them.
One day she said:
Mamma, the concealments and de-
velopments of crowd are positively
fascinating. One lives in momentary
expectation"
They were in rush of life at the
time, and at that moment Mrs. Burdett
was rudely jostled by it.
"What OFF," she demanded, a trife
sharply.
But the girl did not reply. She had
become interested in something they
were passing, and appeared to have for
gotten her own remark.
four months. It was February, and dis
agreeable and foggy, SO much SO thai
they were obliged to remain much in
doors.
One afternoon mother and daughtel
were sitting before the grate-fre. Mrs
Burdett was embroidering; Zaida hat
her hands folded idly in her lap. The,
were unusually silent. The girl seemed
entirely absent. Her mother looked
perplexed. Presently she said:
"What has come over you? You uset
to be so merry. What are you thinkin,
about now--this minute p"
Zaida laughed.
"Why, mamma, | was thinking hoy
completely without results our white
has been-nothing to show for it bu
some Kensington work"
In the fall she had gayly told Norman
Lamar that their lives were withou
purpose. She spoke sadly now for al
her laugh.
"Why, what would you have u
do" asked her mother in astonish
ment.
81 am sure I do not know" replied
the girl, and she got up, went to tn
window and began picking dead leave
from the plants. There seemed to b
more of them than usual this afternoon
Mrs. Burdett stopped her work AM
looked into the fire.
81 had been married several year
when was as old as Zaida is now" sh
said to herself, vaguely, Perhaps
perhaps-I have been selfish. / hav
kept her SO jealousy to myself. I
would, perhaps, be more natural for he
to marry and have a family. II won
der if the thought has ever occurred t.
, her p
And she looked curiously over t.
where her daughter stood.
The girl was intent upon the dea
, leaves; there was nothing to be learne
from her face or attitude.
Mrs. Burdett's eyes went back to tn
Sre.
Certainly she has never cared TO
} anyl ", We have never known an.
| one long enough; and yet-and yet
, fell in love with Mr.. Burdett the frs
time I saw him"
/ Suddenly she turned and again re
t garded her daughter. She had neve
3 been quite the same since last fall-bu
l it could not be possible.
She stopped surmising, and said, quit
: naturally, for she was full of tact:
: "Do Won know. Zaida, / think