Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-22

Abbotscraithie platform.
Lady Constantia was Brides STEP
mother, and the girl was dependent on
her for food, shelter and clothing-ut-
terly dependent; and her fathers chat
tering, good-natured, shallow-pated
widow was calculating, though kindly.
and had, moreover, limited income.
TOmarry Lucius Birdie knew was utter
~ impossible knew it from the moment
the first love fiutter agitated her heart
so she resigned him, gave him with her
own free will to Amelia. She had a
morbid longing to witness the success
of her work, and had accompanied her
mother to Abbotscraithie, deluding her
self with the idea that she would hence.
forth endure the void in her life with
less bitter pangs if she were but al
lowed to see Lucius rich, happy and
contented.
So when Lady Constantia told her
that she had received an invitation from
Mrs. Fitzgerald, and in her blindness
and her love of living at other peoples
expense suggested that they should &C.
cept it, Birdie had offered no opposi.
ton.
She got into the carriage 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 reflections for q
while furthermore, he went up the
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 fulfill the cere-
mony OF introduction. 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 inclination.
Where persons are bound nolens vc-
lens to make themselves acquainted the
formality of an introduction is very like
~ better omitted. At all events. in this
instance the affair passed off 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 concerned, and Miss Veru-
lam was too wise and too honest to de-
ceive herself into contrary belief.
When a woman allows herself to love
married man, she may tell her con-
scince that every fault from the wife pal
liatea her guilt but she must be moral
~ bliAa indeed if she imagines that all
the qualities of all the angels conferred
in the wronged one would ever have
weighed with her in the indulgence of
her unlawful passion.
There was something artless-an evil
dent desire to like and he iked-about
the woman in possession which went
straight to the BRIDES heart and dis
armed her-disarmed her of any ill-feel-
ing against Lucius' 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 I have been looking
forward to your coming"
Lady Constantine declared herself de-
lighted to be there, but the journey
"Oh. that railway carriage I thou ht
| should have died Of heat apoplexy, and
that herrid old young man--ridiculous
creature, he must have been Goat least
would insist upon having the windows
up all the time, and Birdie would not
snub him. Why would you not, Birdie I?
Oh, he was good looking-very, but not
my style; in fact, quite one of the shave
beens.'"
She was something of a rattle, was
her Ladyship, and not particular
about being listened to. This the Bir-
die had long since ascertained. At that
moment she was dreamily contemplate
ing Amelia.
How man might love that sweet
little woman, if she had only got the
first chance of him >" was the mental
ejaculation.
Dinner that night was not altogether
successful attempt at being festive.
Percy had arrived Just before, ana, de-
cldedly secOnd-rate as were his Jokes
and general behavior, more than one of
those present felt grateful to him for
keeping up the conversation. his brother
in:law, perhaps, the most of all.
Next day two or three men, invited by
Lucius for shooting, put in an appear
ance, and the master of Abbotscraithie.
in doing the honors to his male friends.
avoided on all possible occasions being
brought INTO anything like close COM
partnership with the ladies. Only he
would look at Birdie sometimes with
such 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 a headache, in
stead of reappearing at dinner. Mean
while Amelia saw nothing, except that
Percy's attentions were received by Miss
Verulam with cold disdain, and that
Lucius looked sadly wearied and jaded,
which she entirely ascribed to his hav-
ing overwalked himself shooting on the
moors. Thus week passed, and Birdie
suggested to Lady Constantia 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 Ahhotscraithie,
and she would not be hustled. Birdie
must endure her torture little longer.
She had gone out alone one lovely
September. afternoon, taking q volume
of Shelley to dream over, not to read.
In Brides frame of mind all the lines
were one blurred mass, all the words
were indistinct. She sat down in little
arbor that had been built at the edge of
Q wood, hanging over an extensive view
Of heathery moor, and there, till the
dressing rang, she felt she could
weep and think in peace-at least, SO