, 1882-08-25

my style; IN fact, quite one OF the nave
beens.'"
She was something of o rattle, was
her Ladyship, and not over particular
about being listened to- This the Bir-
die had long since ascertaiued. At that
moment she was dreamily contemplate
ing Amelia.
How man might love that sweet
little woman, il 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 secOndrate 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 Abbotscraitlie,
IN doing the honors to his male friends,
avoided on all possible occasions being
brought INTO anything like close com.
panionship with the ladies'. Only he
would look at Birdie sometimes with
such longing, wisttul 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 u 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 iaded,
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 Abbotscraithie,
and she would not he hustled. Birdie
must endure her torture q little longer.
She had gone out alone one lovely
September afternoon, taking o volume
OF Shelley to dream over, not 10 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
a wood, hanging over an extensive view
of heathery moor, and there, till the
dressing bell rang, she felt she could
weep and think in peace-at least, so
she hoped but quarter OF an hour
had scarcely passed away when she
heard mans footstep approaching the
arbor, and she almost sprang up, with
little frightened cry.
Not Lucius, no not Lucius, there
alone she could not bear il.
Ii WAS Percy, and she sank back into
her seat ~ though relieved from o great
fear. Not that she wanted Percy's corr.
panionship-far from it.; and had he
been man of tho world and gent
man her monosyllabic replies would
speedily have induced him to pursue his
way to the house. But Percy, like his
sister, WAS not easily daunted; he could
not understand the word "no" unless
it WAS written in very plain letters be.
fore him, and he actually had the audao-
ity, though he had never received at any
time the most remote encouragement, to
make Miss Verulam formal tender OF
his hand and possessions looking qnite
surprised, too, when she got up and told
him that she regretted he had made so
great mistake, such sn alliance being
impossible.
Impossible !" he repeated. "Im-
possible that you should ever care for
me?"
And Percy, whose belief in himself was
immense, looked at her in absolute as
tonishment.
Under happier auspices Birdie would
have laughed. AS it was. she turned
from him with sort of disgust, merely
saying very quietly:
"Please leave me. would rather be
alone"
A hot flush rose into Percy's face as
she spoke. This son OF the people i'm
agined that Birdie, being the daughter
of great house, was tlouting him, and
he resolved to be revenged.
Poor Birdie OF tie social cbasm that
lay between them she never thought;
only Of how utterly incapable manlike
Percy VAS to supplaut Lucius in her
aching heart.
Bitterly angry with himself for evok-
ing it, and with Birdie for Offering what
he was pleased to call an insult, he left
the arbor without another word, walking
rapidly along the path toward tho house.
When he was about hall 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 had
passed inside and ont OF view.
$3.50, my lady Please leave
me; / would rather be alonep or
course you would. But you will not
carry on your little games at Abbots-
craithie il 1 can prevent it. "
In less than five minutes Amelia, fore
warned by Percy, was creeping along
through the bushwood to the back Of
the arbor, in order to learn, If possible,
herself unheard, something of what was
going on between her husband and
Birdie Verulam.
~ would never have come if had
known; but, oh, Lucius, l thought 1
could have borne it. Why did you let
her invite us?'
"A 7 -I:1 4