, 1882-08-25

the heart not even sHepucs are SKcptlcal.
No one, however CDlpresSc theyall seem,
is in SO great n state Of real huster as
the master of "the house" himself. I'm.
passive as he looks, standing there on
the platform, his usually long, pale face
Just little longer and palcr than ever,
his large dark eyes burning Just little
more brightly in their deep setting Of
heavy lash.
Al last the bell has rung and the train
pants with SLOW dignity into the sta
ton. Still Lucius Fitzgerald does not
move, but leans on, rs though Watching
to be recognized, against the office
door. a second more and the bright
color mounts to his brow, then suddenly
fades away lntoa sort of blue pallor. He
walks forward to n carriage, but with no
haste; yet, from that carriage window is
gazing on him fur young girlish face,
n 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 n Calypso when
looking seawarl from the shores of
Ithaca. 1t had the stamp Of blighted
love uponit.
A busy porter opened the carriage
door, and La,ly Constantia, fat, rubicund
and 80, came tumbling out, "How do
you do ?".ing with easy familierity. 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 q moment
longer than was necessary. Perhaps it
was the whispered "My darling I"
which he uttered, in a very low tone
as she stood beside him, which so sur
prised her that she forgot to be conven.
tioual.
What right had he to call her "dar.
ling" with Amelia sitting at home wait
ing for them. and in spite of the far-off
panied look in the sweet Brides eyes,
which should have thrust the word back
unspoken into his heartp II did not
BRING a glad look into her face, as "dar-
hing uttered by Lucius Fitzgerald six
months ago would have done. All the
sunshine and JOY 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 in a triviality. Why had she
come to Abbo'scr ,ithie ? Even Amelia,
had she been at the station that day,
could not have failed to notice that
Birdie Vcrulam had been to Lucius IN
tho past what every law of honor for
bale that she. could ever be still in the
future. Like hlcius, Birdie was accom-
plishing her destiny; like Lucius, she
had firm belief in her own strength.
How utterly weak they both were per-
haps they both discovered with startling
reality as they stood side by side on the
Abbotscraithie platform. l.
Lady Constantia was Brides step.
mother, and the girl WAS dependent on
her for food, shelter and closhing-ut-
terly dependent; and her fathers chat
tering, good-nattired, shallow-pated
widow was calculating, though kindly,
and had, moreover, "a limited income
Tomarry Lucius Birdie knew was utter
ly impossible-knew it from the moment
the first love tiutter 1gitated her heart
so she resigned him, gave him with her
own free will to Amelia She had o
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 il she were but nj.
lowed to see Lucius rich, happy and
contented. .....
So whes LAZY Constantia told her
that she had rereived an invitation from
Mrs. Fitzgerald, and in her blindness
and her love OF living at other peoples
expense suggested that they should ac-
cept it, Birdie had offered no opposi-
tion.
She got into the carriage and seated
herself by Lady Constantias side, the
maid opposite. Lucius preceded them
in his cart. He had chosen wisely in
leaving Birdie to her reflections for a
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 tue
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
ly 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 10
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 woman allows herself to love
married man, she may tell her con-
scince that every fault from the wife pal
liates her guilt but she must be moral
ly blind indeed if she imagines that all
the qualities Of all the angels centered
in the wronged one would ever have
weighed with her in the indulgence OF
her unlawful passion.
There was something artless-au evi-
dent desire to like and he liked-about
D - I