The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-07-14

trustfill.
He said a fervent goodbye to her, hav
ing escorted her home to Moray Place
Lady Macgregor and Hester walking in
front of them. But he refused to enter
the house-a thing he had never before
been known to do. He was rather pressed
for time, he said. With parting glance
at Effie, he raised his hat and departed
Lady Macgregor wondered why he had
not come in Hester looked anxiously al
Effie, and Mrs. Macgregor, who had seen
the party at the door, felt something like a
throb of pain, which, however, was strange
ly mingled with relief
What had Efie to say?
She was all joy and cheerfulness-con-
ident regarding his truth and honor. He
had ascertained from her all particulars
about her Highland home; he had also
made note of her address, for he meant
to write to her as soon as he could arrange
certain matters to which he alluded vaguely
He had impressed upon her that for the
present she must keep their arrangements
and hopes of future meeting strictly to her
sylf And so she meant to do; but she
had never yet had secret from her mother
or Hester-she could not keep one from
them now So, after Lady Macgregor had
gone to her room to dress for dinner, she
confded to her anxious listeners a good
deal of Captain Verschoyle's conversation.
Lady Macgregor guessed she was not
being told everything, and felt good deal
aggrieved She wanted to have the tri-
umph of announcing her niece's engage
ment, and to take all the credit Of having
brought it about herself. The least Efie
could have done was to let her know how
matters stood She would cease, she de-
clared, to have any interest in the affair if
she was to be kept in the dark.
"Has he proposed, Efie ?" she asked.
"No, Aunt Charlotte, he hasn't" ans
wered Efie, with happy blush, which
threw a doubt upon her denial.
'Then what has he said p urged Lady
Macgregor 'You surely don't mean me
to believe that after weeks of dangling and
devotion he has said nothing?"
Il am quite happy" replied Effiie.
''Please don't question me, Aunt Char
lotte; directly anything is settled you shall
be told
"Oh, very well,' cried Lady Macgregor,
Indignantly, taking her gloves and depart
ing.
But Mrs Macgregor and Hester inter
posed on Effie's behalf with her aunt, and
contrived to smooth matters, so much so
that Lady Macgregor bade them all cor
dial farewell when, about a week later, they
left Edinburg and returned to the solitude
of their old home.
Arrived there, Effie Macgregor began
her Watching and waiting for the post
Captain Verschoyles letter must come
some day; nothing could convince her to
the contrary, though the June roses had
bloomed and faded, and still there came
no tidings.
Every morning the look of anxious ex-
pectancy changed into one of patient dis
appointment, and every morning the girl
said to herself
eTo-morrow his letter will come"
But no tomorrow brought it; and Fife
herself seemed to be dropping when the au-
tumn winds swept over the fallen leaves,
AM still there had come no word.
To Mrs. Macgregor and Hester the truth
was self-evident. The man was villain
he had deceived them all, played with
Efie's affections, and out of the sheerest
selfshness, for his own momentary amuse-
ment and qualification, had singled her out
as temporary toy, rendered all the more
tempting because she belonged to another
man. But for him Effie would probably
have been George Duff's happy wife.
Many consultation took place between
Mrs. Macgregor and Hester as to the best
means of putting an end to Effie's expecta-
tions, which became almost pathetic from
their very hopelessness. But nothing
could shake her confidence in the man to
whom she had given her heart.
ale promised | said | would trust
him."
That was her argument, quietly spoken,
when a doubt was thrown upon the good
faith of Captain Verschoyle.
As the winter wore on she grew pale and
thin, a shadow of her former bright, merry
self. And in the dull December days she
became SO i'll that the country doctor who
was summoned to see her declared that a
change was imperatively necessary. But
she pleaded hard to be allowed to stay on
at Inverardoch. Captain Verschoyle knew
she was there; she wanted only to be al
lowed to remain at home.
Mrs. Macgregor could i'll afford the ex-
pense of a change; still she would gladly
have met it but for Effie's dislike to the
idea. 1t was abandoned for a time and
once more the girl began her watching for
the post Only for little longer. Her
illness increased with alarming suddenness.
A low fever seized her, and for some days
she lay almost unconscious of passing
events.
And while her child lay thus, lowering
between life and death, Mrs. MacgregoI
read in the columns of fashionable news
paper an account of certain marriage in
high life, the bride being an only child and
heiress of a well-known millionaire
bridegroom Captain Stanley Verschoyle, of
the -th Dragons. Mrs. Macgregor's first
impulse was to keep it secret from EfGe, to
spare her pang if she could; but Hester
s4yocated different course.
'Let her know the worst, mamma; it is
the expectation of hearing from him, the
suspense and disappointment that is killing
her'-for Effie was now conscious enough
to remember the desire of her life.
"Any letters p she would whisper, witt
the anxious, eager look they had begun t.
know so we'll
1t was Hester who broke the tidings tt
her. She bore it with wonderful fortitude
and from that day her lips never repeated
their old inquiry.
Efie did not die. She struggled bacl
thanks to her youth-into health again
but the brightness of her life was dimmed
She was never the gay, happy, ight-hearte'
Efie Macgregor that she had been of yore
and dark days came for the sisters. Mrs
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