Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-13

playing at moe anu seek among the branches OF
| the trees. and where a tiny rvuet is Iisping and
stammering as it runs lazily over its pebbles.
| Monica having thrown aside her huge white
hat Is sitting on little mound, with her back
against beech tree. She has taken her knees
into her embrace. and lust now is looking ut her
cousin from under heavily dashed lids, that
seem barely able to support themselves, so lang
| uorOus is the hour and so contented her spirit.
Her companion can scarcely be said to be
looking as free from care as she is; there Is a
slight suspicion of WEAKNESS in his eyes, his
manner is somewhat tinged with depression
very foreign to 1t, which as rule is OF the de-
bOnnaire order.
Anything the matter with your" asks Monica
at last
"Yes. any amount of things''
| ""eii-go on-say them all Over-it will do
you good suggests she. synpatheticay.
Not for woTlds-at least, not for many rea-
sons. 1t would bore YOU; it wouldn't cure my
case. and besides" with half laugh. my
worries are OF the kind difficult to put into
speech
That means they are nothing but fancies"
''Docs it:' Then leaning back and placing his
hands behind his head he turns his eyes slowly
upon hers. 81 wish 1 had never come down
here" he says deliberately.
WHAT" cries She leaning toward him. HAS
Julia proved nnkiad? or is it kind. Won't she
marry you? Or will she?'
"Nonsense!' said Mr. Norwood, grufly. Il
| wasn't thinking OF Julia"
Nor Then why are you sorry you came to
the Court"
Norwood at this regards her fxedly. II Won
der. he says, in a curious tone, whether you
really don't know. or whether you are an &C
cOmpshed coquette!'
I Don't know WHAT" asks Monica. opening
her large earnest eyes to their fullest. and look
| Ing at HIM with such sweet and honest surprise
as awakes within his breast the deepest self
contempt. How could he have doubted her, for
| even one short moment. ITO be @ coQuettc"
She says In a little dsniiled tone. requires.
| believe. practice. There is nobody down here
! except the rector and Sir John Frefe
| Sir john Frere:' apprebensiveiy.
| es. He is tOothless and seventy-fiye. The
rector is hairless and sixty-one!" With this
she very properly turns her back upon him.
| THANK goodness" says Mr. Norwood de-
| youtly. He feels affectonate toward both these
old men-in spite of their abbrevations. and in
spite of the fact that he has never seen either Of
| them. II beg your pardon very humbly.' he
says, alter pause full OF eloquence.
| NOreply.
| "Monica-speak to me-
II will not" says Monica, giving herself the
| lie direct.
oh! but you are speaking, - declares he, I'm
| awfully sorry said that, because it was as
absurd as it was unpardOnabe.''
| LAS YOU acknowledge it to be objectionable
you can't well look for my forgiveness
nevertheless do, excaims he boldly
| Well, then say at once am not cOquette"
Certainly you are not. You are an ang-
You are all you ought to be. You are
That will do" says Miss Monica. with mis-
chievous glance: you will OverdO it. if you 20
on any further And now don't let us quarrel
any more: Tell ME what you were doing all the
| morning"
| 'Loungng after Julia"
| 'Happy man! l do SO love that old Court,
and suppose she took you through the gar
dens. II only my grandfather had behaved
| properly. aud left it to papa. Instead of which
here we are: playing second where we should
| be first
| "Well, it's nearly as bad for me-" says the
young man mOodily: 81 was brought up in the
Dellef that, as your father not in it. | was to
| De the heir. And see now where am"
You will be all right when YOU marry Julia :"
saws Monica with the friendliest announcement
But TINS encouragement falls through.
! 'Oh! dare say" says Mr.. Norwood migrate
| fully. and with increasing gloom.
| but you Can't be badly off. You must have
money now. too" says his cousin with swift
glance at his clothes, which are irreproaciable
Not enough to keep lie decently. MymOther
! left me &7CO year.
'Seven hundred year," says Miss Norwood
severely. think no young man could possibly
require more than that. You have only Yourself
to think Of-no other eXpenses-nO grown-up
daughter to dress and keep
well could hardly have that, you know
says George Norwood apologetcally. l won't
| De twenty-six until next month"
Il was thinking of papa-if he had .f700 a
year; how happy we should both be-"
|
| Il am sure not. That would give him all he
requires-'.a house full of books and garden
| OF flowers" She makes her quotation with a
sweet wistful smile that goes to his heart
| earnestly
! me! Oh, should be happy enough in his
happiness" replies she lightly. 1.-THE garden of
| flowers. You see, would be much mine as his
| Now. she says with little irrepressble sigh
che hasn't even enough money to buy some of
the books In which his soul delights"
"What are They'll mean their names?" asks
he eagerly, too eagerly! She raises her soft
eyes to his; there is gratitude in them, but stern
| resolve too.
! mo. no." she says Remember what you said
a moment since-yOur income is not sufficient
for yourself: You shall not waste it upon u.s.
Il don't think it is quite civil thing to re-
George reprOachfully.
well, we won't go into that" replies she
quickly. Then as though some hidden force
c0mpels her to return to the subject, she says,
| ''Tell me how you get on with Julia?"
| VERY WELL '" impatiently. "She will look all
that Is satisfactory at the head of ones table
There Is consolation. no doubt. In that thought
as, bitterly, II suppose must marry her,
| "Oh why say must? gently, and with glance
hardship, surely?"
month ago.
,r %she is young handsome; that is all one re-
/
| ''NOt quite! There is something else. think
many other things; but above and beyond all,
the essential grace that makes life-that is, mar
ried life-sweet; mean sympathy"
| She hardly knows you yet" says Monica.
deep but suppressed pity in her eyes '.By and
| by 1t may be different" knowledge of Julia
makes her confess to her secret soul that small
hope for him lies in a nearer acquaintance with
the cousin he needs must marry.
In six months more it must all be settledm
says the young man restlessly. "Julia up to
that time has everything. 1t will then depend
upon me whether she will still have everything
or only half
| You are sure she will accept you 90
II am afraid mean," coloring holly at his
mistake. ~ think she will do me the honor to
be my Wife"
You think rightly. She will not resign the
property. Only yesterday she told me she
could not live without it. In six months, then.
she will still have everything, and-you into the
| bargain %
Almost as these last words escape her she
repents them, and growing pale to her very
lips turns her head aside and becomes painfully
anxious about an insignificant tear that stray
| Cling brar has created in her gown.
II am not so sure of that, says Norwood I'M
lA