Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-11-15

the small hours of the morning
she dropped off to sleep, of what was
hanging over her. Sir Pertinax had
made no sign; Mr.. Murley had not been
more attentive than had for some time
been his wont; and Mr.. Freake had
been actually more dull and uninterest-
ing than Miss Lirripip had ever seen
him. She therefore slept soundly, and
was undisturbed by fears of the COM
ing evening and its visitors.
The following day was wet The
General, who had lived for many years
in India, and had liver which caused
him to be somewhat irascible, shut him
self up in his library and savagely
studied the statistics of Cold-water
Bathing; and Lydia, who could not 90
out, painted in her boudoir. The Lir-
ripips dined at half-past five, to enable
the General to get out to the meeting at
half-past seven; and as he had taken no
exercise during the day, and had been
quite unable to master all the infOr-
nation he required relative to the av-
erage of cleanliness upon the CONT
nent, Lydia's father was not in the best
of tempers. ''Sit up for me, y he said,
81 shall be in by half-past eleven. $"
These were his last words as, the car
rage having been announced, he hur-
ried away from the table, stopping for
an instant at Lydia's side to kiss her on
the top of the head. And Miss Lirripip
was left alone in solitary grandeur, sit
ting at one end of the dining-room,
whittier she babe 4 servant bring two
candles, which but dimly lighted the
large apartment Then, taking her
seat at the piano, Lydia began to play
and to sing alternately.
The drawing-room at Bruton street
was like many other London drawing
rooms. 1t occupied the whole of the
first floor of the house, save where IN
one corner the staircase assembled, and
it was therefore L-shaped, the long arm
of the L having three windows looking
out into the street, and the shorter arm
one window looking out over some news
in the rear. Heavy curtains of tapestry
hung between the back and front por-
tions of the room, but were usually
loOped up; and in the back room was the
piano at which, within the halo of the
two candles, Lydia Lirripip played and
sang.
She had considerable knowledge OF
music and fine voice, and wrapped up
in her occupation she started when the
door of the front room opened, and a
servant, who was to her invisible,
announced Mr.. Horace Freake.
Lydia rose and received her visitor,
meantime ordering the gas to be lighted.
1t was $3.50. Why had he called at that
hour? Why had he not come in the
| daytime. when she. was so dull, rather
than just when she was singing? But
upon the whole she was glad to see
Horace, who, no doubt, simply desired
to inquire how she was after the dance
of the previous evening, and had not beer
able to do so earlier. AS he betrayed
nevertheless, a certain hesitation in his
manner, she led the conversation anC
asked him whether he had enjoyed Lady
| Carnaby's ball. He had, he said, pretty
well, and then ensued pause, during
which Horace rather awkWardly took 9
seat at Lydia's side on an ottoman anC
gazed at the carpet. Mr.. Freake was
not altogether stupid, but even wits
often become rather dull when they are
meditating an immediate proposal; anC
the situation is so trying TO almost
every man who finds himself in it thai
| it amply excuses the exhibition of
little uneasiness and nervousness. Mr.
Freake certainly was nervous, but he
soon recovered himself.
Your father is at the meeting,
suppose. Don't you feel it very dull al
by yourself, Miss Lirripip?"
mo, no! 1 have been singing; anc
all day have been painting"
''But dull, l mean, without societyP
know that do; and have much more
society, l suspect, than you have. I'm
less 90 out, the evenings, find, pas:
very slowly. / cannot get the excite
ment of work, for of course one cam
paint by artificial light; and if I try tt
read I generally go to sleep over my
book. -
81 think that you must be difficult t.
please, Mr.. Freake. You have a lovely
studio, and you ought always to be able
to amuse yourself among such beautiful
things as you have in your house.
moi don't think that am Difficult
to please, Miss Lirripip, for 1 know eX
actly what L want. The fact is, that ;
bachelors existence is not suited for /;
man of my feelings and sympathies.
live wrapped up in my selishness, anC
feel my heart growing colder and colde1
every day I have beautiful things il
my house, but they don't satisfy me.
want living beauty something which
may really CebLS III ClL1Nl w 4OL
thing which shall make my life com
plete. And it was to talk to you abou
this, Miss Lirripip, that 1 came to SCI
you this evening"
Lydia experienced curious sensation
which she had never felt before.
.''You know, L Suppose, Miss Lirripip,
he continued, ''what Imean. You know
that since I first saw you, three or fou
years ago, have loved you" An
Horace took Lydia's unwilling hand
Scan you, he went on, ''learn to Low
me? VIII you be my
Observation-Disclosures! There was knoc
at the front door, and Lydia was great
relieved.
is somebody coming up? aske
Horace anxiously. '''Oh, I so niue
want to tell you ALL Say you are nc
in. Send them away. But let me stay
Promise to let me stay"
, a voice, evidently Mr.. Merton Nun
! Z