The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-03-01

DShuoh WOuiu taii 10 MN, ana lnueed We
should be able to pass the day together in
scene Of excitement and gayety such as
we both loved
My conscience was not quite easy, but |
agreed, and set about preparing dress
which should do justice to the occasion and
my own beauty; and after few hours
hard labor | laid costume out before
Alice's wandering eyes which even she de-
clared would make me the belle of the fete.
You will think me very foolish, Mabel
but do you know | dreamt of that dress?
L longed towear it as eagerly as any school
girl longs to put on her new bonnet You
may conceive, then, my disappointment,
when, on the eve of the fair / received
letter from Eustace, which at first sight
seemed to make the pleasure impossible.
1t was long letter, filed with accounts of
his mothers health and his own intense
anxiety to get over the next few days, dur
ing which crisis was expected to take
place in the disease but in short post
script he said 81 have heard that you have
been asked to patronize the charity fair at
Little Denton. will send you el0 as my
contribution. 0fcourse, under our present
circumstances, you cannot be expected to
appear at such a place.
That was all. He seemed to consider it
a matter of course that while his mother
lay dying l should never dream of appear
ing in any public place of amusement. To
make such request as favor granted to
himself would have appeared like an insult
to my good feeling and good TASTE
But instead of arguing in this way, l ex-
claimed, "How selfish lovers are Eustace
expects me to feel as much for his mother,
whom L never saw in my life, just because
she is his mother, as he does Absurd p
And then crumpling up the letter, dashed
down stairs to stop Guy Deveril, who hap
pened at that moment to be passing the
garden gate and casting longing looks up
at my window, to tell him that after all |
must give up the anticipated pleasure; and
also to ask him to make my excuses to his
cousin for deserting her party after so short
a notice,
"Give up the fair p exclaimed Captain
Deveril' @Why, Magdalen, whatever spirit
of change has seized on you p
at is great disappointment" 1 said;
''but Lord Rutherford would be seriously
offended, fear, if went"
Guy never spoke against Eustaoe to me;
but he was always meaningly silent when.
ever his name was mentioned
"And what harm can YOU do his lordship
by going? By George, man should not
leave girl for ten or twelve weeks in such
an inexplicable manner, and then expect
her to live like nun Rutherford is un-
reasonable ~
was silent, for / did not choose to Join
Guy in abusing my betrothed.
II suppose he thinks it would look odd"
L said after a pause "and perhaps It
would but | am very sorry. Will you
tell Mrs Deveril, and say also that Lord
Rutherford intends contributing 91O to
the charity ?"
"Let him keep his money |" exclaimed
Guy savagely. "Ten pounds won't make
up for your absence; and indeed, Magda,
len, l must say think you are little RI
diculous."
"Ridiculous, Captain Deverll Why,
what can | do? would do anything to
goat least" l added as Guy turned sud
denly and looked at me with strange ex.
preston expression which frightened
me anything that was not abso-
lutely wrong"
"Well, then, burn Lord Rutherford 5
letter, and go" was his reply, in low tones.
'Perhaps it would not be quite the correct
thing, all things considered, for you to at
tend the stall and make yourself conspicu-
Gus but there would be no matter of harm
in your driving quietly over and walking
through the place with the other steady
people who come to spend their money.
Even Lord Rutherford only meant your
: joining the stall-keepers, Besides Magda=
len, the Little Dentonians are a distinct
J set from this neighborhood. Few Persons
r would recognize you"
} He was leaning over the gate, and some
} how his hand touched mine as he said
J this; but l did not remove mine.
, at will be horribly dull without you,
Magdalen ; and go | must, for I have
promised Julia" he went on. "Do come.
"There really won't be any harm"
Still | hesitated. I was sorely tempted.
| thought of the elegant dress, the pleasures
Of a day leaning on Guys arm in tolera.
BILE crowd of company; and then contras=
ted the dreariness of twelve whole long
hours wandering about the dull garden or
village, and Guy at Little Denton. Surely
. Eustace did expect too much; besides,
, would he ever know?
"Come," Guy exclaimed suddenly,
''You relent. You relent. You won be-
gin slavery till you leave the altar, at any
rate; shall be at the gate tomorrow pune
tually at twelve. Good night" Without
waiting for Inc to say yes orno, the captain
turned as he spoke, and disappeared behind
the rose hedge.
When | went into the house ten minutes
after, never said word to Alice about
! Lord Rutherford's letter; and when she
said to me, ~ suppose, Maggy, you are
{ quite ready for tomorrow" l answered
simply, "Yes quite"
, "Well, Mabel, went to that fete, and l
confess l enjoyed it. My disposition was
one which thoroughly loved excitement; and
while hattery and compliments sounded in
my ears conscience had no chance of being
} heard. was the handsomest girl there,
and Guy, proud of being my chosen cava-
) lier, was as devoted as l could possibly de-
sire Indeed, that day he ventured on
/ more downright ioye-making than he had
ever before attempted; and he gave me to
understand Cat least SO thought that even
then, if would desert Eustace Rutherford,
be would only too readily claim me as a
| wife, l came home in whirl of excite
ment; and it was only when laid my head
on my pillow, weary and exhausted, that
my restless thoughts turned to consider
what might be the consequences of my
conduct
\ / grew strangely anxious, now that had
dared fate; and trusted most intensely
that Lord Rutherford would remain away
c.. Al. ..s.I. L.. ,..4....-L e.. Il = .s:..