The Penn's Grove record., 1885-02-14

''If YOU are not going to talk sense,
| may as well GO"
"No. stop a minute. Are you IN love
with him, or with any Il efseY'' asked
Jack gravely .
Il love you better than any n in
| the world. and | would rather live on
nothing a year with you than have mil
lions with any one else"
"But, my dear, / am a penniless sub
altern, living on very little more than
my pay, so that is impossible /; and l
know the governor has had hard work
to make both ends meet. Sands has
pleasant shooting"
~ don't shoot" remarked LYDIA
dryly.
"No, more's the pity for then of
course you would not hesitate. 10 tell
you the truth, L don't quite like this
queer arrangement-it sounds unnat-
ural l would rather you married the
other fellow, although Lord Sands is
| the best of the two in everything. But
/ am afraid to advise you-that's the
truth. Think it all over for a day or
two, don't hurry yourself, and don't
marry any one if you don't like. L Will
speak to the governor, and see that you
are not bullied."
lydia stood up. and kissed him.
"You are a dear boy, " she said gently;
'but you don't, understand. You don't
know what9mamma is, and you don't
know how strongly | feel on these sub
jects ; it is very, very wrong 10 marry
any Il that you cannot love-it Is do
ing him a lifelong injury. But Lord
Sands asks for no love. and | have a
great esteem and sincere liking for him;
besides, why should there not be friend
ship between man and woman 2"
81 don't know why not but there
never is. Plato is a humbug /; don't
you listen to his sophistries %
''Good night" said Lydia shortly,
and swept away more yexed with her
brother than she had ever been before"
A week afterwards the papers were
all full of an approaching marriage IN
high life, and dilated rapturously on the
beauty of the bride and the wealth of
the intending bridegroom.
Lady Firth was charmed, and in her
element, while ordering the trouSseau
and making the arrangements for the
wedding.
The eventful day came at last, and
everything went off splendidly, the
'happy pair" going off for a protracted
tour on the Continent during the win
ter months.
When the first strangeness wore off,
their relations were of the friendllest,
and Lydia wa wild with delight at the
many strange scenes and new sights
that net her eyes at every turn.
"Oh, how kind and good you are,
| Lord Sands - she cried one day, in her
enthusiasm.
my dear little wife, 1t is very selfish
goodness"
"But your sister is very grateful not
withstanding," she returned quietly.
He bowed grayely, and accepted the
rebuke.
CHAPTER II.
Nothing bright was In the room-not
a CLEAN Of gold or silver, nor even the
cold glitter Of a looking-glass , every
thing was rich and warm. 1t was the
winter drawiug-room of Lady Sands,
and on a low lounge, drawn close to the
fire, sat LYDIA, a little paler perhaps
than she used to be, while at times there
was a sadder expression in her deep
FRAY eyes. A shadow had already
fallen on her life between herself and
Lord Sands had arisen a GOODNESS for
which neither could account, and for
which neither was responsible. The
first freedom of intercourse had ceased,
and now both seemed best pleased when
the house was fall of visitors, and the
probability of being left alone was pro-
~portionately lessened.
Since she had grown accustomed to
and half wearied of the new grandeur
and luxurles that surrounded her, Lydia
had chafed bitterly against this strange
GOODNESS. Having had so much love all
her life, the absence of it had begun to
tell on her spirits and usually sweet
temper, Sc that often she was sad and
sometimes almost irritable.
She was leaning back and laughing at
the doleful face of her companion, who
was holding her woods while she wound
thu m, and wa IN despair at the tangled
skein lie held.
Captain Dalfrey, you are not a man;
you are an angel ' she cried merrily.
81 wish people would only believe it,"
he returned, with mock seriousness.
'I suppose you are too rich to be an
angel though, - she resumed. The only
gold they have is on their heads-is 1t
not OF"
Indeed I do not know-my expert
ence has been SO limited. Shall we
leave this now and go on to another
skein ?"
Yes, if you like, but you must cut
this INTO lengths afterwards. Put it
round your neck, and 1t will not get into
worse ENHANCEMENT. Theresa"
He was sitting on a footstool at her
feet. AS hesoent his head she leaned
down and wa throwing it round his
neck when the door opened, and Lord
Sands entered with a young girl-one
of Lydla's sisters.
eve have had such 8. glorious ride,
Lydia Why were YOU not with us P''
she cried eagerly, running to the fire
and holding out her hands to the blaze.
"Why, you lazy people, you have been
winding woods ever since we left, and
have nothing to show for 1t after all. +"
sit was too cold, May, and we have
been talking" said Lydia languidly,
noting the displeasure On her husband s
face.
Your con ~gersatson must have been
Interesting"
1T was indeed" assented Captain
Dalfrey. =
Lord Sands did not speak. He took
up a paper, and went to the fire at the
other end Of the room.
MAY, you have brought in such a
rush of cold wind with you that I'm
frozen" exclaimed Lydia, shiyerlng.
''There--I am tired, and a wind nc
more"
'And | must co. said Captain Dali
frey, rising , "we will finish them some
other day"
lie made his adieux, saying something
in a low voice to Lydia as he held her
hand and MAY left the room at the
same moment to change her habit.
Lydia put down her work as the door
closed behind them, and crossed over tc
where Lord Sands vas sitting.
Are you veled ?" she asked gently,
laying her hand on his arm
He started up, shrinking away from