The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-07-05

sort Of impression they arc making. am old
enCuEn no, 70 woman 20 form somanc
their society shoud not amuse me- In fact, prefer
II to that OF my own sex when they are young and
interesting, principally perhaps, because they rarely
contradict rudcly Or interrupt man when he Is
talking about himself.
woman now. A girl with shade OF romance would
have dmculty In accepting me as lover. Fancy
Young woman addressing me as Henry, dear "a
own, aud who gets out of breath Il obliged to run up
stalrs could not permit such familiarity. ] pro.
test that N any girl did become aitached 10 ne
should consider II my duty to make more strenuous
efforts to her than Lancelot did in the case OF
Elaine.
No, no, there Ia no nonsense about me- but only a
certain amount OF dormant poetry, and this had been
The next day went up to London to the club
Brown dropped In and declared with emphasis that
Hooked ten years younger than when he last saw me
ply, confess, for the pleasure OF talking about Miss
Lyal, for when am full OF subject must speak
OF ia weakness, know, but one am too old TO
cure.
we had an excellent lunch, I remember, AMI a
particularly good Mayonnatsc; u always seems to
| fix lunch on my memory. i wish It agreed with
me better!
told Brown OF my meeting with Mas Iyall, and II
best 10 describe her eyes and features he Interrupted
me, rather rudely, Thought, with an unnecessary
"Why, Merton, my willy old bachelor, the g,rl has
| made quite mn Impression on you ASK me 10 the
Wedding lin Come and see Merton the married mar
hate nlppancy, and regretted had asked him to
lunch; Nonsense, Brown said L a little irrlta-
out causing absurd Jokes Old fogics Ike You and
me don't expect girls 70 fall In love with them"
| Brown is quite rs old az am. but could see he
did not like to he brackctcd with me as harmless
old bachelor, for am told he s s,ill Invited to even
Ing parties and dances good deal after supper with
me me that since lad spoiled Mas Lyaiis ' BOOK
would be polite TO restore u. i was Shelley, re.
| inenhcrcd. All young and ardent souls read Shell
| lev, used to mySplf t1u
clate him 40 much now, having, perhaps, become
more rcconciled to things IN general" Accord.
| three volumes, aud forwarded them TO her, with
little note, literary note which cost the club sew
came up while | was directing the envelope and
asked me Ironically u had been writing poem
yo nave sS ssras ss smile o ,r
venerable face" he answered, grlnnlnR.
note OF thanks, AMI hoped would cali at Fairawn,
| which did on the 0rst opportunity.
IDENTITY contrived TO have her own way In the house
Edith was charming she mad way talking oithe
Women with deep gray eyes and long lashes have
Her mother quite agreed with the view expressed
on modern Radlcdlisnit Ia always safe to pitch into
Radicals when you arc talking to ladies, II sounds
respectable;
1--WE do Indeed" echoed I.
81 suppose al progress does seem , DANGEROUS to
| liberal sentiment for which her mother was re-.
proving her. when Berthe appeared Upon my thank.
Ing MIN with dignity for his assistance he remarked
that he and Edith had laughed like anything about II
attcrward Schoolboys are foolish creatures, ready
il Is question OF oi,cr people This visit was he
| first of many, and Edith who seemed to grow more
charming every time saw her, acquired 80 much
influence over mo that, had II not been for scov-
cry made confess II was not unlikely that might
have made a donkey Of myself discovered shc
bad l.,x,ne 4 MAI
Mira Lyal told me that Edith had gone to lunch with
some friends, and would not be home Till the even
and thrown for nv amusement on nv own
| went after dinner for an evening ramble. The air
was calm and clear and finding comfortable neat
on n stile between two fields, / sat watching the
shadows deepen and listening to nightingale The
light grew DINNER, pale star appeared In the sky;
afar OFF could hear the water rushing over distant
weir. suddenly detected light footsiepsi in the field
behind me. then the rustic of dress, and turning
She started back In surprise.
"Why." exclaimed In astonishment, 81 heard
YOU were spending the day with the As" They
lived far away In another direction.
q! did lunch there" she said little nervOusy.
But this isn't the way back from their house,
nm not coming from there"
"Oh," said !, and helped her over the sife.
"Mr Merton" she said after apause. 81 want you
| to do me n favor"
] think dreaded something unpleasant.
"You are surprised to meet me here" she con.
tlnued.
"You mustn't tell my mother you met me-
Miss Edith's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes
| were anxious
"Come, PROMISE she urged as remained silent.
81 promise," said I-she could have made me
promise ANYTHING" but you ought not to have a
was beginning TO feel like confederate in a
plot;
| Then 1t dawned on me with rush that Edith had
lover, and that she had Just parted with him I
waking from my little dream. became reasonable
mortal again. barrier OF embarrassment had
| sprung up between us.
that took fatherly interest In her--the adjective
did not seem happy-and that II could serve her In
"Thank YOU she said, al value yonr opinion
very highly, and think II you were in my place you
smiled at the idea OF being in her place. and
wondered II should have preferred the society Of
men OF ripe years to that Of inexperienced boys It
"Im sure you would,' she added with n blush.
would you give mp man because he happened to
be- oor?''
There was y vefy beautiful CLEAN in her eyes.
mo" said !, "not II there were ANYTHING In him
worth caring for, which isn't usually the case'
"The man care for Ii much too good for met
she exclaimed.
"YOu would like him very much II you knew
him." she wenton. doubtedit.
"And you've just seen this paragol," said sar-
,SYes,s said sne. "and you can't imagine how
Then she told me the old story OF an attachment
youthful. detrlmenial-nO prospects, maternal dis
approval-clandestine meetings IN consequence
the aimcnliles 80 inl OF ahsnr,tles and athos that
the rest Of the world, she had her troubles. II It
had been any one else should have lectnred her,
but her manner OF stating her case threw dust my
eyes and made 1t appear she was quite right.
Ana a What IT. y IN his IN, nam ne, manfred bunty
"What does he do thcn?"
Gle Ii an artist" 81.
naturally concluded ne WAS not a successful one,
pctnrng TO myself a good.lookng young .lauber
accusing the Hanging Committee Of the Academy Of
all manner OF crimes when they mad the good taste
to reject Ills productions from the mass OF metliOc-
rity with which they annually cover their walls.
~ have nephew who calls himself an artist, "
said
She gave a little start.
lyon never spoke of him BEFORE" said she.
mo; because ,a!is. we. we 4uarreled."
Ellis. OF course!" And tod her the story OF
, Charles ingrautnde. while she listened intently.
"POOr fellOw!" she exclaimed, how very nice he
| must be-"
This was not what expected felt she ought to
have piled me. So commenced 10 defend my course
OF action, while She on her side. pleaded Charles
cause with warmth and interest that, considering
persuade her thai The rst steps toward reconciiia
!, ton must come from Charlie; hut, womanlike, feel
Ing blinded her sense OF Justice, and she was logic
proof. 1t was almost dark when we separated nj
her gate. watched her IA she fitted through thu
gloom S Of the , trees to the house. and then wake.
, did not sleep well that night.
CHAPTER ".
From that day Edith and were on dlferen
| IOollHK. Inc interest Ielt III ncr WAS changed
rather than lessened; that which she felt In IN,
had been Increased by our mutual confidence. WheI
We met, ceyerly parrying my efforts to ascertain
i the name Of her lover-and confess was curiou
She turned the conversation to the subject Of th,
estrangemcnt with my nephew.
0 | The mysterious person referred to ~ she" OI
him " had evidently departed from our nelghbor
hood, aud think Edith missed him good deal
n Mrs. Lyall asked me more than once II ] did no
. think change would do her good. which gave M
an opportunity Of teasing Edith on The sly. II ended
however, In her going on a visit 10 some friends
She departed with so much cneerflness that fel
convinced she had contrived some means OF scenI
n the "nameless one" as called him, and accuse,
her of II hut she only laughed and said Nonsense
and that IL easily said. aud we had quite touching
i little parting In the garden, and called her "m
dear child" found the place very dull withOlI
Q her, and went abroad until the following autumn.
was pleased 10 mud Edith did not forget me, and re
, ceivcd several letters from her IN which she hope,
4 the waters were doing me good" for my reason 10
expatraiion WAS To drink OF a very nasty spring re
commended for the gout which aicts me interinit
tenly. found she was still harping on my estrange
ment with my nephew, for she trusted had becoln
you have you will he happier, for you have o KIM
heart although II IL rather an obstinate one" Whe
! l came home In September heard the Lyalls wer
at the seaside; and having, az usual nothing TO do.