The Democratic advocate., 1885-07-18

''Then you will certainly get through
them better uninterrupted, says Sir Regi-
nald, in spitefulsotto voice Then aloud
Il am awfully sorry, Mrs. Fairfax, but |
have just remembered that [ have to dine
out tonight l am afraid must ask you
to land me at Surbiton, so that I can
get home by train Steer more to the
right, please; you are running us into that
barge"
'sWhat, are you growing nervous p and
again that sweet, clear laugh rings out, and
Vane grinds his teeth as he feels, rather
than sees, that g-im smile is overspread-
ing the face behind him.
When Surbiton is reached at length, he
scarcely attempts to disguise his relief, as
he springs ashore.
"Good-bye! Many thanks, Mrs. Fair
fax. l may come over again soon.
aIf you like-only it is best to give me
notice beforehand, as | might be in London
for the day. But yes -softening as his
face falls" come when you like. Any day
tlrissweek."
The colonel's heavy moustache has sus-
tanned sundry pulls during this colloquy,
and his face is shade graver than usual
as he steps into the vacant seat and pos
sesses himself of both oars AS with few
vigorous strokes the boat is once more in
motion, the widows eye for the first time
lights upon the MANNED left hand, and she
exclaims in dismay
"When-how-di that happen?"
SIN South Africa-long ago. Don't be
afraid. My sculling may be somewhat
clumsy, but will promise to get you safely
home in due course of time"
ooh | was not thinking of myself.
But does it not hurt you? am so sorry
[ did not know before Sir Reginald left us.
Or stay-could help you, I wonder ?"
"With those tiny baby hands of yours
No, no, 1 am getting on perfectly well !;
but give that steam launch more space, or
we shall get tossing after she has passed. >
A silence follows, during which both are
busy with their own reflections. When
Mrs Fairfax lifts her eyes to her COM
panion's face it is so grave that she ex-
claims in wonder:
II was going to say A penny for your
thoughts, but from the expression of your
countenance yours must be weighty enough
to be worth much more Won't you be
generous and impart them gratis ?"
A long pause, during which she leans
over the side of the boat and idly dabbles
one hand in the water.
"Take care, he says, warningly "you
will lose your rings"
"I have none on that hand, except
She takes the little white fingers out of
the water and gazes half sadly on the thick
gold band-Jack's wedding ring-placed
there six yeas ago, and only eighteen
months before Jacks own honest heart
was still and cold.
Leslie Grahame is looking at it also, and
somehow the sight nerves him to the next
words he has to say.
"It is long time since we met, is it not
| was with poor Jack when he bought that
ring, and few days later we had orders
for India, and so | missed the wedding.
But l did not forget my old friend or his
bride-nor,' he adds, more gently, "did /
forget you when sadder news reached me-
Poor Jack p he says, dreamily, his thoughts
busy with the boy friend of his youth, and
in manner forgetting that he is speaking
to that friends widow; $50 young, so open
hearted and generous"
"All that and more" she says, quickly;
che was too good for this cold, hard world.
All me to think that Jack, who was so
strong, should have been taken and little
me left to face life aloneP'
"You have your child" Upcopsciously
his tone had grown little stern again.
Darling Queenie Yes. But it is dull
sometimes, and one wants some one to con-
sult-to lean on"
'And you think to find that some one
in Reginald Vane ?"
He is sorry the next moment to have
blurted out the words, but it is too late to
recall them. She flashes glance at him,
and he meets it steadily, expecting to be
assailed with torrent of feminine wrath,
but is taken aback at meeting instead a
sudden burst of tears.
"Mrs. Fairfax-what a brute | am
forgive me. have lived so much alone
that | have fallen into dreadful habit of
speaking my thoughts aloud"
"But how came you to have such
thoughts?'
"Could 1 help it? Only last night I
heard your names coupled together by the
voice of common gossip, and to-day have |
not seen some confirmation of the report ?
And [ would not presume to find fault,
though I was once not only Jacks friend,
but almost rough elder brother to you
in the forgotten days of long ago"
''Not forgotten, murmurs a stifed voice;
"only I wondered why you never came to
see me.
'sIt was best not. Jack loved and
trusted me-his mentor, as he used to call
me, poor boy But now-now, Nina, l
cannot but think of the old days when |
see you about to take an irretrievable step
with one whom | cannot think worthy
"You are jealous. Our grave Colonel
actually descending to such weakness
And pray, may ask, what makes you
think Sir Reginald Vane unworthy don't
say of little me-but of any good thing
the world can bestow ?"
"His dishono4able conduct towards an
other woman. Forgive, me, Nina heaven
knows / would sooner bite my tongue out
than say it-but he is playing double
part in this; making up to you for fortune,
while his heart-what heart he has to give
belongs to Miss Elliot. | saw him by
her side last night 1 watched the looks
and signs that passed between them, and |
speak solemn truth when I say that [ be-
lieve he has won that poor girls affections
and that in sober earnest he cares for her.
And now that l have said my say and
brought cloud over the face | have al
ways connected with heavens sunshine, l
will go my way, only asking that, as time
softens your anger, you will try to think
little kindly of me. Here is your landing
place"
And he pulls the boat into the tiny
creek, and resting on his oars, waits for her
to spring ashore and give him his final
gesture of dismissal. But Nina does not
move. Her head is bent down and so
overshadowed by her hat that he cannot
read the expression of her faintly-fushed
face.
1t seems ages to him before the silence
is broken. At last-'Did you always