Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-26

At other Tunes and under other circum-
Stances Isabel might have answered him
sharoly She spoke with perfect gentleness
now
Not for the present" she said. 81 don't
know my own heart. Give me time"
His gratitude caught at those words, as
the drowning man is said to catch at the pro-
verbal straw. He lifted her hand, and
suddenly and fondly pressed his lips on it.
She showed no confusion Was she sorry
for him, poor wretch!-and was that aha
They walked on arm in arm in silence
Crossing the last field they entered again
on the high road leading to the row of villas
in which Miss Pink lived The minds of
both were preoccuped. Neither of them
noticed gentleman approach lg on horse
back fol owed by mounted groom. He
was lvancing slowly, at the walking pace
of his horse an he only observed the two
foot passengers when he was close to them.
Miss Isabelr'
She started, looked up, and discovered
Alfred Hardyman.
He was dressed in perfectly made travel
ing suit of light brown, with peaked felt
hat OF d darker shaie OF tile.asau4s coor,
which, in a picturesque sense, greatly i'm
proved his personal appearance His pleasure
at discovering Isabel gave the animation to
his features which they wanted on ordinary
occasions He sat his horse, superb hunter,
easily and gracefully. His light, ber-col-
ored gloves fitted h m perfectly His obe-
dent servant, on another magnificent horse,
waited behind him He looked the imper-
sonation of rank and breeding, of wealth
and prosperity. What contrast, in a
woman's eyes, to the shy, pale, melancholy
man in the ill-fitting black Clothes with the
wandering uneasy glance who stood beneath
him and felt, and showed that he felt, his in
ferior position keenly! In spite of herself,
the treacherous blush flew over Isabels face,
in Moody presence, and with Moody's eyes
distrustfully watching her.
''This is piece OF good fortune that l
hardly hopei for said Hardyman, his cool,
quiet, dreary way of speaking quickened, as
usual, in l abeIs presence. Il only got back
from France tbs morning, and I called on
Lady Lydiard in the hope of seeing you. She
was not at home, and you were in the coun
try, and the servants didn't know the address.
/ could get nothing gu, of them, except that
YOU were on a visit to relation elooAeI
at Moody while he was speaking. Haven't
l seen you before?' he said, carelessly. YES;
at L dy Lydiards. You're her steward, are
YOU not? How dye doe Moody with his
eyes on the ground, answered silently by a
bow. Hardyman, perfectly Indifferent
whether Lady Lydiards steward spoke or
not, turned on his saddle and looked admir-
,ngly at Isabel 81 begin to think my luck
has turned at last, he went on, with smile
Il was jogging along to my farm and de-
spairing OF ever seeing Miss Isabel again
and Ms Isabel herself meets me at the road
side! l wonder whether you are as glad to
see me as am to see yous You won tell
me, Ell? May I ask you something elses-are
| you staying in our neighborhoods
| There was no alternative before Isabel but
to answer this last question. Giardyman had
met her out walking, and had no Doubt
drawn the inevitable inference, although ne
was too polite TO say so in plain words.
Eyes, sir" she answered. shyly; 81 am
staying in this neighborhood.
'And who is your relationg Hardyman
proceeded in his easy, m ltter-of-course way.
Lady Lydiard told me, when I had the
pleasure of meeting you at her house that
you had an aunt living in the country. 1
have good memory M s. Isabel for any,
thing that hear about you. It's your aunt,
isn't it, Yes? l know everybody about
here. What is your aunts namel'