Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-01-07
"RETRIBUTIoN.'
lContinned .f,om FYr.t Paae.l

Continued from First Page.)
''Shc Is well worth your interest,"" be-
gins Mrs. Brand warmly, when foot
steps on the landing outside check her.
"Ahi here she comes, probably. Now
you will be able 10 see for yourself what
q remarkably charming creature she Is"
The door, opening, admits the two
girls. Milliccnt smiling, and little mis-
chievous perhaps, rs q sort OF armor
against the scolding impending. Nadine
calm aud gentle rs usual. Lady Valworth,
as she takes her hand, holds Il kindly,
and gazes long into the girls lovely face.
Her blue eyes, innocent as summer
sky, her soft waving hair. the charm Of
her mobile mouth, all make deep i'm
preston upon the mother Of Grant,
Boyle.
MRS. Brand tells me You arc looking
pale, my DEAR" she begins, drawing the
girl down upon the seat near her; that
London smoke has robbed You Of all yonr
pretty roses. cannot speak from my
own experience, Of course, as this Is the
first time we have met, but Il seems to
me that a pretty child like you should
not have such sorrowful eyes"
Nadine laughs q little, but the tears
rise rs she does 80 TO the "sorrowful
eyes"
"Arc you strong-arc you well," goes
on Lady valworth, still keeping posses.
sion Of the girls hand.
~ think 80. You are very good. To
trouble yourself at all about me Is very
kind. And indeed there is nothing the
matter with me-cxcept-except that
sometimes feel little tired"
"Tired. All! yes, see. Well, there
In little scheme afoat about you. A
tiny conspiracy, let me tell you. Have
you ever heard Cf valworth Park, Yes!
It is very pretty place, will allow, and
one calculated TO bring back the bushes
70 pale cheeks" touching Madness face
as. she speaks. "Welli What do you
think OF our scheme, VIII you like to
come to me to the park for week or
twoy'
"To go to the country-to see again the
green ficlds--the trccs-the flowers"
breathes Nadine family.
"And more than that" laughs Lady
valworth gayly. "You shall not be left
TO the lambs for company. Millicent
Is coming TO me, too, and good many
others. Some friends Of yours. Mr..
Duran and his little Clytie, for example. !"
Where are the pale cheeks now, the
languid lids, Conc. Uplifted are tho
lids, and from beneath them two great,
eager, sparkling eyes CLEAN forth.
eft Is true, my dear" chatters on her
ladyship, pleased with the effect her an
nouncemcnt Is having on the pretty child
beside her, though she entirely misunder-
stands the pretty child's agitation. ~
always have my house full In August,
for many reasons. For one, the grouse;
for another, because Capt. Boyle's birth
day (my son, my dear occurs In Au-
gust, aud | always give my big dance
then" She smiles charmingly and pats
Nadinc's hand rs though the mention Of
her handsome son Is sweet 10 her $50
you see you will not be compelled to u
prosy tete-a-tete with an old woman.
You shall have youth to make You merry
and take that tired look out of your
pretty eyes Though ! regret my son
will no; he with us until the seventeenth,
the evening OF his birthday fete-just
barely in time for II, in fact"
''lle Is going away" murmurs No.
dine, by way Of making conversation,
though, In truth, she hears little, and
can think of nothing but that Maurice
Duran Is to be at the park at the time
for which she has been invited. Can she
accept tho invitation, Dare shci But,
obi how good thing IL would DO TO be
near him for q whole wcck-pcrhaps n
fortnight!
yes" Lady valworth is saying apro-
pos her son che Is going abroad to Swift
zerland, he tells me, with some bachelor
friends Of his. OF course he has many
friends. When you meet him." with a
proud smile, "you will understand that.
And so you will come, my dear, Milf
sent, hear, will be inconsolablo II you
refuse"
"I-I should like it'-bcgins Nadine
stammering and faltering, afraid TO refuse
afraid (far more afraid TO accept, that
little strugglc with her conscience not
being yet ended.
"Then that's all right" declares Lady
valworth heartily mistaking her indecis-
lon for shyncss. "Millicent, darling"
calling TO Miss Grey, who has just come
OF victorious In an encounter with her
auntic, who hns, ut the close Of II, found
herself declaring, very much against her
better judgment, that Gerald MaSsarccne,
for pauper, Is q wonderfully well rcgu-
lated young man, and that, Of course,
there was no harm in Miss Grcy's meet
ing him ut Miss Duran's afternoons.
$50 long as you remember you are en-
gagged 90 your cousin" she winds up,
desperately. Miss Grey shrugs her shout
ders and mods acqucsccncc The time
IL not yet ripe, she tells herself for spring
ing the entire truth "upon her already
too distressed aunt" As she finishes
this remarkable sentence IN her own mind
she laughs and assures herself that the
lessons In German have not been entirely
wantedl
"AIiliicent, darling" calls Lady Val.
worth, and Milliccnt. starting slightly,
turns to her, 'your little friend here has
promised TO come 10 mo ON the fifth
That Is the lay on which you have de-
cilcd. IL IL notH looking at Mrs. Brand.
"Of course. my dear" 10 Nadine, sit
will he nicer and more comfortable for
you To travel with Mrs. Brand"
"Of course" says Mrs. Brand, and 81
the discussion ends. Nadlnc's conscience.
whether satisfied or not. Is forbidden
further interference. All management
in tho affair has been taken out OF her
hands.
She Is feeling depressed and rather
nervous. Rising. "a Milliccnt comes
toward her, she bids soft but hasty
nHicu IA Lazy ' alwOrth.
$50 soon. Nadlnef" says Mrs Brand.
ewing, Lady Valworth has not had timo
10 grow accustomed even Ia your face
yet. Could you not stay aud dine You
80 seldom come 10 us on an otf day, one
that Is separate from your German. that
I shoul like 10 keep you tonight"
"Yes. do stay, Nadine" cntrcats Mill.
cent.
"You need not mind your gown. "
says Mrs. Brand. "Therc will be nobody
but Capt. boyle"
THANK you. Not tonight. Mamma
would he uneasy II she lid not know
what had kept me-" returns Nadine.
gently She would another time have
been delighted to stay. but now shc
longs only for the moment when she shall
flnd herself alone. that she may think
without interruption of this strange joy
this happiness half fcar-that has been
offered Ia her.
The entrance ~ other visitors checks
further solicitations from Mrs lIranl
and Millcent, and. pressing the lattcr's
hand gently, she slips past her. and runs
down the staircase into the hall.
The sound 81 somc one whlstling rs she