Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-27

"Is that you, fathera Really it is too bad | to be so late for dinner, especially after you | blew up that wretched Emma last night be- | cause she was five minutes after time have | been waiting so long that have almost been | asleep.' II am very sorry, my dear, very," said the | old gentleman, apologetically, "but-ea1lool | I've knocked my head; here, Mary, bring me | light"
 "Here is a light" said the voice, and at the | same moment there was a sound of match | being struck In another v.oment the candle was alight, | and the owner of the voice had turned round | with 1t, holding it in such fashion that its | rays surrounded her like an aureole, showing l Harold Quaritch that face of which the | memory had never left him. There was the l same powerful, broad brow, the same nobil- l ity of look, the same brown eyes and soft waving hair. But the girlhood had gone out of it; the face was now the face of a woman, who knew what life was and had not found it too easy. It had lost some of it's dreami- ness, he thought, though it had gained in in- teliectual force; as for the figure, it was much more admirable than the face, which was, strictly speaking, not a beautiful one The figure, however, was undoubtedly beau tiful; indeed, it is doubtful if many women could show finer. Ida de la Molle was
 
 her a swing and nssome grace which is very rare, and as attractive it is rare. | She was now nearly six-and-twenty years of age, and, not having begun to wither in ac- | cordance with the fate which overtakes | nearly all unmarried women after 30, was at her very best. Harold Quaritch, glancing at her well poised head, her perfect bust and arms Gor she was in evening dress), and her gracious form, thought to himself that he 1 had
 "Why, my dear father" she went on as she watched the match burn up and held it | to kthe candle, "you made such fuss this morning about the dinner being punctually at 7:3O, and now it's s o'clock, and you are not dressed. It is enough to ruin any cook" and she broke off for the first time, perceiv ing that her father was not alone.
 "Yes, my dear, yes," said the old gentle man, "I dare say did. It is human to err, my dear, especially about dinner on fine evening. Besides, have made amends and brought you visitor, our new neighbor, Col Quaritch Col. Quaritch, let me intro duce you to my daughter, Miss de la Mole" "
 "I think that we have met before," said Harold, in a somewhat nervous fashion, as he stretched out his hand.
 "Yes," answered Ida, taking it, II re- member. It was in the long drift, five years ago, on windy afternoon, when my hat ) it."
 "You have a good memory, Miss de la Molle," said he, feeling not little pleased that she should have recollected the incl dent.
 Evidently not better than your own, Col Quaritch," was her ready answer. Besides, one sees so few strangers here that one nat urally remembers them It is place where nothing happens-tirne passes-that is all" sJ~ | making prodigious fuss with his hat and stick, which he managed to send clattering down the flight of stone steps, departed to get ready, saying in kind of roar as he went that Ida was to order in the dinner, as he would be down in minute.
 Accordingly she rang the bell, and told the maid to bring in the soup in five min utes, and to lay another place. Then turn ing to Harold, she began to apologize to him.
 II don't know what sort of a dinner you will get, Col. Quaritch," she said; ''it is so provoking of my father; he never gives one the least warning when he is going to ask any one to dinner"
 Mot at all, not at all, ," he answered hur- riedly. Ut is I who ought to apologize, coming down on you Hke-liken-
 "A wolf on the fold," suggested Ida.
 "Yes, exactly" he went on earnestly, look ing at his coat, "but not in purple and gold. !"
 "Well," she went on, laughing, "you will get very little to eat for your pains, and know that soldiers always like good dinners "
 'How do you know that. Miss de la MolleF' "Oh, because of poor James and his friends whom he used to bring here. By the way, Col Quaritch," she went on, with a sudden Softening of the voice, "you have been in Egypt, know, because have so often seen } your name in the papers; did you ever meet my brother thereF'
 II knew him slightly" be answered; "only very slightly. 1 did not know that he was your brother, or, indeed, that you had g brother. He was @ dashing officer"
 What he did not say, however, was that he also knew him to have been one of the wild est and most extravagant young men in an extravagant regiment, and as such had to some extent summed his society on the few ) occasions when he had been thrown in with him. Perhaps 1da with woman's quick ness, divined from his tone that there was something behind his remark; at any rate she did not ask him for particulars of their } slight acquaintance.
 , He was my only brother" she continued 'There never were but us two, and, of course his loss was great blow to me. My father cannot get over it at all, although"-and sht broke off suddenly and rested her head upoI her hand.
 At this moment too, the squire was heard 1 advancing down the stairs, shouting to th' } servants as he came
 "A thousand pardons, my dear, a thousane 3 pardons," he said, as he entered the room , ''but, well, if you will forgive particulars, . was quite unable to discover the whereabout of certain necessary portion of the mal 7 attire. Now, Col. Quaritch, will you talk 3 my daughter9 Stop, you don't know tn way-perhaps had better show it to yo' 3 with the candle"
 8 Accordingly he advanced out of the vesti - bule, and turning to the left, led the wa. s down long passage till he reached tn
 dining room. This apartment was com 8 modious though not large It was hghtet - by three narrow windows, which looked ou t upon the moat, and bore considerable al ? of solid comfort. The table, made of blacl t oak, which was of extraordinary solidit, ? and weight, was matched by a sideboard o 9 the same material and apparently of th l same date, both pieces of furniture being. a g MT. de Ia Molle informed his guests, relics o ] the old castle.
 f On this sideboard were placed severa h very massive ancient plate, on each of whic @ was rudely engraved three falcons or, tn ;. arms of the De Ia MoIle family ono piece in