Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-14

out she was so gentle and affectlOnaCe to her godmother that she retained his first opinion as to the sweetness of her character. He accepted her sights with so much good tenn per, and received his aunt's praises with so much genuine amusement, that Betty was at last compelled to confess to herself that her estimate of him had been altogether wrong. She felt that she could not respect him very much, for man who would marry any girl for expediency's sake was not worthy of much honor; but she would be more polite to him. as his conduct would not in any way affect her.
 Colin was very grateful for this change in her attitude toward him, and friendship sprang up between them which his side deepened into love. Of her feelings he could guess little. She was invariably sweet and frank; but the fear of losing her friendship by attempting to gain her love for some time prevented him from putting his fate into her hands. On the last day of her visit the long, ing of his heart overcame this fear, and he poured out all his soul to he,-, not noticing that her face was hardening at his words
 ''Tell me, Betty! Give me one word of hope! Have any chancer he pleaded.
 She turned toward him then, her face white and stern, her mouth wearing faint bitter smile.
 ''How well you do itl" she said in harsh voice.
 Do ita What do you means" he asked, his voice changing too. Don't you under stand? love you, Betty!'
 sHushr' she interrupted harshly. "That is quite enough. No, l can give you no hope; you have no chance. Never speak to me of this againl"-and, rising from her garden chair, she went into the house and up to her own room.
 This was what it all meant thenl How blind she had been! She was the 'sweet grip whom Miss Campion thought asuitable wife for Colin. She had been invited here in order that Colin might see if she would ''do." How grateful she ought to feel!
 She went down stairs presently, feeling glad that this was her last day at Forde She found Miss Campion sitting alone in the drawing room, looking little displeased.
 II am so cross, my dear," said the old lady, drawing Betty to seat by her side ''Colin has ridden over to the Ladbrokes' for dinner It was very thoughtless of him not to remem- Der that this was your last evening""
 1t does not matter, godmother," said Betty, with gentle coldness. ssI would rather spend it alone with you"
 "Would you. dear7. I thought you and Colin had got on more comfortably lately"
 ''It was only surface agreement" an swered Betty rather proudly. "We are too entirely opposed in character to be really friends"
 "You will hardly believe it, Betty, but l had planned a match between you two l thought you were so we'll suited to each other; and it would have been so nice for me to think of your living here together after my deathl'
 "And you spoke to him about itg" ques- tioned Betty, without raising her eyes.
 "Yes; on the evening you came; told him what wished. But was to meet the fate of all match makers, you see," she added, signing. "Colin said he would never marry unless he was in love-that he must reserve himself the right of choosing his wife, And, as you say, dear, you and he were very far from falling in love-"
 "Did he say thats" asked Betty eagerly. "Wouldn't he agree to what you wished2 Then have wronged him terribly; he is ever so much nicer than thought!"
 "You thought2' questioned Miss Campion slowly. "Ah, remember now I told you that was going to speak to him, and you be- ieved that he would marry any one I sug- gestedl How foolish and wrong have been! You might have liked him if you had not been so prejudiced beforehand, and every thing might have been different"
 "Do not grieve, godmother," said Betty gently. tiff we have not been friends, it is quite my own fault. I had no right to judge him before knew him."
 But, in spite of her brave words, her heart sank strangely. She knew that she would have accepted Collins love had she understood what he was offering her-for her belief in his unworthiness, though it had destroyed her trust in him, had not been strong enough to kill her love- And now her life would be 10s,, f0r, would never speak to her of his love again. had she not peremptorily forbidden him? He had gone away now to avoid her, and after tomorrow she would never see him again. But at any rate she would see him once more and then-Oh, surely he would see that she was sorry for having misjudged him.
 But Colin remained at the Ladbrokes' for the night, and had not returned to Forde when she left it the next morning for home
 Betty had been right when she assumed that Colin had gone away on the previous afternoon to avoid her. Her harsh rejection of his proposal had reused his anger, and he felt too hurt to bid her good-by. But on his return to London his anger grew less as time passed. on, though his love for Betty did not diminish. As his thoughts dwelt on her so constantly, he began to seek for some reason for her unkindness; and the more he considered the matter the more inexplicable did her conduct appear. Her harshness and anger the day that he proposed to her were so
 
 concluded that some misunderstanding must exist in her mind which he ought to explain away. ~
 Tkis idea led him to make Journey to Devonshire @ few days later, though his hopes of winning Betty's love were small He walked over to the rectory on the morning after his arrival, and was shown into the empty drawing room bya neat maid servant, who told him that Betty would be there in few minutes, as she said she could be easily sent for to the church, whither she had gone to practice. Colin, however, de cided to go himself, and had no difficulty in finding the sacred edifce, which was close at hand.
 Colin sat down near the door and waited patiently till Betty should come He heard her dismiss the little 5oy with a kind word of thanks for his services, saw her shut and lock the organ. and then he waited in almost trembling expectancy while she came slowly l down the center aisle.
 Betty" he said, softly, rising as he spoke. "Dr. Campionl"
 "You are surprised to see me here," he said | gently, walking out by her side. ] The sun shone down hotly on her as she l leaned against the stone work of the door.
 way, revealing to Colin how pale and thin
 she had become and how sad were her eyes
 and lips.
 "You have been illln he said, looking down at her anxiously.
 'Oh, no; 1 am perfectly well-unusuallJ well indeed, ," she answered hastily, nervously 1 Gynrr ~Srn<~% %I,4A Sr,l h. t,41&