Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-25


punch-bowls, fagons, ndesticks, &C., ana to re-
late the many quaint legends concerning them,
which had descended like the plate itself through
terested; but the lock, with its concealed spring
and curious action, seemed to take her fancy al
most more than anything. She made Lennox
show her the working OF the spring again and
again, and thanked him very prettily as they went
slowly down the broad staircase together And
ately conscious that in spite OF her beauty and
| winsome ways he certainly did not like her. At
| least-well, he was not quite sure. And Diana,
naughty Diana, was smiling mischievously. Why?
! For two days after the diamond show" as
Diana called it, her aunt noticed that she always
| made point OF meeting the poStman, morning
and evening. at the foot OF the avenue. On the
third day she entered the morning-room just after
breakfast with rather heightened color, and with
| an open letter in her hand. Miss Hardwicke was
| alone Chester having gone round to the stables.
Diana handed her aunt a small bundle OF letters,
then, nervously twisting the paper she held, she
said In low voice:
"Auntie, may 1 speak to you about some
| thing?"
"Certainly, my dear. You do not need to ask
that, should think. What Is IL, chid?"
| The girl hesitated, then said frankly:
| 81 have something to tell you, auntte Some
thing ought TO have told you before"
Miss Hardwicke looked vaguely alarmed.
| swell, DEAR" she said anXOuSly.
| 81 ought TO have told you before now" stam-
| mered the girl, "that-that have a lover-that
| am engaged to be married"
| The old lady did not speak for q few minutes
| She was conscious OF keen pang OF disappoint-
ment, for she Thought she had observed an altera-
|
| during the last Few days, and had hoped great
things. For was not that love the most lasting
which began with IA little aversion?" Then
| sudden hope inspired her.
| CHESTER"
| "Chesters" repeated DIANA Then the excitable
girl burst into wild appeal Of hystercal laughter
"Oh, forgive me-" she gasped, controlling herself
with an effort But could not help thinking
| how disguised poor Mr.. LennoX would be II you
| suggested that he even admired me! Oh, no. He
Iny ioyer-his name is Clarence Lorimer. He is a
good bit older than am, and" shyly, ..ueyy fond
of NE. Father liked him."
| Miss Hardwlcke's interest was aroused.
| MY nephew approved OF the engagement, them"
| she said: "BGt. Diana, why did you not tell me
| beforc?'
| ave agreed to keep it secret" said the girl
simply, 'until Clarence could make a home for me-
| Father thought 1t best. But have just had this
letter from him, In which he says-but please read
| IL, auntie."
| "but-Mr. Lorimer? VIII he like that?"
| ION, yes. I've told him all about you, and how
! reTy good you have been TO me-"
So Miss Hardwicke put on her spectacles, and
| read Diana'S love-letter. 1t was a TENDER manly
epistle, and sensible withal. Miss Hardwicke felt
| sure she would like the writer
"You sly little puss!" she said as she folded It up
80 that was the reason you always met the post
man Then after minute, "Dana, do you think
| Mr. Lorimer would care TO come here for little
| time? He would ind 1t quiet OF course for
| chester leaves US in few days; but" mischiev-
ously, perhaps you could manage to amuse him,
Diana's face flushed with pleasure.
"Oh auntie, DO you mean it?"
"Of course, my dear. You are my child now;
! and where should you receive your affianced hus-
band II not here! He is in Liverpool he says does
he not? shall write little note for you to en-
may be very happy" And the Old lady drew the
! girl into her arms. and kissed her.
| lighted to visit Dimsford Manor, and he arrived
| within twenty-four hOnrs after his letter. He
was tall, powerfully-built man or about forty,
| dark, and OF rather coarse expression OF coun-
| tenance. LennOX mentally set him down "a
| cad,' and even Miss Hardwicke felt a strong
| shock or disappointment, and sighed as she con
| traSted him with her distinguish Hooking god
| son. may as well acknowledge, By the way
| that the latter made himself as disagreeable TO
| the newcomer as gentleman can be without
ceasing to be gentleman. But Mr.. Lormer did
not EN- 10 resent this at all; indeed IL appeared
to amuse him rather than otherwise He had an
what any girl could see in the fellow. Not that
he had the slightest feeling OF jealousy in the
matter; on the contrary In spite of his late efforts
TO do the polite" to Diana, he felts himself more
unaccountably repealed by that young lady than
ever. Nor did the Following little scene tend to
crease his respect for her. one warm, sunny after
noon he came upon the engaged pair In lonely
part OF the y7ood They did not see him, and con-
| tlnued their Conversation uninterrupted. He OBJ
served, TO MS disgust that Diana was smoking
| not cigarette, as he knew she frequently did,
| sub rOsd-but very well-havored cigar She was
apparently enjoying it, too, as seated on the grass
she leaned against tree with her arms folded and
her nat tilted over her eyes apparently listening
| attentively TO what her fdnce was saying. sud
| denly she removed the cigar from her rosy lips
and made some remark, or course inaudible 10
| Chester, which seemed TO amuse Mr.. Lor1mer
! nightly. He burst into a roar of laughter and
| slapping his future bride heartily on the shoulder
| exclaimed In tones expressive or keen enjoyment,
GOOD for you, little one! BY Jove-gOod Tor your
| The unseen spectator OF this lOver-llke careSs
| curled his lip contempJuously. II Diana had been
sy-going and fast before Mr.. Lorimer's arrival
| she was ten times worse now. Nay. at times She
positively seemed TO go out of her way to do and
| say the most unladyliAe things. For instance, In
had seen herchuck ElizaJane-the pretty waiting
maid-under the chin, with a sly wink which
would not have done discredit to British dragoon
much TO that damSePs Indignation. Poor DIANA
| by the way, was not favorite with the servants
| at the Manor, who considered her mo lady"
principally because she Scoffed at the idea or a
| lady'5 maid, and kept all her belongings scrupu-
lousy under lock and key The "faSL" young lady
was just coming into vogue at the time or which
write, and the type had always aroused Chesters
| supreme and unmitigated contempt. But Diana
| carried 1t shade further than any woman he
knew. Even this cad, IL appeared, did not respect
her, Lennox thought scornfully. He was turning
| away in naughty disgust, wondering how his gen.
tie, refined godmothcr could be infatuated With
| her very pronounce niece, when a remark in
Diana's clear, distinct tones arrested him. IL was
only the first words he heard; the rest were in a
| low, rapid UNDERGONE Whatever their tmport WAS
| it drove the blood from Chester Lemons lace. and
he deliberately leaned against tree and-liStened
That night at dinner Lennox said carelessly ad-
dressing his godmOther:
| ~ have to go up to town in the morning. Have
you any commissions for me?"
| "1eS, my dear, tllnk so. Will make out lit
tie list OF some things want II you will be so good
as to get them for me. When shall you return?D
| she went on.
"Oh, the day after tomorrow" he answered. 81
have rather particular engagement tomorrow
! night"
| Diana, with q little shake or her cloSe-crOpped
head.
"Wil it?" said Mr.. Lennox, disagreeably and
CURLY. II must hope to make 1t more lively for
you ON my return"
| Next morning LennOx took his departure by the
| early train. Diana, having got up an hour earlier
than her wont, poured out his coffee for him, and
| waved her handkerchief from the doorstep as he
drove down the avenue, tire first Of which atten-
lions the recipient acknowledged very ungraciOuS-
| ly and the last not at all.
| The day passed as usual Miss Hardwicke re-
tired early having slight cold, and Diana brought
her tumbler Of hot port wine neguS after the Old
lady was In bed She fancied her niece looked pale
| and tired Certainly she was unusually silent.
| Shortly after O'Clock, when the Old house was
wrapped In sleep and silence a little group or four
men quietly skrted the laures on the east side OF
the house, and took up their position in ashadOwed
corner OF heavy buttreSS, near the window of the
| morning-rOOm
| The Watchdog, which was always loosed at
! night, began TO bark wildly then became sudden
\ ly silent. In the hush that followed one OF the
| ing Just under the morning-room window, his
| figure but dimly visible in the pale starlight. His
| companions remained like statues in the deep
| shadow. In a few moments the window was
| cautiously Opened-it was low, barely feet from
| the ground-and hoarse voice whispered:
Its all right Have you fixed the dog? It's deuced
| dark. Turn on your lantern"
"All's right. Be quick was the almost inaudible
| answer from below.
| "Catch, then"