Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-01
for the first time thrill with passionate

I
 love.
 It was love which, compared to hi.
 calm regard for Marcia, was as Ine moon
 light to the noontide sun in all its
 strength. And when, after many diff
 culties and Instructions, he at last
 brought his beautiful young wife and in
 fant child to England, it was to Marcia
 he turned for sympathy in his pride and
 happiness. And then, after a few brief
 years of joy, the lovely southern flower
 faded and died, leaving the little Carmen
 to fill it's place in the desolate heart of the
 unhappy Herbert. Then it was he re-
 quired all Marcia's unselfish love to con-
 sole his anguish, all unconscious of the
 hidden love she bore him.
 And as she sat today by the open win
 dow and gazed out, hardly seeing the
 bright, beautiful radiance of the golden
 August day, she thought not unkindly, not complainingly, but with a gentle touch of sadness, of her own hearts hunger all these long years, so silently borne that no one had ever guessed her secret. They only wondered she had never married. Thus had she lived her life at the old place, looking after Sir Geoffrys interest during his many years Of exile, and now it seemed as if her | hopes would be realized; that the lovely l young mistress would soon be settled at Estcourt, while she, Marcia Estcourt, would so gladly take up her abode at the Old Dower House that overlooked the common.
 It would be such little distance from the Place to the Dene, as the Dover ! Hn11co oolloI. o,,I Ix the children would come to and fro yes, Geoff.'s children-and they would fill the empty space in her heart. As these thoughts shaped themselves, tender happiness imprinted itself on her face. For all her hopes, all her fears were bounded by the house of Estcourt W.
 Miss Estcourt folded her work neatly, opened the lid of her work table, and put it in.
 "I shall fill Garments room with flow CTS; the child loves everything beau tiful."
 She left the room, but presently re- turned with scissors and good sized basket, and passed out through the French windows into the gardens be- yond. She was so engaged when her brother, returning from the stables, met her, basket in hand, laden with flowers.
 "A rustic flower show on, Marcia p "Yes, dear, in Carmen's rooms."
 "Dear Marcia r and he kissed her af- fectionately.
 The day wore on. Sir Geoffry was as impatient to be at the station as a school boy to be out of school. But everything comes to an end, even waiting; and taking the reins from the servant, he drove at rattling pace. As he neared the station he could see the distant train and the track of the white vapor Now it came nearer and nearer, and as he stood on the platform the carriage con- taining Col. Massingbird and his daugh-. ter stopped exactly in front of him.
 Out stepped the tall soldierly figure of his friend, and beside him,
 Heart on her lips and soul within her eyes,
 Soft as her cline, and sunny as her skies, stood Carmen, in soft white gown and straw hat with poppies that made her vivid foreground. A pretty blush greeted his warm, strong grasp of her hand.
 "Well, Estcourt, old fellow! Here we are. How is Marcia?''
 "Well; and longing to see you both."
 "Then the feeling is reciprocal. She is a cool and refreshing vision this hot. weary day"
 "Papa, there is poor Hortense strug- gling with her feeble English over the luggage. She is trying to count her packages. Do, dear, go and help her."
 Her father made off obediently while Sir Geoffry escorted Miss Massingbird to | the carriage without, and watched with great pleasure the white robed figure and | then the red sunshade that threw such ! rosy tints over her dainty face.
 "Your maid can sit on the front seat | Miss Massingbird, by the side of old Dawson. He's as steady as old time. and warranted not to fall in love with the most coquettish of waiting maids"
 ''I do not think Hortense would have the faintest objection, answered Carmen in her mellow, laughing voice.
 "No! How unfortunate! I ought evi- dentlJ to have provided a young esquire. Dawson is as deaf as post, but makes up for that infirmity by keen eyesight."
 "Here comes papa and Hortense hot and furried!'
 Col Massingbird took his place be- side her, and their host sat opposite them. Hortense did try to get up an incipient filtration with the ancient Jehu; but he nipped it in the bud by bawling out, at 5he topof his voice, "Tm hard o'hearing, miss Y and with this subsided into his lsual taciturnity. Sir Geoffry laughed. ''That,s not encouraging! Never mind, she can try her hand on my man Brown. He's a rare one for the soft ex."
 ''Is it Hortense of whom you are talk ng?' asked, the colonel. "Yes," answered Sir Geoffry, 'sshe was rying it on With Dawson"
 "Oh, she will take care of herself. lever fear She flirted with every waiter in the place at Wiesbaden. She 5 an arrant coquette."
 They were close to Estcourt now, and | here on the steps to welcome them tood Marcia.
 "Ah, Marciav'
 Herbert ! And Carmen! Why, my ove, l shall need new introduction.