Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-11

nlties, ana J. was browning with impa
tience, when he suddenly looked ur
and his eyes met mine. There was
nothing for it then but in common ci.
Witty to 60 and open the gate for him
myself; so opened it wide without q
smile.
THANK you, thank YOU wouldn't
nave given You 50 Euch trouble for
worlds. If only this brute would stand
stillr'
''Prav don't mention it. 1t is nc
trouble at all. l said, icilv.
And he raised his hat and rode off. 7
had such Il curiously hurt and disap-
pointed feeling-I could not tell WHY,
but supposed that. being dependent,
1 was naturally very sensitive.
81 dare say he wouldn't have let me
open the gate for him if | hadn't been
only 4 governeSs, thought, as a lump
came into my throat.
And the flowers | was looking at be-
gan to grow misty, when again heard
hoofs behind me and the latch of the
gate go, and, glancin@ round. | saw
Mr.. Reade on horseback inside tho
gate He had opened it without any
difficulty this time. He seemed to look
allttle embarrassed, and, jumping off
his horse. he led him toward me. saw
| ing:
Il must apologize for returning so
soon, but find have lost stone from
my ring, and | think it must have
dropped out while WAS fumbing at the
gate Just now. 1t Is much easier to
open from the outsi,lc.''
'Do you think so? We don't find
any difference said, simply.
He gave me a quick inquisitive
glance and half smile, and then
turned back to the gate and began
searching about in the gravel. Polite
ness obliged me to help him. He fast
ened his horses rein round the gate
post and show d me the ring, and
saw the hole w ere there was stone
missing. Sudd My | remembered that
while We stoo under the shed that
Sunday i'll the Rim, l had noticed the
same hole i'll tn same RING. and with
this recollection came Il thought which
brought the color to my face and made
my heart beat foster. And the thought
was that Mr.. Eeadc must know how
long ago he had lost that stone. And
from that moment spirit of daring
mischief came into me, and [ would
hot condcsccnd to pretend to look
ibout any longer; but l patted the
aorsc's neck and glanced every now
and then at his master. and thought
how foolish he looked hunting about
Tor what he knew he should not find.
Then he looked up, red with STOPPING,
and caught me smiling, and he had to-
bite his lip in order not to smile him
self rs he walked up to me.
IL can't find it, 1t isn't of any con-
sequence; l sha'n't look any longer"
he said.
''Oh, but it would be such pity to
lose such large stone, Mr. Reader |
said, boldly. I'm tell the gardener to
hunt for it, and Sam the boy, and Jane
the kitchen-maid. She has sharp ewes:
she might spend an hour or two hunt
ing, murmurcd, contitlcntia!ly,
while he protested.
And think he began to suspect nv
good faith; and we both got into such
giggling excited state that it was
very difficult to 90 on talking, and |
was glad when some Of my flowers fell
down and Mr.. Reade had to pick them
up, and we had time to regain a little
of our lost compoSurc.
You are foGd of flowers, Miss
Christie?'
"Oh yes, but the rain has spoiled the
best of them"
The rain spells Il good many things
here. 1ou don't look nearly rs well as
you did 4 week or two ago | expect
it is the damp of this place. You
might as well live in Il cave as in thi,
house during a rainy season. Don't
you find your health is affected bv it,
lit is damp, | know: but it isn't half
so bad for me, who am strong. as it is
Tor Mrs. Rayner or for little Hadee."
'But they can't help themselves,
poor things, while it lies in your own |
power whether you will put up with it
or not
You mean that oughtto 90 away"
''No, no, don mean that" said he,
hastily.
But that is what you advised me to
do, said l. looking up. surprised.
did |? All, yes! But now that YOU
have grown attached to-the place,
and-and Mrs. Rayncr-'
mo, indeed l havcn't,' l inter-
rupted. Il don like her at all. like
the house in spite OF the damp. and l
like Haidee, and Jane the kitchen
mad, and MIR. Rayner, | said, quietly.
~, " You like Mr.. Rayner, you say?
Then ! suppose our sympathies must
be as far apart rs the poles. For he
seems to me the most intolcrabic snob
that ever existed, and so selfish and
heartless as to be outside the palo of
This TRADE amazed me; but it also
made me angry. | could not let him
abuse person whom l liked, and who
had been consistently kind to me,
protest.
on surely can not Judge him SO
we'll as l, a member of his household"
said l, coolly. Whether he is Il snob
or not can not tell, because | don't
quite know what it means. But | do
know that he is kind to his wife and
his children and servants and depend
ents and
kind to his wife, do you say?
should not call it kindness to shut up
ny wife in the darkest, dampcst cor
ler of a dark, damp house, until she is
as spiritless and silent rs q spectcr,
md then invent absurd lies to account
or the very natural change in her
ooks and spirits.
What do you mean? What lies?'