Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-08-09
THE ATHELSTONS;
OR
VICTOR AND vANQUIsHED.
BIZ NARY CECIL HAY.

n
Hour after hour, in those Tong winter
evenings, while Lady Adhesion dozed
upon her couch, Lima would sit before
the fire, in solitary thought, wondering
and wondering what it would be right
for her to do.
If only some voice would whisper to
her distinctly what was best, she would
sigh. If only some mark would lie up-
on the way she ought to take, so that
this anxious doubt might be at rest.
But no voice could be heard, and no
mark seen, and it was all left to her own
heart, as she said sadly to herself, while
her beautiful. anxious eyes sought vain
", i'll the dim, red aisles among the
glowing Goals for that answer which
could neither be heard nor seen.
And then Neil's mother would awake
repining las inherently selfish people
generally do), and would wonder fretful-
" why Llna's letters failed to bring
Neil home.
"You must write again, Lima. Why
will you not insist ON his coming? If
You had given my messages, 1 am sure
he would have been here unless -
with quick, questioning glance into
the grave face" unless you told him
you would go away from here if he
came. You know 1 could not spare you,
and it is very cruel of you to propose it.
I cannot spare you, but I want Neil,
too. Oh, Lima, bring him home, and do
not go away yourself. Ii you do, 1 shall
die, with no one to understand me or
help me-still, want my boy"
And Lima could only turn the subject
gently aside, and lead the mothers
thoughts where she delighted for them
to revel, until she again forgot all but
the simple, easy happiness which the
girls love and care had given her, and
the relief it was to have such a bright,
unselfish little companion about the
great, quiet house.
But the strain it was upon Lima so to
hide the anxiety which weighed upon
her day and night told gradually upon
her. And, now that Christmas was
near, she looked as pale and harassed as
she had looked in that illness of hers in
the early spring.
Once - after tiresome day, only
frightened by q long quiet talk with
Marjorie Castillain, which left its infiu-
ence strong and clear behind-in among
her puzzled thoughts there came a sud
den, rapid decision, as such decisions
sometimes will rush in, to end those
doubts which trouble us long and in
comprehensibly. She rose from her
spell of wondering thought, and began
at once to write to Sir Neil. She would
not wait to allow the old hesitation n
moments time to creep in. She would
write without one more doubt. Lady
Athelston's fearful entreaties were still
in her ears; Marjorie's mute question
fingered in her memory, and while she
remembered these she would write. Not
one of those arguments which her own
heart had urged, as she sat thinking and
thinking before the fire in the silent
room. should make itself heard again.
/" Not one, she repeated, YEARLY, as she
took up her pen.
Very few words, and very simple ones,
abe wrote to Neil. His mother longed
for him to be with her through the
T"u ~tr:"s-tilrc. she said. and yet did not
like to spare her. So (the pen fingered
here, but the trembling little hand led
II briskly on) would he come and spend
il with them both? He had said he
30 now she asked him. Would he
Gomez
It was such short and simple letter
to cause any quickened heart beats
Lima sent it in haste to the post-bag.
Bow could she ever let it go, if she kept
il long enough to think the old thought
even once more?
After that, it seemed as if the whole
household was in a state of expectation
through every hour of the day. Once
at least every five minutes, Neil's
mother stayted, and said she heard him
while she could not, poor lady, even
hear the wild December wind.
It was on the widest night of all the
week-while they sat in the luxurious
warmth of tbs brilliant drawing-rooms
where Lady Adhesion would always sit
now in state, awaiting him-that ht
came among the angry voices of the
wind and rain; neither the carriage
wheels nor the hurrying footsteps were
heard. So they did not know he had mr.
rived, until he came in to them, tall ani
grand and handsome as of old, yet whert
of old there had been only leisurely, in
dolent grace, there was firm and stead
fast quietness now which altered hin
wonderfully.
His mother started from her couch
and Lima rose to meet him, for he mus
pass her first. A longin!Nlook he gav'
into her face as he held her hand on,
minute in his clasp then he passed OF
for his mothers lapturous welcome ant
| Wueu ne LuFueu hSltln tue Sn1 WIS gone
For the hour before dinner, the mothe
and son sat alone. and Lima only ioinet
them again when the meal was an
nounced.
There had not been such merry din
ner OF High Adhesion for months u
this was, though Marjorie was not there
Martin, stepping noiselessly about tn
room, marveled over the change in hi
master. The twin canaries, with on
eye always on each others department
opened the other to the widest extent
and gathered an unusual amount of an
ecdote to retail. Lima looked into Lad.
Athelston's beaming face and said
herself, Yes, it was best that she ha
written to Neil that letter which ha
brought him home. Then she, toe
went back to wonder at the change il
him, though it seemed slighter to he
than to any one, because she had guesse
It from his letters. But though he
beautiful. dark ewes had q look Of relic