Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-01

QueruIOuSIy because her son seemed to be angry with her companion, "tho keepers are here, and have been waiting for long while. You always do keep ladies and the lunch will be at the cop- pice before you have bagged 8 solitary bird. I shall not be able to go with them to-day, but Mrs. Esdaile will take my place."
 "May Miss Chester come?" asked Sir Neil so easily now that neither of his listeners guessed with what anxiety he spoke.
 "No, I shall want her. What does she care about such things?"
 Mother, "said Neil into the trumpet, his voice shaking little with suppressed amusement, "Lnuisa Castillain is aw- fully anxious to stay ut home with you, only she doesn't l k" to offer, she says. She wants you to ask her. She loves you tremendously; iI fact, she's never quite happy unless she is with you nover."
 "Does Louisa really wish to stay with me? ?" asked Lady athelston. "How dc you know ?"
 "Mariorie told me-in confidence, though, replied Neil, falsehood moro or less being of little consequence to him but you are to ask her yourself, and not to pretend that we've spoken ok of it. You understand ?"
 "Yes, understand" was the pleased reply. "Louisa is very fond of me-"
 "Passiomne'memt,' put in Neil, solemn. | ly. ''But you see now, mother, you must send away Miss Chester, because she and Louisa never agree"
 "Yes, "assented Lady Athelston, with an instinct of the necessity of this, Miss Chester can go."
 "Therei" cried Neil, raising his head from the trumpet. with an air of great relief, "you are conquered, Miss Chester but, to make assurance doubly sure, I shall leave it in Marjorie's hands,"
 No, please" argued Lima, earnestly, because, if she asks me, must go.
 "! know you must" laughed Neil, delighted. "How shall look out for the carriage now, and not for the sake of the lunch--not quite Good-hY for n few hours. Good-by, my little friend" Then Neil, his handsome face un- clouded again, ran down stairs and left his commands in Marjorie Castillain's hand, drawing her little apart from the other guests in the hall.
 Poor little thing, it will be a change for her. " he concluded, flushing duskily under Marjorie's calm gaze. "The mother keeps her so preciously close ill general way. And she is so fond of you. Marjorie, that she will be sure to enjoy this with you. No wonder she is fond of you, dear" he added, with a slight qualm, "you are so good to her, and so ike one of us. I mean to say"
 "You don't quite know what you mean to say, Neil" returned Marjorie, carefully picking an end of his mothers wool from his brown sleeve "but prov ldentially always understand as well what you leave unsaid as what you say : so-it's all right"
 One or two of the gentlemen were en- wing him a little as he fingered with his betrothed; for they had not seen her gentle touch upon his arm? But Neil | turned away, feeling rather uncomfort- able, wishing he had not seemed so much in earnest over this. Louisa, he said, in Q voice whose ease and coldness sounded refreshing even to himself after its late warmth and anxiety, "my mother is awfully anxious to have you at home with her this afternoon too bad of her, isn't it? But she seems to have set her heart up. on it. I don't think she's ever happy without you, Louisa. But must tell
 
 ing against your will, that she won't be happy unless you can be generous enough to consent very readily. I am veXed, because hoped to see you in the coppice, but mother will be lost without you. You are so very amusing with her, and possess such 2 fund of narra- tive"
 Neil left of there. afraid of laughing. But Louisa Castillain guessed nothing of this. Her whole face frightened ss she glanced across at Jeffrey.
 "I will stay gladly, Neil, |" she said; "I always like to give dear Lady Athel- ston little pleasure"
 And Neil thanked her so heartily that Col. Stuart-standing near and examin- ing his gun-guessed rather more of his reason than Sir Neil would have cared to acknowledge.
 'Start early, Mrs. Esdaile we trust to you," the young baronet said gayly, as, with the dogs around him, he looked back from the hall. door raising his hat from face which never could have been so careless or so happy If he had known for what cruel work his own selfish plans had smoothed the way. When the shooting party returned that evening, merry and muddy and tired, the ladjes-who had driven home an nOur earner-Were 1n their own rooms, resting before they began to dress for dinner; all except one, who happened to be slowly passing along the east cor ridor as MT. Jeffrey entered 1t on the way to his own room at the farther | end.
 "We have arranged it all," she said, fin a hurried tone of congratulation. "Ive written the letter myself. Lady Athelston asked me to do it for her, and Sir Neil is not to know"
 Eustace Jeffrey smiled down into Louisa Castillains flushed, fair face, reading it steadily for few moments. What he saw there-the light, shallow eyes were easily read-satisfed him that what she did, she did for him; no scrupIe of conscience hurting her, no generous Qualm hindering her and he trusted in her just SO deeply and just so steadfast- | ly as such natures trust In those which