Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-10-02
lnve torn my ewes out il had mot defended

IuAD MARKED HIM FOR RECOGNITION.
have torn my eyes out if had not defended
myself"
''Ycs, indeed" chimed in Irma, anxious
to defend her brother. "Hou mnst not
blame him, Mr.. Roland; this little beggar
would have hurt him If she could"
During this interesting Colloquy l had
stood quite still, too angry, hurt and bewil-
dcrCd to speak. But at Irma's cruel words
my temper blazed again. y torrent OF
words were on my tongue, but, happening
to glance one side, saw face peerlng
through the shrubbCry. knew it i'll an in
slant, it was my friend on the cars. new
the laughing eyes and the brown, curling
hair. There was u broad smile on his face
could see, also. His appearance decided
me. 1 did not pause TO reply or defend my
self before the gentleman, but, catching my
books from the ground, fled toward the
house, never pausin" til reached my own
room, where l sank down, painting and ex-
haustcd.
L had never remembered being angry be-
for and this new f2Ciing of rage and hate
fairly overpowcrCd me. When hurt or
grieved before n always wCpt, but not
tear dimmcd my eyes now, whose fiery
flashes would have scorchcd the fountain
up. But Mt length l grew calmer, l re-
moved my bonnet end bathcd my face and
| singing pain in IT" lr!t arm, l pushed up
| my sleeve and flJnl II livid blue mark
| across my m v i, u was also severely
| bruised, either by my fall or from a blow
in the ARRAY h3d jU5t taken part in.
looked at my b. - ! arm with a terrible
| feeling of rage and SriCf, not SO much at
| the injury, that would soon heal, but there
| are scars on our ne: lOCy ct never heal.
| This was one. h1l never been struck be-
| FORE and though it II! 1t be remembered l
| struck first, yet i'll H. own eyes, certainly.
and in others perhaps, was quite justified
| in doing so. Therefore my feeling of out
rage was the Same AIS though had been
ignomniously beaten without n cause.
Irving Barrett, no doubt, regarded the
whole affair rs joke, yet he hardly guessed
that that one cruel act would be weighed
in the balance against him when that same
scale was balanced for life or death
"Wcn, Miss, yer uncommon sober to-
night"
/ started. 1t was Maggies CHEEKY voice
at my elbow that aroused me from my
gloomy thoughts. did not answer, but fol-
lowed her out and into the supper-room
without word.
After supper l inquired who the gentle
men were had seen in the garden.
THE black whislSercd one" said Maggie,
ais Mr.. Roland, an old friend of the family
he is here every summer. The other youn G
man, it seems, is u friend of his; 1never saw
him before to-day; his name is Oliver Dud-
ley, and handsome, propcr-spOken young
follow he is, too" she added.
went back TO my room and moped in 81
lcnce until dark, when, seeing the family
were all assembled in the grand drawing
room, crept out, and taking the first path
came to, wandered aimessly on, scarcely
knowing or caring whittier it led, till found
myself on the shore Of a lovely lake, on
whose clear surface the moonlight was rest
ing, silvcring each wave that rose till il
looked like molten silver.
Drawn up to the shore was n beautiful
boat with softly cushioned seats, and pair
of oars handsomely carved rested in tho
oarlocks. l stood watching this moonlight
scene with such keen deli ,ht that did no
notice the approach of party coming neal
until they were close upon me. had bare
~ time to conceal myself behind one of thu
rustic seats that lined the shore as they Al
came up laughing, chatting ana seeming il
high spirits. There were in the party MIR
? and Mrs. Clayton, Irma and Irving, and ais
the two gentlemen had seen in the after
noon. tremblcd lest they should discovel
- me, for Mrs. Clayton came near tfalt he
d silSen skirts brushed my hands as
:. crouched beneath the scat; but, fortunately
for me- they passed and entered one of tn
boats without noticing me. l could hea
the dip of the oars as they rowed out on TIL
lake. How would have liked to accompan,
them. had never been in boat in my life
: and fancied it must be Il great pleasure t
:, float, as they were doing, over the silve
waves. But l could not go, so RENAME
where was listening to the sound of thei
merry voices, and hating them all the NOR
heartily, l think. l even wished that til
l' boat would upset, and, not drown them,
was not quite so bad as that, but give theI
n wetting.
But they came to shore at last. The ger
tlemen assisted the ladies out and the part
returned toward the house, all but MI
Dudley, he fingered behind and lit a cigal
It could see the blue rings of smoke curtin
up through the clear air.
The rest of the party went on, evidentl
not missing him. He waited until the
were out Of hearing and 1 was devoutl
wishing he would go on when he Wake
- leisurely up to the seat, behind which wa
hiding, and stopped. 1 could see his fac
plainly in the moonlight, and there was
smile upon it. Could he be laughing at me
Had he seen me. l asked myself; and
. answered as if instantly divining m
thoughts:
Eyes / know you are there. Come out
What are you hiding forl''
u crawled out and stood before him,
. very tumbled, confused looking object, II
u doubt, from my hiding among the reeds an
, rushes that grew on the bank
IT, $50 you hid, did you!" he inquired, lool
ing ut me still with that kind, quizzical lool
half laughing, half serious, on his fact
''Were you afraid, little onei'' putting OF
his hand and drawing me gently to his sid
stroldng my tumbled hair with his whit.