Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-13
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XH.
could not understand why Sarah
had taken such q strong dislike to me.
She was not amiable in her treatment
of anybody, but was especially malig-
nant in her hatred towards myself. l
concluded to pay as little attention as
possible to her. She had never before
been so rude and harsh as she was on
this night.
Perhaps am getting spoiled by
the kindness 1 receive from SO many
people," l thought to myself, "and it
is well there should be a check upon
my vanity. l suppose ought to be
thankful for Sarah
When l had objected to wearing the
dazzling heart with which l had been
presented, because it was too brilliant
for governess, Mr.. Rayner had sug-
gested l should wear it under my
dress. was grateful for his kindness,
and would have been glad to oblige
him. but there were two reasons
which prevented me. The first was
that it looked as if l We're ashamed of
or Sarah, for instance, that I was
wearing it concealed, would have
made me feel guilty and uncomfort-
ready wore around my neck little
case made out of the back of an old
purse, and it contained the bit of
paper with Mr.. Reade's apology which
l had pulled off the rose. So 1 de-
cided to lock up the sparkling pendant
in my desk.
Mr.. Rayner had given me tho pen
dant on Saturday. The next day, when
service was over, and we were stand
ing about in the churchyard as usual,
before Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner's depar-
ture gave Haidce and me the signal to
go home, Mr.. Laurence Rcade left his
party and stood looking at tho grave
stones, until the gradual moving on of
the stream of people who were slowly
coming out of the porch brought us
past him. Then, as Mr.. and Mrs. Ray
ner stopped to speak to some one, Mr..
Reade said:
cit seems such long time since
Tuesday,"
Tuesday was the day on which he
bought the marbles. I said gravely:
lit is Just tce days"
Eyes, but they have been such long
days" said he, in low voice.
"Not really" I answered. "The
days are getting shorter and shorter
| now"
"Don't you know how long a day
seems when you want to see IA per
son, and you can't? But perhaps you
see the person you like best to see every
dayP'
II like to sec my mother best, and
she is long way off," said I gravely.
''Ah, yes, of course! But / wasn't
thinking of ones family"
perhaps you were thinking of the
| pretty girls who were in your pew last
| Sunday?"
1.-The Finches-Ethel and Katie? Oh,
no, 1 wasn't! 1 see quite enough Of
them. They're coming again, too, tc
the school-treat. Don't see why they
can't be contented with their own tea,
fights. No; was thinking of some
body quite different. Can't you guess
who?"
In the pause which followed his words
distinctly heard Mr.. Rayner's bright
voice saying archly:
Laurence seems to have great adj
miration for our pretty little Miss Chris
tie: doesn't he, Mrs. Reader"
| did not hear her answer, but it wa!
given in a displeased tone; and a min
ute afterward she called her son sharp
ly and said they are waiting for him.
This was to be busy week in the
parish. The school-treat, was fixed tx
take place on Saturday; and the fol
lowing day was to be the harvest fes
tival. The Misses Reade had undertaken
most of the decoration of the church
as the wears wife had enough to do il
preparation for the school-feast and &C
companylng sale.
The next day Haidee and took s
longer walk than usual; and, when w
returned, Jane met me with a mysteri
Gus air in the hall.
ooh, Miss Christie, young Mr.. Read
called while you was out, and asked tt
see you! He said he had message TO
you. And, when 1 said you was on
and offered to give it to you, he sale
he had better write it, as it was impor
tant. So he wrote a note for you; ant
please it wasn't my fault, but Saral
got hold of it, and she took it to Mr.
Rayner. told her it was directed t,
you; but she wouldn' t take no notice
went upstairs very much annoyed
by this fresh indignity offered me b,
that hateiul Sarah, and hurt and sorrI
besides, for l was longing to know
what the note said. AS soon as go
into the dining-room, however, Mr.
Rayner came up to me smiling, ant
put it into my hands.
Here is a billet-doux which has beel
left for you, Hiss Christie. Now whom
do you expect one fromp'
From nobody, Mr.. Rayner," said ]
blushing very much.