Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-20


 open the door for her, and held out his hand as she passed-held 1t almoss pleadingly. But. without raising her own, Lima bowed, and walked slowly on to her own chamber. There for a long hour she sat quite still, with her head buried in her hands, asking her own heart many . painful, anxious question. Had 1t been even right to make her home under this roof, though only temporarily?
 "The temptation was too strong" she moaned to herself; "and I did it for the best-but, oh I despise him I despise him and know that shall grow to do so more and more. I might have known it. I might have known how fiercely should hate any one of his name. But-but l did 1t for the best"
 And then, in the silence and solitude of this lonely midnight, the girls over tasked strength gave way, and passion ate, vehement sobs shook the slight, deli cate form.
 1 All this while Sir Neil Athelston, idly smoking, wondered why this girl should haunt him SO unaccountably, and repict- ure herself forever in the curling fra grant wreaths of smoke.
 There was the small, rounded form the motionless white hands and, above all, the beautiful face, with its delicate features and pure, white skin. Nothing would chaSe these away--though he was very doubtful whether he wished them chased away-and he dawdled to his room ct midnight, still following one thought.
 "i must play double game; SUD- pose," so the one thought ran. "I hope | 1,, Y,1oo both parts will be equally easy"
 And with & smile upon his handsome, sensual face, he passed the closed door behind which Lima knelt alone, battling with great upwhispered pain.
 CHAPTER III.
 "Why, Neil, this is a new thing. I cannot remember the day when you have breakfasted with me, when we have been alone. Certainly Miss Ches- ter and I have finished, but still it is wonderful. What has brought the changer"
 "There's no act of Parliament to pre- vent mans changing his mind," was Neil Athelston's careless answer, as he sauntered up to the breakfast-table, giv- shoulder as his morning greeting, and offering his hand to Lima with smile.
 "You said it disagreed with you to come down before the day was thorough ly aired" resumed Lady Athelston, mo- tioning him to the chair beside her.
 My mother just as often fancies she hears what is not spoken, as misses hearing what is, /" he explained, in a cool aside to Lima; but a slow, dusky flush arose in his face as he took his cup from her hand, loitering unnecessarily over the slight act.
 "It requires moro vivid imagination than possess to picture that" she answered lightly.
 "Is your imagination not very vivid, then ?" he asked, quietly drawing his at the head of the table. 1T should have fancied it was. But as my mother continually tells me, am no decipherer of character. Fact is, I never have troubled myself about it. A plain face can have no charm for me, however much character it may possess and a beautiful one needs no character beyond its beauty me it could possess none."
 "Neil," interrupted his mother, un. conscious of this speech, "do you dine at Hawkedale to-day?"
 "1 suppose so," he answered, coldly.
 Anen ue WonG OH deuresslnS gay cou1' monplaces to Lima, his tone full of ami. utter indifference she received these speeches, he turned almost angrily away "Are you going to drive to-day, moth } sr2"
 "Yes. I have promised Louisa Gas l tillain to drive to Hawkedale. els Miss Chester going with you? ?"
 ""No, not this time," replied Lady 8 Athelston, who did like the point-blanl
 question. "I shall leave her at libert, to examine the grounds and gardens. = dare say she will be glad of the change after being indoors with me all thu morning"
 A gleam o1 gentle kindness, rare an,
 very beautifying, crossed Lady Athel ' Bton's face as she spoke, and Lima smiled
 In gentle recognition of it, "When shall you go ?" inquired Neil
 es he helped himself to 8 outlet, appar
 ently with his whole heart in the act.
 "After luncheon. Now, Miss Ches 's ter, will you go and cut the flowers fo II my rooms? I shall like you, as a rule ,, to do that always before breakfast. do not like being late in the mornings. U sleepishness and idleness you spend tn " day afterward, if you are but early il II the mornings" laughed Neil, rising t M n open the door for Lima. "My lat ;s breakfasts have for years been locke ,t upon by my mother as the ruin of thi .' house but my hopes rise gradually, a '' the years go by, and the house does nc
 fall about us in ashes."
 ,t "Neil," began his mother, as the doc ~ closed upon Lima, "I am sorry [ CT " gagged her. I think-I fear it will nc :: be good thing; she is too pretty" 1, "Too pretty 1" laughed Neil, repea of ing the words as if he liked them. "To ir pretty P-for you or for me?"
 "Too pretty for her position; yo r. know what mean," replied Lady Athe V, ston, in the querulous tone she alway t. unconsciously adopted with her sol ,e when she wished her words to be heede.
 WAnd foo dalinafs-too nretfu for h,