Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-16

lently; man-hke, he did not interrupt me even to give utterance to any wrath ful words against Eustace Jeffrey. He says, in his warm, generous way, that he will find her out if she Is alive; and I know he never says those things with out meaning them. But how can he do this 2 remind him of the many things he has given himself to find out and put right.
 "I have my life before me-" he says, laughing; "wait and see"
 have been for a whole tenn ut my daily duties in Upper Brook street. and to. day have left off for a months holi- day. I like Clara Esdaile very much, and the teaching is not at all difficult to me; yet how glad I was to think of the holiday, and how proud was to bring home to Gerard my first earnings He did so laugh when I showed him Mir. Esdaile's check; and he told me to have it framed, for that it could not possibly be spent like an every-day sum of mon- ey.
 Besides" he said, "I shall be jeal- ous, dear, if you spend it for anything which my earnings can buy you" So I laughed then, for this first check of mine has always been destined for 8 present to Gerard, who is generous to me, and who will not let me think that the money which earn is for anything but extra and totally unnecessary amuse- ments.
 While we were joking about this check, Mr. Jeffrey came in, unannounced aS | usual, and he joined in the merriment.
 "It must be awkward for you if you wish to spend it at once and personally" he said, with thoughtfulness. "Shall I change it for you2H
 was glad, and accepted the offer at once, though Gerard still laughed, and said that such Q valuable curiosity as that check ought never to be changed, So Mir. Jeffrey cashed it for me, and to- morrow morning shall go to buy Ger ards present, As came to bed, I went in and told Rachel of my check, and she looked sorry that had let Eustace Jel- frey have it. wonder why.
 The holidays are over, and I begin work tomorrow. I am not sorry to do so, though Gerard is strongly anxious gravely anxious now, not laughing so, as he was before-that I should give up teaching Clara any more. Gerard is more prosperous than he has been at all. He has an increase of engagements l chief reason of his having more money, which still he always wishes to spend on me, Is that he is seldom with Eustace | Jeffrey now. MT. Jeffrey comes here 1 almost as he used to do but somehow cannot help fancying that Gerard is much less gay.
 l Sometimes he IS even moody and inn patient with me-Gerard, who, all his life, had been so brightly happy; so dauntlessly happy through every cold repulse and disappointment of our old life. never ask him whether he has any sorrow in which I cannot share, partly because dread the idea too much even to utter it, partly because I could not bear to see his face pale su1- denly as saw it pale few days ago. when, for a moment, he misunderstood a question asked him, and fanc;sd it a question as to this. Perhaps in afeN days time he will be my own bright, loving Gerard once again.
 Gerard was later than I had ever known him to be, and sat wondering and wondering. I could not go up to Rachel, though longed for the sound of some unharassed voice and the sight of an unanxious face. could not go, for dreaded her seeing my own fright ened face, and asking me questions which could not answer. Oh, how I listened for Gerard's footstep on the pavement below felt-so keenly was hstening-that miles away could have distinguished his step upon the flags.
 was standing against the window be- hind the drawn blind, listening and listening with every power I possessed, when Rachel came quietly into the I IN- @k ha. lar- done so before, and am sure looked surprised; though was vexed afterward that had done so. She came to ask me to go and sit with them, she said, but could see that she had other words in her heart, though they would not rise to her lips -o other thoughts, perhaps, which can understand better now. ] told her could not go; though, when she asked me why, had no words tC explain.
 ''Mother ia restless tonight, dear, " she said, turning respectfully, "or I would stay here little, for I'm tired of my own company up stairs, Somehow, she went on, nervously, so anxious that I should not think she had sought me out for my own sake, though knew SC to talk, and the silence seems oppressive to me tonight"
 But could not go with her. So she kissed me and left me, with few words of comfort, which were, l dare say, com monplace enough; yet of untold help tc me just then.
 And then the night wore on, hour af ter hour, until 2 o'clock had struck. was not standing at the window then. was sitting-oh, so tired-before tht fire, which I kept burning cheerily al the while for Gerard. My head wa. buried in my hands, when suddenly { sound reused me. started up, quiver ing in every limb, and waited for tho sound again. It came, the tapping O some light substance against the win dow panes.
 opened the dark curtains and drey them close behind me to shut in tn frelight, then raised the blind, opene,