Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-08-07
THE ATHELSTONS;
OR
VICTOR AND vANQUIsHED.
By MARY CECIL HAY.

last, from his own Lps-the truth SO long
kept hidden in his cowardice.
Miss Marjorie was alone in the draw
ing-room. So the old servant said and
Neil, with the privilege of her afaanced
husband, entered the room unan-
nounced. Marjorie was writing at her
desk, but when she saw him she rose
with smile.
"Neil how strangei I was Just
then writing to You"
Week after weak, month after month,
they had put of telling of the convic-
ton which had been growing so strong
within them and now the reserve had
broken for both on the Same day. With
out seeing a word of the letter, Neil
knew what she had written and, before
q word passed his lips, Marjorie knew
what he had come to say. And they
looked into each others eyes, and at
that moment understood each other, as
they had never done through all the
years that they had been betrothed.
marjorie, think you know what I
have come to say" he began, humbly !;
"you look as if you knew it, dear ; but,
in any case, must tell you now. Mar
jorie, my faith and fealty to you have
been for whole year worthless
worthless as all belonging to me has
been. / will not tell you how earnestly
I hope it will be different now; what
right have to believe that you carer I
will not tell you that your own life will
be happier spent apart from mine what
right have to speak of that? I can
only tell you the simple truth. have
let a nsw love ill my heart. 1 have
learned now that the affection offered
you was not what thought it was, and
what 1t ought to have been. Marjorie,
you know who has worked this change
In me, Lina-Athelston will never ac-
cept the love which pressed upon her
when insulted her in every word ut
tered, but ii must be hers always now |;
and-And knowing its strength within
me, know it is the only love which I
can offer my wife"
Eyes, know 1t, too" said Marjorie,
in her ready, genial tones, but with q
gentle compassion in her eyes. "I am
30 glad you have told me this yourself,
Neil; I have been long hoping you
would do so. I know what you had to
tell, but would not say it 10 you.
waited for you 10 teN it me yourself"
and you saw how cowardly was in
shrinking from thisH ?"
"Yes, Neil, she answered, brightly {;
"and I was oowardly myself, too. How
could be sure that papa would not adj
vertise, L do hereby disown my daugh-
ter Marjorie, in consequence Of dis
obedience In the matter Of taking q
husband I saw Just such an adver-
tisement yesterday In an old register |;
and it sounded very like papa. Just
think what my chances would have been
after that Neil, aren't you afraid of
similar act on the part Of your mother
If Lady Athelston would only marry
papa now, they might work out person
ally their own ends and aims It's a
contamination devoutly to be wished,
don't you think ?"
eft would hardly consummate their
own ends, would it ?" asked Neil, too
really grave to enter into the spirit Of
her words, and too really fond Of her to
seemed to do. "High Adhesion was
iorie-High Adhesion and its master. I"
"Thank you, Nel," she answered,
quietly; "but our parents schemes
have gone agley-as the best laid will,
you know, whether of mice or men-Or
even women. Our loves were beyond
their reach, little as they imagined it. {"
Marjorie" said Neil, thinking it
best to say as little as he could of Mr..
Castillain or Lady Adhesion, while his
thoughts were SO sore, "it is sorrowful
work saying good-by to YOU"
Wnere are you going, Ne1IT'
She asked it anxiously, but with very
little surprise. She knew that he was
not even now the master of High Athel-
ston, and she could sympathize with his
crushed ambition as well as with his
hopeless love.
"To Scotland, Marjorie. Where else
could I go? S'hat other homo have q
right to claim2"
"I hope it is not to be very long
good-by," she said, with smile, as she
gave him her hand. "I shall miss you
greatly; We are such old friends, are not
we? Don't stay away from us all very
long. Neil, the young voice which
had struggled to be CHEEKY grew low
and sad again-"have you seen Lima
and her brother to-day2"
eyes, saw her for Q moment she
soon went away, as she always does, from
me. He sent for me, and was with him
tell, he added, hHrriedly.
at is sad to see him, is it not ?" asked
Marjorie, showing in her face how we'll
she understood what this all was. "He
used to look so strong and stalwart, one
cannot help thinking what q long course
of hard work and self-denial it must have
been which has brought him to this
and one cannot help fretting over it.
Yet he does not; he seems as brave and
ready to meet death, Neil, as he was
brave and ready to meet the trials of his
ife."
"Col. Stuart was going back to him
when came away, Marjorie" he said,
avoiding q direct answer to her words
"I am glad he is so true a friend tc
them both. 1t struck me from the first
as such a characteristic Of Stuart thai
he should be the one to have helped -
not yet could he bring himself to ut
Ter !Gerard's name naturally enough tc
venture it to Marjorie-"to have helped
in the gathering of that sum which was
TO have repaid the imaginary debt to ole
Mr.. Esdaile."
eyes, just characteristic of him." re
piled Marjorie, with q wonderful, quiet