Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-11

Sarahs hard, cruel face as she stood
with Moda still in her arms, her ewes
flashing scornfully on me as she Missed
out the splteful words; SO said, gently
II suppose we women all think moro
than we ought about our looks some
times, Sarah; but after all they are &
very important matter to every woman,
and make great deal of difference tC
her lie. You know you must be glad
not 20 be ugly. Sarah
own this was a little bit of innocent
tlatterv, for did think her very urly
and thought had never seen hc1
look so hileous as she did rs she stood
there glaring at me-but | was anxious
II soothe her at all hazards, and | was
thankful to see that the bait took
Handsome is that handsome does, -
she sad. less viciously: and with a toss
OF her head she left the room.
CnAPTER VII.
Very soon after Sarahs somewhat
harsh and uncalled-for reproof of my
VANITY began to suffer Il punishment
tor 1t. The country air, which had
brought unwontcd roses to my cheeks
while the weather was fine and dry, af-
fccted me very differently when, in the
49, ''''N . VI A'tf'ttlllGtI, llt RAIN 1cll
daily III Il steady. continuous downpour
that turned part Of tie marsh from a
swamp into Il stagnant unwholesome
lake. The air round the hous. seemed
never free from mist; the lower part of
the garden that touched the marsh was
bog; the mos, grew greener and
thicker on the pillars of the portico.
the untrimmed ivy that chung round
the house and made it so beautiful
dripped all day long, and bright green
stains grew broader and broader down
the side OF that wing of the house where
MI. and Mrs. Rayners room was.
L often wondered why they slept
there. l knew by the doors and win
dows that the ground-toor of that wing
contained two rooms, large and a
small one. My own was in the same
wing. 1t on the story above; and over
min =, IS 4 turret that looked out hiph
above the trees. but which was not
used, so far as | knew. Haidce slept
on the ground-tloor in n cot in the
drcssing-room next to her parents bed
room, knew, while the nursery and
servants rooms and several spare rooms
We're on the upper story beside my own.
Why did not Mr. and Mrs Ravner
make one of these their own, and lift
themselves out of the reeking damp
which must be poisonous to delicate
Mrs. Rayner? Even l, who slept in
the upper story, soon began to lose nv
color and my appetite, and to feel at
flrst languid, and then really i'll. l
showed the change more quickly than
any one, being less used to the place;
but little fragile Haidee soon followed
suit, and grew more wan and listless
than than ever, until one day, putting her
little dry hand in mine, she said:
You are getting thin and white,
too, like mamma and me. Wen all
60 away and be angels together, Miss
Christie, now you have begun to love
me.
| burst into tears; l had begun to
J v tn" fairy-like little creature lone
b fore. if she had only known it, And,
after that, without any more explana-
ton or comment, the sympathy be-
tween the child and me was perfect
But although the little ones love
was great solace it also brought
fresh trouble. For in Mrs Ray
n"r's dull eyes | could see a
flame of jealousy when the child
would rest her languid little head upon
my knee and say: Tell me a story.
Miss Christie, about fairics.' | thought
Mrs. RaNner very unreasonable, and
from plying came almost to dis
like her. 1t WAS unreasonable to eX-
pect to retain the child's undivided af-
lection when she gave her no attention,
and yet at meals, when we all met
together, she seemed to look at Haidcc
with strained, wistful eyes, as if she
loved the child, Yet dared not show it.
But What was there to prevent her, cX-
cept the shroud OF reserve she seemed
to have wrapped round herself?
The weather had been so bad that for
two Sundays we had not been able to
90 to church ut all. SO we knew moth
ing OF what was going on in the parish
for two whole weeks. We did not have
to wait until the churcl-porch gather
ing ON the following Sunday, though;
for on the second day after the weather |
had at last grown fine again, we heard
the sound of horses hoofs coming |
down the drive. Mr.. Ravner threw |
open the window and stepped out on |
to the broad space of gravel before the |
front of the house
Halo, Laurence, YOU are as well |
come as the do"e was to the ark! Come |
in, come in. We have had no visitors |
lately. but an occasional mermaid came |
up tue river from the sea and over
lloWed into our garden"
..Can't come in, thanks, Mr.. Rayner
I'm too much splashed; the roads are
awful still. I've only come with a note
from Mrs. Manners to Mrs. Ravner"
''Nonscnse! Come in, mud and all.''
80 he tied up his horse and came in.
Mrs. Manners was the clergyman's
wife, and generally sent her notes by
one of her half-dozen boys; and 1 con-
:ess l thought, when | heard what
iimsy sort Of GRAND had brought Mr..
Readc, that perhaps some other silly
motive had brought him.
But l. was disappointed. Mr.. Reade
devoted all his conversation to Mr.. and
Mrs. Rayner and did not notice me
wen when l made remark.
confess l was piqued that he should
gnore my presence altogether, and
l would take IL small and i'm
potent revenge by ignoring his,
slipped out into the garden and began
o gather flowers for the tea-table. l had
NV hands half full 1,yLo,, NJ. |