Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-05
a He said must oI Ioaano. tell

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 dropping lower and lower, and her eyes,
 SO dark in their sadness, wa derinR to
 the fire. ooh, Miss Castillain, you
 cannot know-you, of all the world
 "It is just of all the world who would
 be likely to know" retur ed Marjorie, calmly. "H He wants you to give Sir Neil encouragement, as they call it. Don't finch, dear; don't look so sadly shocked. would never let words of Mir. Jelfrey's move me were you. Lima, I've seen for To g time-for all this summer-that Sir Neil AthelstoA loves you. Don't interrupt me, tho word is the right word, and I am the right one to tell you at any rate," cor rected Marjorie, with great bravery in her shaking voice, "I choose to think so. Lima, I can see that Neil Athelston has never loved at all before this sum- mer. don't say what his love would be worth to any one perhaps it too much depends on who the z any one is; but know-and no one knows it as l know it-that be has never loved me as he loves you, and SO do him the justice to say that he can never have loved any one as he loves you. know it; can see it in his face always now I can hear it in every tone of his voice when you are present. You see don't finch from telling it but that is neth- ing. The simple fact stands as I have said, and Eustace Jeffrey sees it. Lima, in spite of the abhorrence I see in your face for this subject, in spite of your strong and natural dislike to Sir Neil Athelston, I have made you listen to this to prove to you that I understand that condition of Eustace Jelfrey's; and I know he will abide by it. I know he will hold to it like grim death."
 Why?" asked Lima, the vacant, wandering gaze once more fixed upon Marjorie.
 "Why!" echoed Marjorie, speaking so lightly that no sign was vis- ible of the scorn and contempt she felt. Because Neil wants but the slightest encouragement from you to violate un- hesitatingly the tie between himself and me, and that tie Eustace Jeffrey would use all his strength and skill to break at any cost"
 A little light of comprehension broke upon Iins's face.
 ''I knew he admired you," she said, trying to understand; "but thought he was-was going to ask your sister tt marry him.
 "Of course you did, and so he is,A laughed Marjorie "but only if his last scheme fails. This is his last scheme. and it must fail. We will frustrate both MT. Jelfrey's conditions. You shall not persuade Mir. Spendir to leave High shire; nor shall you let Sir Neil think that you love him, you poor little lonely girl l"
 And Marjorie Castillain, in her large and generous sympathy, took the ach- ing head within her arms, and actually shed warm tears above it.
 It is no wonder that should try to help you, is it. Lina," she whispered, soothingly; "when am the cause of the persecution you suffer ?"
 "Oh indeed-indeed, you are not l" cried Lima, earnestly. "You say it be- cause you are so good, but you don't know, and rcannot tell you, Oh, Miss Castillain, what must you think of me?"
 "Too much to tell you what it is," replied Marjorie, with ineftable gentle ness.
 "And you never ask me-" Lima went on, sobbing, "you never ask me how I could get Mir. Spendir to go away from here you never ask me what I know of him, what influence I have over him; you never suspect"
 '.Never," returned Marjorie, hastily, 'I trust you, Lima, because I could not help it if tried. can do nothing but trust you, dear. And as for him, does not Col. Stuart trust him Just as fully as I trust you? Doesn't he trust him be- cause he knows him? And, knowing him, it seems natural to trust and to like him. We'll. it is just as natural to me to trust and to like you. If you never tell n fhoY, ky>II tonight I shall still have utter confi- dence in you, my little friend"
 Then, still within Marjorie's warm and pitiful embrace, the girl-who could not even then tell the secret of her life wept long and unrestrainedly sobbing until the excited strength of the slight frame gave way. Marjorie let her weep and sob, only holding her close, and soothing words now and then. And when she was exhausted- yet relieved, and Marjorie knew it-she told her it was bedtime {; and, moving softly about the room in her beautiful flowing dress, and talking now quite easily and naturally, she brought at last one little gleam of hope to the white face which lay so wealily upon the cushion.
 Goodnight" she whispered, bend ing until the roses ln her hair touched Lina's eyelashes, and their perfume brought a momentary, inexplicable glad ness thrilling through her. as the sudden scent af flowers often will. "Good. night. Don't think of this again until and then it will all look clearer and brighter, dear"
 Hardly speaking, or accepting any help, when she went to her room, Mar jorie waited until her sister had dis missed the maid Ca right she always re- served to hersel), arranged her pillows and lain down. Then Marjorie came up to the bed, and, leaning with folded arms upon the curved foot-rail, looked at her sister with pleading wistfuIness which was new and strange on the gay, careless face.
 Louisa was the beauty of the family there never was any question about that-but never at her best had she looked as beautiful as Marjorie did then.
 "Louie," she began, II very seldom ask you to do me favor particular, personal favor, do IF"
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