Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-30

"Miss Aa1jcrie." said Col. Stuart, answerina qutetly ss over his face thers passed the sudden awaksning of great pity, "my remembrance of tAe islands has brighta1 aspect than thAk cAn only recall tho lake in the gardens q the abbey at Trescoe, with the ialAnds in its center-ialands within islandS- where tropical birds and Aowezs abound; where emus walk sedatoly under hedges of scarlet gsranium fifteen feet high. and among rare ice-plants of moro than 100 different huss and forms"
 Col. Stuart-who had evidently been talking on for sone purpose here, with . sudden movement, to help Lima Chester, for she had turned quickly away and begun to descend the path again.
 "Lady Athelston will want me. I think, perhAps," she faltersd, her lips twitching, and her eyes wide and miser- able.
 "Ws arc all coming, Miss Chestar," put in Sir Neil's high-bred, authorize tive tones. "Wait ono instant, please; It's . practical joke of . meal" he went on, laughing. "Come, Spendir, ws shan all be glad"
 Sir Neil Athelston could be courteous enough when he chose. and he was courteous then. But the artist quietly refused. They were all urging him when Eustace Jeffrey and Miss Castil- lain came up to the pool beside them, standing nearer to it than had any of them.
 "That's right" said Neil, waiting at Lima Chester's aide; "Miss borden seemed to think there was something about the water which should make peo- pie avoid it."
 "Haunted2" laughed Jeffrey.
 With Q sudden movement-haf of ter TOT half of dis9ust-Lina started back for just as his shadow touched the water a heavier one spread from edge to edge; and for 8 moment the suns rays were swallowed, and the pool was dark and treacherous as night. Only a minute, and the sun shone out again beyond the passing cloud, but the old look never came again to Lina's face through all that evening.
 for it takes but little to provoke laugh with 8 great fire burning up against the ardent August sky, and requiring con- stant rsplenishing; and half dozen gentlemen waiting with a gay attempt ct professional skill, and making the task as comical one as possible. Every joke passes muster then, and laughter is bright and quick and ready to wait even upon g triding jest which would be scornfily ignored ss too poor to pro- yoke a smile in the very same society at home. But when the noisy meal was over, and the twin canaries-who had had nothing to do-were preparing to enjoy . quiet tea together in the back ground, the party separated and then more than ono of them wished that they could have gone straight from the cheerful meal away from the hills alto gether.
 "How beautiful it is P Louisa Cas- tillain said, looking up to where the sunshine fingered on the hill-tops, while the valley lay in shadow. But she was left to saunter with Lady Athelston only,-and soon the beauty died out for her.
 "Lovely 1" murmured Emily borden, glancing coyly down into the chattering little stream which threaded its way through the moss, and touching with her parasol the glistening pebbles or shining leaves which lay below the rip bling surface. But Col. Stuart attended gravely to her rhapsody, and on the nar- now hillway above (so far away that tho sheep upon it looked Ike toys) Eustace Jeffrey and Marjorie Castilain were Ioveliness died out for her.
 Could it have died out moro complete ly even if her ears had detected the passionate, jealous, hopeless love which Eustaoe Jeffrey tried in vain to hide as he talked to this girl "a love that was cowardly in its despair and threatening in it's selhshness; love which he strove to make her feel in every word and look of his, yet which he felt 1t would be ruin to him to confess.
 And Marjorie walked beside him with utter, cold Indifference, too proud to at= tempt an escape, and too fond of fun not to glean certain amusement even from this tete-G- tete.
 They stopped for minute on the height and were looking round before they began their descent, when Jeffrey made plunge, over which he had hest tated for weeks. Inherent coward he must have been with all his daring, foR his lips shook as he slcvly uttered the words which he had rehearsed % many times, and on which he had built his last and most desperate hopes.
 am glad to see Aaoy Atnelsto0 en- Joy herself as she has done to-day, Miss Castillain," he said. "Though I know Miss Chester's behavior has worried her, she seems to be growing fond of her young companion. It certainly is not undeserved kindness with treachery."
 "Not at all," said Marjorie. plaoidly.
 "For this whole afternoon, and for many days before," continued Jeffrey, his voice little quicker and more eager, and his eyes turning from the distance with keen, intent look at her as he spoke, "I have marked it with pain and regret. Lady Athelston's companion is using every art and every vile she pos sesses to win the love of Lady Athel- ston's son. Is that just, is that honor able, for one who is living, as it were, on her bounty?"