Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-15

With Sarah had surprised me. / had q
ull view of his face as he passed. He
vas short, of slim, neat build, fair,
clean shaver. with grey eyes and an
mperturbable expression of face.
When they were opposite me they
nrned back, and just as they got to
.he harness-room door Sarah came
rom the house with the key and let
hem in and followed herself. And in
another minute Mr.. Rayner passed me
rom the road and let himself in after:
them.
This mysterious affair, which could
1ot understand in the least, spoiled
my dreams. l did dream of Laurence,
but l dreamed was carried away
from him by burglars.
CHAPTER XIV.
Laurence had promised to come for
me early next morning. So when that
time arrived put on my white frock
and broad sash of palest lemon and
pink that had been saving for some
great occasion. Then 1 slipped into
the garden to gather flower to wear
at my throat. purposely chose q.
faded rose in the hope that Laurence,
might notice it and get me one him
self to wear. But just as had done
this Mr.. Rayner came out and pro-
tested should not wear such a mis-
shapen thing as that. So he gathered
a lovely tea rose and found bit of
long soft moss to put around it. This
was not what wanted at all. Laur-
ence would never dare to suggest that
this was not pretty enough to wear.
After breakfast l went to the school
room with Haidee. 1 was not in my
usual instructive mood, and when I
heard the front door-bell ring I thought
Laurence had come for me and I
should soon see him. My heart sunk
within me when heard his steps re-
turning through the hall.
At dinner Mr.. Rayner said brightly:
"Mrs. Manners wanted you to go and
help her prepare for the afternoons
festivities, Miss Christie; but we were
not going to let you fag yourself out
laying tables for a lot of dirty children,
SOL said you should come later" felt
fer the moment that I quite disliked
him, though it was really only another
proof of his kindness and care for me-
After dinner, he himself accompanied
Haidee and me to the High Field,
where the bazar and tea took place;
Mrs. Rayner was not coming until
side the larger but less snowy marquee;
he looked very grave and gloomy, and
did not come forward toward us inn
mediately as had expected. Was he
offended because I had not come
earlierP Surely he must have known
how much l wanted to do so! His
elder sister, much to my surprise, came
out to meet me.
"We have been waiting for you such
long time, Miss Christie" she said;
ave have kept place for you."
followed her into the marquee.
We passed the places where cheap
toys, mats, dolls, crochet shawls and
other useful trifles were for sale.
But the custom of former years,
when the sale had been chiefly for tia
village people, was not forgotten; and
one end was piled up with underclotil-
ing and children's frocks and quau-
tity of cheap crockery and ironmon-
gerry, the contributions of Bcacons-
burgh tradesmen. At this, decidedly
the least interesting corner of the whole
bazaar, Miss Reade asked me if l would
mind standing.
"We close this part for you, because
you said you would like to have plenty
to do; and we know you are patient"
l think l would rather have sold
some pretty things too; but of course
somebody must sell the ugly ones, and
I looked carefully over the things un.
der. my charge when Laurence at last
strolled in and came up to me. He
shook hands with a loving pressure
but he only said;
GLOW do you do, Miss Christiei
They expected you earlier
nd I f,1t oh l1l r.
commonplace words and the '.Miss
Christie" that could scarcely an
swer. But. as he stopped to push I'M
der the stall box that was sticking out
he said, in a very low voice:
II must speak to you presently. You
must make some excuse to get away
and I'll watch you and meet you.
have some bad newS-at least, l dom
know whether you will think it BAG
news"
His whisper got so gruff during those
last words that longed to kncel dowr
on the ground by him and put my arm.
round his neck and tell him not t.
mind, whatever it was; but could only
say softly, as bent over bundle o
night-caps:
t'Of course shall think it bad if yor
do"
And he just glanced up with a lool
that made me hold my breath and al
most forget where l was, and his lip
touched my frock as he rose, and
knew that the bad news was still not S.
bad as it might be.
Just then Lady Mills and her party
arrived. I thought 1 had never seer
any one look SO winning as Lady Mills
herself, with her cream-colored gowr
covered with lace and punches Of pale
roses in her hat and on her dress. TIL,
ladies with her were beautifully dressed
too. There were a number of gentle
men with the ladies, and heard Lady
Mills say that. she had given then
strict orders that, after a certain time
they were to buy up all that was left OF
the stalls. As for me 1 knew the fint
| gentlemen would not want any thing
for sale at my stall, and so 1 wen
quietly on selling to the village peopl.
and doing very good business. How
ever, when the gentlemen did loung,
in. one who was tall and had a lon