Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-02-10

berry forp How had Mr.. Rayner seen
and recognized her without seeming to
look in that directionp Was there any
deeper meaning under the words that |
had passed between themP There was
suppressed passion in the woman's |
manner which could hardly have been
stirred by her masters orders to keep
to the garden paths and not to burn
| the toast; and there was a hard de-
cision in Mr.. Rayner's which l had
never noticed before, even when he was
seriously displeased. If he were to
speak to me in the tone that he had used
to Sarah, felt that should run away
or burst into tears, or do something
equally foolish. At tea-time Mr.. Ray
ner was as bright as usual, and laugh
ingly declared that they should never
trust me to go to church by myself
again.
That night l pondered Mr. Reade's
warning to me to leave the Alders, but
1 soon decided that the question was
quite impractical. For, in fact, there
was no tangible reason could offer for
wishing to 60. The dangers Mr..
not be mentioned so long as they ex-
listed only as his suspicious. My father
was dead and my mother had been left
with but little to live upon. She had
been glad to accept an offer to superin-
tend the household of a brother who
had recently lost his wife. My uncle,
l knew, would give me home while I
sought situation, but experience had
taught me how few people wanted the
services of "a young lady aged eight
cen who preferred children under
mendation it would be to have left my
first situation within month. So 1
decided to remain where l certainly
was. on the whole, well off.
The next morning l could not help
noticing how much better was look
ing than when I lived in London. In
stead of being pale had now q pink
color in my cheeks, and my eyes
seemed to look larger and brighter
than they used to- do. After min
ute's pleased contemplation of my
altered appearance I turned from the
glass in shame. What would my
mother say if she could see how vain
her daughter was growingP Without
Rayner was alone in the dining-room.
He put down his newspaper and smiled
at me.
Come into the garden for few
minutes until the rest of the family as
sembles," said he; and 1 followed him
to the lawn.
The morning sun left this side of the
house in shade. The birds were twit-
tering in the ivy, the dew was spark
ling on the grass and the scent of the
flowers was deliciously sweet
"Looks pretty, doesn't it?'' said Mr.
Rayner.
pretty! 1t looks and smells like
Paradise! I mean" I stopped and
blushed, afraid he would think the
speech profane.
But he only laughed very pleasantly.
Twas smelling a rose while 1 tried to
recover the staid demeanor cultivated
as most suitable to my profession.
When raised my eyes, he was look
ing at me still laughing.
You are fond of roses?''
.. "Yes, very, Mr.. Rayner."
But don't you think it was very
when her father asked her what he
should bring herp Now if you were
, Beauty what would you ask papa to
1, bring you? A Princc?'
,, l blushed and shook my head. mo,
, not yet said, smiling rather mis-
chievously.
"A ring, a bracelet, brooch?'
y "No. Mr.. Rayner. I should say a
; rose like Beauty beautiful Marshal
, Mel rose. couldn't think of any
a thing lovelier than that
+ That is large pale yellow rose,
isn't it? l can't get it to grow here. y
T We had sauntered back to the din
7 ing-room window, and there, staring
+ out upon us in a strange fixed way,
9 was Mrs. Rayner. She continued tc
t look at us, and especially at me, as il
fascinated, until we were close to the
| Wi Shn t,,rp far
q and when we entered the room the in
. tent expression had faded from hel
q lusterless eyes, and she was her usua
lifeless self again.
At dinner time Mr.. Rayner did no
q appear; l was too shy to ask Mrs. Ray
q ner the reason, and l could only guess
q when tea time came and again there
4 was no place laid for him, that he hac
7 gone away somewhere. l was sure o
r it when he had not reappeared the mex
" morning, and then l became conscious
# of slow but sure change in Mrs. Ray
h ners's manner. She did not become
" talkative or animated like any othe
;, woman; but it was as if a statue o
"a stone had become a statue of flesh
~ feeling the life in its own veins ant
Il grown conscious of the life around it
p This change brought one strange symp
!. tom; she had grown nervous. Instead
n of wearing always an unrutfled stolid
d ity, she started at any unexpecte'
p sound. This change must certainly,
If thought, be due to her husbands de
pafture; but it was hard to tell whethe
b. his absence made her glad or sorry, o
+. whether any such vivid feeling as glad
in ness or grief caused the alteration il
N her manner.
le On the second day of Mr.. Rayner'
- absence Sarah came to the school-roon
e. saying that a gentleman wished t
III speak to me. In the drawing-room
~ found Mr.. Laurence Reade.
II have come on business with MI
Rayner, but as he is out I ventured
r. trouble you with commission for hin
#. Miss Christie"
81 | don,t lno.1r o,,1,thipcr about h1S