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

vas pause and sound Is Of an OPEN |
ing window; after that Schubert's beau
tiful ''Aufenthalt' rang out clearly
and held me as if enchanted. It must
be Mr.. Rayner come back. / had not
thought, when he said he played the
violin, that he could play like that. l
must hear better. I shut up my half
finished letter hastily in my desk and
slipped downstairs with it. I stole
softly through the hall, and as passed
the drawing-room door Mr.. Rayner,
without pausing in his playing, cried:
'Come in!' l was startled by this, for
l made no noise; but put my desk
down on the hall table and went in.
Mrs. Rayner and Haidee were there,
the former with 4 handsome shawl,
brought by her husband, on a chair be-
side her, and my pupil holding a big
wax doll which she was not looking at;
the child never cared for her dolls.
Mr.. Rayner, looking handsomer than
ever, sunburnt, with his chestnut hair
in disorder, smiled at me, and said,
without stopping the music:
81 have not forgotten you. There is
a souve,air of your dear London for
you,'' and nodded toward a rough
wooden box, nailed down.
opened it with much difficulty; it
was from Convent Garden, and in it,
lying among ferns. and cottonwood,
were dozen heavy beautiful Marshal
Mel roses. sat playing with them in
music and flowers, until Mr.. Rayner
put away his violin, and rose to say
goodnight.
''Lucky Beauty?" he said. laughing,
as he opened the door for me. There
is no beast for you to sacrifice yourself
to in return for the roses"
1 laughed back and left the room,
and, putting my desk under my flow
ers, went toward the staircase. Sarah
was standing near the foot of it, wear
ing a very forbidding expression.
$50 you're b, witched tool" she said,
with a short la, gh, and turned sharply
toward the serN ants hall.
And l wondered what she meant,
and why Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner kept in
their service such very rude and dis
agreeable person.
CHAPTER V.
The next day was Sunday, to which
[ had begun to look forward eagerly,
as break in the monotonous round of
days. After service 1 heard Mr.. Ray
ner telling the doctor and two of the
farmers about the races he had been to
the week before, and of his having won
fifteen pounds. He asked Mrs. Reade
| whether her husband was ill-as he was
not at church-and did not seem at all
affected by the cool manner in which
| she answered him.
81 had the pleasure of lunching with
| relative of yours, Mrs. Reade, on the
course at Newmarket last week-Lord
Bramley. He is a cousin of yours, is
he not?"
Hardly cousin, but he is connected
with my family, Mr.. Rayner,' she an
swered, more graciously.
| ''He thinks more of the connection
than you seem to do, for he asked me
| particularly how you were. told him
you never looked better than when
saw you last"
| And Mrs. Reade was still talking tc
Mrs. Rayner, with more affability il
/ her haughtiness, when Haidee and
started on our walk home.
At dinner Mr.. Rayner gave us par
| of their conversation, with an excellent
parody of the lady's manner and s
| lulAy eNdSScIdIlOu VI luc llululllCy "
his own.
On that afternoon was scarcely out
side the gate on my way to churcl
when he joined me.
mo, no, Miss Christie; we are no
going'to trust you to go to church by
yourself again.
When we passed the park, l saw Mr.
Laurence Reade, dressed for church
finishing a Ct gar, with his back agains
tree. l had never seen him lool
cross before, and thought it a pity
that he should spoil his nice kind face
by such a frown; and 1 wondered
whether he was ill-tempered, and,
not, what had annoyed him.
After seeing Mr.. Reade dressed TO
church l naturally expected him t.
come, and had an absurd feeling lik'
disappointment as the service began
and he did not appear. l caught my
self looking up whenever the doc
creaked and late worshiper came in
But he did not come.
The heat, and my annoyance owe
this absurd trille, distracted my atten
ton so hardly heard word of tn
sermon. Presently noticed that MI
Rayner. who always looked more de
vout than any one in the church, wa
|
remarked, as we were walking HON
: after the service, that the sermon wa
good of its kind, had to turn m
head away that he might not see m
smiling. But was not quick enough
- didn't say what kind, Mis-
| Christie. l may have meant it wa
good as lullaby. Are you shocked?
| 80, no, Mr.. Rayner!'
I And how did you like the sci
monp"
: CT wasn't listening much, MI
: Rayner,"
Not listening! A religious littl
l girl like you not listening! I'm sui
prised-I really ann
J His manner grew suddenly so grave
and he really seemed so much SUI
, prised, that 1 felt called upon to max
[ sort of profession.
I'm not really RELIGIOUS" I sale