The morning call., 1890-04-02

Nigel was not a man to be struck by
pretty faces, yet every detail of her sur
roundings remained with htn-the sunlight
flooding the pleasant room, the mealy, scat
tered gold of the lilies cups, every little
gesture of Georges, the way he sat down,
and his short, abrupt sentences were en-
craven indelibly upon Nigel Hayward's
memory.
Usually he was SO ready to make allow
ances, but in that fragrant atmosphere he
felt out of tune. His friend Jared upon
him perpetually. He could not help Won
deriug whether Violet was conscious, too,
of his growing dissatisfaction. whether she
was satisfied herself?
1t was most unreasoning thought; Nigel
drove it away with an effort, and endeay-
ored to behave as usual, but his eyes kept
wandering away to the further window.
When Nigel took his leave he had never
spoken TO her, scarcely looked at her be-
side that once yet he carried away never
to-be-forgotten memory of her face, the
deep sheen of her hair, the likeness to his
little sister, who had worn that self-same
smile.
The presence of Nigel Hayward made a
new element in their life at Neale Bay.
From the time of his coming Violet was
conscious of vague sense of unrest. The
doubt grew upon her whether 1t were well
to accept Georges unwavering affection
when she herself had SO little TO give in re-
turn.
She considered the question all ways,
and came to the conclusion that other girls
loved more when they were engaged. And
then-astonishing discovery she became
certain that in those first early days she
had cared more
Violet was very inexperienced; this en-
gagement seemed only little while ago to
| have made life quite plain aud and simple
! to her, yet here she was, involved in fresh
| difficulties, There seemed no way of draw
| ing back. Scarce knew if-had there been
tol,n hsya had daai nnnnph n
| take it.
Once. however, half in fun, with, never
| thelesS, grave undercurrent OF earnest,
| she did say to George that she was not good
enough to be his wife: and then they had
! ended by both laughing over II as Joke.
Georges puzzled bewiderment had quite
! destroyed her gravity. Still, Violet did not
| feel any nearer being satisfied, and the
trouble grew upon her daily-a rather vague
| underlined distress, which she hardly could
] put into words, even to herself.
One Sunday evening Nigel preached a
sermon for MI. Sale, who proved to be an
! old college friend. As Violet listened the
| thought dawned quite suddenly upon her
| that this man, who was so much in earnest,
! who did not take life lightly like everybody
| else, who, besides, was Georges friend,
| could help her.
20 She understood more than ever now,
| while his clear utterances, in which there
| SEEMED no fault or flaw, fell upon her ears,
Il uUN III Was budl lDdI carly DIP
I preached, on Georges side, almost to idol
airy, 80
Chance appeared to favor her idea. They
came out together into the dusk, stumbling
6oyer grassy mounds. Mrs. Landon was
| tired and anxious to reach home. She took
4 George arm, while Violet volunteered to
wait for Nigel When he. came down the
] dark church and out into the star-iit night
| he found her standing in the little porch
alone.
. The others have gone on" she eX-
| plaine5ls Aunt May was rather done up.
| We shall soon oyertake them"
| Nigel was very silent, and cold to de-
gree
is he vexed with mep' Violet wondered,
''cr only thinking still of his sermon?"
They passed, side by side, among the
! graves and along the cliff.
| 1t was a perfect night-the moonlight lay
! in broad patches below on the sea, the
| furZe-bHshes threw sharp, defined shadows,
rarely seen except in clearer foreign at
| mcsphere-and Nigel could not suppress q
wild, tumultuous joy at the fact of sharing
the beauty of it al with her alone.
Atlast Violet began, rather hesitatingly.
| 1t had appeared easy enough a minute ago.
| Still, she must not waste the opportunity,
for already in front she discovered the two
| other figures.
"Mr. Hayward" she said, there is some
1 thing | wanted TO ask you. L am troubled
with a great difficulty, like you spoke of
| Just now; and perhaps you could advise
| me-. l wonder whether | love George Laa-
don enough to be his wife!"
Nigel gave low. suppressed exclama-
ton, but did not speak His face changed
! yisiely.in the moonlight.
II know" Violet went on, gaining cour-
| age, 1T is perhaps wrong of mel who
| ought to be the lmppest girl in the world :;
| dteant onee-we all dream such dreams
! you knoW-Of-Of-a different sort of man.
/ slilfe is so verv di51icult, and | am afraid at
| times whether do love him enough"
/ Again Nigel was silent; his face turned
/ away,
He knew quite we'll that she did not love
/ George Landon in the best and highest fash
! ion sand yet, alas ! what could he do, seeing
he was Georges friend?
]. Violet felt sure now he was angry; her
face oyershadowed.
II have yeXed you," she said, deprecat-
ingly. You think livery wrong OF course
youare Georges rriend.''
Yes, he echoed, and his voice had
| changed rs well as his face, and grown
| strangely temDestuOus. Il am Georges
| FRIEND"
Something about him, in gesture rather
than word, almost frightened her. She
| gave faint SILVER, though il was so warm.
Nigel bent forward, drew the thin shawl
| tighter around her shoulders with strange,
tender severity. and at that little kindness
/ her fear died away.
"YOu think / ought not to feel any
| doubt? she pursued, still uncertainty.
| Nigel turned toward her once more. His
tone sounded quite natural and very calm.
Child, this is a question every woman
can only answer for herself. |, as you say,
! am Georges friend. | know all the sterling
worth of him; l, least of any one, am
| able to judge. Yet peoples faults are of
| different sorts, and perhaps his are what
we might call surface ones"
He spoke now to counsel and advise. as
! he might to his own sister; and he went on
to tell of little incidents in Georges life,
4 touches Of real feeling, peeps of the under
current OF worth breaking upward.
/ - In he Enntintted