Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-23

A to be written in our prayer-books-in. larger letters than that e man may not marry his grandmother that . man may not marry the woman he does not love Don't you think sof
 'I hope there are few such engage ments, Miss Castillian, said Lina, se- riously.
 "Do you" inquired Marjorie, with Q curious questioning in her eyes. And I know there are many-more, at any rate, than you and I can dream of in our philosophy. There is something very amusing about everything connected with our approaching marriage, she continued, laughing. It is one of the few things from which I can glean joke or two in spite of papa and Louisa. It is fun to know that it is 50 widely pub lished that can never have the oppor- tunity of refusing any other suitof and it is fun to know that Lady Athelston is in Q mildly chronic state of dread lest it should not come of Poor. dear old lAdyl I wish 1 thought it would make her less deaf for her son to have wife he cannot manage, or that 1t would shed roses under her lazy feet Poor old lady I cannot help saying it, though I do re- ally like her very vel, and am sorry for her too-just as would be sorry to see a substantial branch of ivy, with years and years of life in it, obstinately de. terminsd to cling to hop-pole. "
 "Does that represent Sir Neil ?" asked Lima, smiling.
 "Nos the hop-pole has a wider sig niaoance. Lady Athelstoq n'4st cling to some one so. though her son will not act the oak which is needed, she still n1: k< hsro vorvfn~ fho by attaching herself to that Gorgon of a maid of hers, or to Louisa, who is suffi. ciently gifted to pour 8 constant stream of scandal into that blessed trumpet mean, that trumpet-and most espe- ciaIly of all to MT. Jeffrey, from The An chorage, who is more gifted still, in a hundred ways. He ie clever fellow, though, really, and wants-wants ope of MT. Castillain's daughters for his wife. /"
 "Which onep asked Lima, laughing at Marjorie's method of putting the case.
 "Well, it does not, perhaps, signify much, because their wealth is so nearly equal. He would like, at any rate, to have the two strings ready drawn to his bow, so that. VI hen one snaps, there is the other all ready. Don't you admire his infinite tact ?"
 If it is tact" said Lima, quietly.
 "Such tact I consider sumo,enr to place him on the highest pinnacle of greatness in these days. But I can never give you half an idea how exquis- itely clever MT. Jeffrey is. I can only hope the knowledge will gradually dawn upon you. It would take years to gauge the depth and the height and the width of his intellect. He is certainly only tutor, but-joking aside-he is wonder fully more than that, too and then he he is nndeliably handsome and it is not always that one can meet very handsome and very gentlemanly and very clever man, eh?"
 ''But you dislike him ?" inquired Lima, gazing eagerly, almost entreatingly, into Mariorie's face.
 "No," Majorie answered readily, "I do not; hate him. I have often said I hate Neil, too; but I am not sure about that, though they are friends. 'Show mo mans friends '-do you re- member 2-:and will tell you what the man himself is.' There is something, though, in Neil's nature which makes me think that he might be better just the same thing, however, may prove that he might be worse. I have never yet seen any better part dominant, and I have often seen the worse; so I am only getting deeper and deeper into the Slough of Dislike. How do you like him ?"
 = The question was asked so suddenly that Lina's answer sounded chill and deliberate after it.
 "Do not ask me, please Sir Neil Athelston and I arc such utter strangers"
 "You will not be utter strangers foi long, Miss Chester, Majorie said, won- dering little at the proudness of the reply. "It does not take long to sound the depths of such nature as Sir Neil Athelston's, think at any rate, as far as l have been able to judge"
 l should fancy you could judge best of all, Miss Castllain.
 "1 do not know I am not sure, but I fancy you may know him before do."
 She spoke quite gravely, though the speech meant nothing but random surmise. But so unnaturally Pained and proud Lina's face grew ct the few words that Miss Oastillaiin bitterly re- grstted thena. - !>' '~' S"We talk of our wedding sometimes" resumed Marjorie, in her own light tones again, "and we try to be SO anx- ious over 1t and fail so beautifully, l choose Africa for our wedding tour. be- cause other married couples don't go there, and because Neil likes to do what the Grundies do. rarely begin the subject, though. Do you know why 2"
 II can guess, smiled Iina,
 "Can youP That's right because l am not going to tell you-til have told Nell himself. Oh, if my father thought there was any hitch-I hope that is not slang in our prospects, he would lock me up for a year at least and Louisa would tell the world in a be- wailing tone, and be supremely happy. Miss Chester, haven't cause to love, honor, etc., my father. who never utters | loving word to me from morning to night, and remembers my existence just = an agent in this marriage; while hs knows the Athelstons are selfish, dis: sipated, unprincipled race? I do not think there Will ever be good and up right mater here until the name dies out and there does not seem much