Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-05

ONAADAOAACAs1 WAAoA A4u1y 0hhO1bbOn IN fer too inert to give them. Poor lady ahe forgets the time when for her swe two of the world were not exactly her self and her grown-up son. So you see" continued Marjorie, still more easily, as Lima came toward the fire in her morn ing dress, "being so versed in these matters, understood exactly how Mar garet would enjoy little Irritation. Be- side that, understood how my dearly loved sister would enjoy spicy gossip with our maid, and growing happier and happier She more scandal Browne con- densed into the time. Bah isn't it an unwOmanly thing at least, I mean, isn't it detestably womanly thing-to listen by the hour, with watering lips, while your servant tattles treachery about your own friends, lowering not only her and yourself, but lowering, too, all mattresses forever in the girls eyes? And, beside that, I understood, Lima, how myself should enjoy quiet rest here until you come, and then a cheer. ing talk with you, my little friend"
 Marjorie had risen now andwas stand ing on the rug opposite Lima, her eyes unspeakably gentle and pitiful in their questioning.
 "But-but I am so miserable !" cried Lima, impetuously, pushing her hair from her temples with the air of utter bewilderment which Marjorie had mo- ticed before, and which it grieved her inexpressibly to see, now that the white face was so full of helplessness and real despair.
 "Have you failedP" asked Marjorie, in O whisper which sounded almost cheerful because she made such an ef- fort to prevent it's sounding hopeless.
 "I-I have-more than failed; worse than failed"
 "Then the letter is posted, Lina?"
 "No," she answered, looking into Marjorie's eyes with wild, startled gaze, "no but Mir. Jeffrey has it"
 How was that?" asked Marjorie, letting no surprise appear either in her voice or eyes, for it really frightened her to see the terrible anguish on the face before her.
 "I don't know, yet" said Lima, very low, groping, as it were, in . great vacant darkness, and still gazing into MArjorie's eyes with the scared glance which seemed to search for some gleam of light to help her. "I left it in-the cottage, and before reached here, he overlook me, and-he had the letter, he told me-"
 "But did not give it to youP" ques- toned Marjorie, still calmly, though the words sounded as if they came through her closed teeth.
 "And T." continued Lima, as if she heard or saw nothing but that of which ahe was telling. "I forgot everything and pleaded, but he would not-he NrN Nnf TNNIA
 "I see, desr," put in Marjorie, i'm pulsively kissing the dark eyes which looked with such bewilderment into hers. "Don't look so, Lima. Let us talk of it quietly. Surely, surely, we can frustrate him. Close your eyes; I cannot bear their pain and fear. You put Lima into the low chair and knelt upon the rug beside her, "you mean he would not give it you unless you prom ised what he wished?"
 "Yes," answered Lima, speaking sharply, in her acute pain.
 "And-don't be vexed with me, Lima, whatever may ask-and IS it impossi- ble that you should do what he means?"
 1T don't know. Oh! that is the hardest of alto know" cried the girl, with great fearless sob.
 "I will not ask you," continued Mar iorie, with her hands on the restless fin gers clasped in Lina's lap, "why it would hurt you if that letter went. You told me this evening that you feared its going. That is enough for me to know now when l look into your eyes. It would hurt you if that letter went, and so we must pre- vent its going"
 Miss Castillain," whispered Lima, the words coming brokenly from her shaking lips, cit would not hurt me for the present only; it would wreck my whole life. AhI you can never know what it is to be utterly alone in all the big, cold world; and how hard, being so, it is to earn O home. Oh, Miss Castil- lain, all my life would be wrecked, and and"
 CT thought so," answered Marjorie, very softly. "It would wreck another life, too. I read that in your face. Lima, yon are sure my sister wrote it; not Mir. JelfreyY
 "Lady Athelston told me Miss Castil- lain had kindly written it for her," re- piled Lima, with slow unwillingness.
 "Pooh 1" cried Marjorie, with ring of real contempt in her voice, "don't hesitate to tell of her to me. What a comfort that she did it kindly! At any rate, then, Lima, that letter must not go; and MT. Jelfrey's conditions must not be met, whatever they are."
 "But, Miss Castillain, I must tell you what they are," exclaimed Lima, still with the look of terrible suffering in her eyes. "Please let me tell you what they are, because I feel as if I groped so blind ly, not knowing right from wrong, both are so terribly mixed"
 Then Marjorie, seeing it would relieve and help the girl to tell even little, said, with tenderness, just the words that Lima wanted.
 "Yes, it will be better for you to tell me what he wants, dear; l." she added, "haye known him so much longer than you have"
 "No," interrupted Lima, with a quick of her breath. "But, Miss Castillian, how can tell you what he said2 You will hate me for repeating his words."
 "NO," returned Marjorie, earnestly: "never fear that any of his words can move me to anger even with him, let alone with you, dear. No, indeed, they