Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-08-25

The bell. He telt ike An e1VeSdropplnS
spy upon the unconscious girls. With
gut any knowledge Of the isolation and
mutual dependence of the two, the visit
ors perceived pathos in the scene-in
the clinging helplessness of one and the
brooding tenderness expressed in the
slose clasp and bent head of the other.
The singing ceased instantly at the
sound of the gong. "By Georgel what
An alarmi" muttered March, discounted
lby the clang succeeding his touch.
"And gave 1t such a genteel pullP'
His attitude was apologetic still, when
Mr.. Wayt's wife's sister opened the
door.
81 seem fated to be heralded noisilyp
he said, regretfully. 81 had as little
Idea Of the tone Of your door-bell as you
had of the power of Thor's lungs. Miss
Alling, let me introduce my sisteri She
gave me no peace until brought her to
see you"
May extended her hand with unmis-
taxable intention of good fellowship.
81 scolded him for stealing a march
upon me this afternoon while I, like
Idutiful Christian, was in church," she
said. Her smile was her brothers, her
blithe, refined tones her own. "But
mean to improve my advantages the
more diligently on that account"
The genial persiflage had bridged over
the always-awkward transit from front
door to drawing-room when the host is
the conductor. 1t was the more embar-
RAISING in this case because the two
meagerly furnished parlors were I'M
lighted except as a glimmer from the
hall-gas added to the sense OF space and
emptiness.
ALLOW mer' March took from Hetty's
fingers the match she had lighted, and
reached up to the chandelier. The
white illumination flashed upon a pleas
ing study Of an up-looking manly face,
with honest, hazel eyes, dropping mus
tache and teeth that CLEANED in the
smile attending the question: II hope
your niece is none the worse for her
fright2"
THANK you'll / think not. She is
rather nervous than timid, and not
usually afraid Of dogs"
IL hope we can see her tonight"
May took up the word. my brother
says she is such a dainty, bright little
creature that I am impatient to meet
her."
Hetty's eyes glowed with gratitude
and surprise. No other visitor had ever
named the afflicted daughter of the
house in this tone. The frank, cor
dial praise kept back no implication Of
plying patronage. Mr.. Wayt's wife's
sister had knocked about the world
of churches and parishes long enough to
know that the perfect breeding which
ignores deformity without overlooking
the deformed is the rarest of social
gifts. In any other circumstances, she
| .,,6
iect Hester to the scrutiny of stranger.
AS 1T was, she hesitated visibly.
"She Is seldom able to receive COM
pany in the evening. But will see how
she is feeling tonight"
She had remarkable self-possession,
as March had noted already. She got
herself out of the room without num-
BILE or halt. She walked we'll, and with
o single eye to her destination with no
, difident conjectures as to how sne
, moved or looked. March had keen per-
captions and critical notions upon such
points.
What an interesting-loolzing girl"
observed May, in an undertone.
! And March, as cautiously-"I hope
| she will let us see the little one! She is
the jolliest grig you can conceive of"
t Both tried not to look about them while
waiting for the hostess return. The
| place was forlornly clean, and the new
, carpets gave forth the ungoodly smell
Of oily wool nothing but time and use
. can dissipate. Plaintive efforts to abol-
| ish stiffness were evident in chairs
grouped in conversational attitudes near
the summer-fronted fireplace, and a ia
J BILE pulled we'll away from the wall, with
1 | l.. 1k 1ryty, oh nm
, it. March could fancy Hetty doing these
r things, then standing disheartened, in
r the waste of Moquette, under the con
/ seriousness that there was not one-fifth
> enough furniture for the vast rooms
> At this point, he spoke again, subdued
ly:
> ''What possessed the church to build
these desolate barns and call them fam
: lily parlors2"
! May was parish worker, and looked
> her surprise.
< "a parsonage must have plenty Of
l parlor room for church sociables"
l "Then those who use them ought tx
a furnish them. Or, say! it wouldn't be
j. amiss to keep them up as show-place'
r are abroad-by charging a shilling ad
i, mission fee."
s Hetty's return saved him from de
l served rebuke.
Q 'My niece will be very happy to SET
8 you," she reported, rather formally, he
eyes darkling into vague trouble O.
I doubt as she said it. On the way acros
+ the hall she added hurriedly to May
1--WE never overpersuade her to NEE
/ strangers. In this case there was NJ
z need"
Mays gloved hand sought hers with 1
swift, involuntary gesture. 1t was
3 the merest touch that emphasized tn
D low ''Thank your but both strucl
/, straight home to Hetty's heart. Tn
, March tact was inimitab1e.
Hester lay upon q lounge, proppe'
into sitting posture with pillows. He
: hair and drapings were cunningly dis