Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-25

went ON. With inpatence; but 1t can. |
NOT Be that You really dishke me, for You
have no cause. I have always boon
been anxious to win your regard, and I
can hardly yet have seriously displeased
you In any way. You will not always bo
10 distant and disagreeable- beg your
pardon; but believe you wish to I've,
possible to you"
az think, Sir Neil, " said Lima, q tremor
In her low voice a. she tried to speak
with easy indifference, elf you had
been kind and courteous to your moth
er's companion from the first, because
she came Q stranger and alone to your
house /; II, when you knew I was unpro-
tected, and felt I was-was inferior to
the ladies to whom you would naturally
and willingly show Difference, or even
mere politeneas, You had shown me Just
Q little consideration or courtesy-in-
stead Of placing me at once, and in the
presence even Of your servant, in the
insignificant position which it evidently
seemed to you my only right to I'LL,
would have believed your wish, ex-
pressed since then, and 1should be hap
py and at home here. But never can
sion hxed itself 10 deeply on my mind !;
and I know that your politeness to me
now must be an effort. So"
"Oh, Miss Chester do believe me"
interrupted Neil.
But abe spoke on: gravely:
$50 I choose to maintain now, Sir
Neil, Just the position in which your re-
oeption placed me. This must be al
HWhat do you mean, Miss Chester ?"
he cried excitedly, "Do you really re-
sent, 80 cruelly, my hasty words in the
station on the night you arrivedP
ct could not help hearing them," she
answered, simply; "and cannot help
remembering them"
"Can not blot them from your MEM
ory by all my respect, my admiration,
| my"
Lima interrupted him, quietly.
"You have not done 80 yet, Sir Neil.
You knew that ! was waiting there,
alone and tired and cold; not lady Wis
itor to High Adhesion, to be met and
welcomed generously, only Lady Athel-
ston's new companion, kind OF servant,
whose duty it was to wait until they
whom you had nothing to do, while
your cares were all devoted to the dogs.
Is it odd that remember this, and think
sometimes how ignorantly I have fam
cied other than this conduct of q gentle
mnn9 The word is q pleasant word, Sir
Neil, and ones thoughts give it a mean
| ing, perhaps, which is incorrect.
| UThese words of yours are unjust and
cruel" said Neil, with angry emphasis;
"you make no allowance for me. You
never imagine how different from you
have been all my mother's-"
"Hush, please" interrupted Lima ;
"there is no need to bring others into
the conversation. I have no wish to
learn now, so late, that politeness is not
due to all women"
"Stin your words are positively un-
just" persisted Neil, vehemently. Tell
me one thing, are you SO proud to me
because-because they have told you OF
Lima raised her eyes to his in simple,
slow surprise and under their gaze the
scarlet rushed to the roots of his hair.
eff lam engaged, I may ask you to
be friendly with me, to-like me, and not
to spurn me when l. By heaven dc
not know what to say, for I admire
YOU with all my heart and soul and
do not believe admire is the right word
after all"
The half-frightened, half-angry dark
ening of Lina's eyes. still fixed upon hi
face, could not stop the unkind, i'm.
petuous words. Before they were all
uttered she had moved slowly away.
"Miss Chester" he cried, in ata a low e,
ANXIOUS yhispsr "s % please t~sn ttay Yard,
the servants stood about the carriage,
ana LIMA, always thoughtful, knew they
would wonder, and make their own com
mepts on his eagerness.
So they sauntered on, side by side.
easy and careless though Nell, still
feeling the hot blood tingle in his face,
tilted his hat % low 40 he could over his
eyes.
"I suppose you will be away all morn
ing" he remarked, moodily "and you
would not give those sleepy little beasts
one extra cut, If were to beg it of you
from now until you start"
"Not one"
The behavior of Sir Neil Athelstor
should not make her unhappy-no
more unhappy, at least, than she coule
help. BE should not even see thkt i
had any effect at all, except-excep
Just to prove that no words of his coul(
move her, or make her forget for ont
minute the position she occupied in hi
house the position which he had tacitl,,
assigned to her before he saw her.
"Domake haste home, though, really,
he urged; "I have nothing to do, ant
shall be looking out tor you"
"Nothing to do T. she echoed. "Yo1
are to be piied, indeed, Sir Neil"
~ suppose you would not have me g
! about among my men and ask them t
let me do their work for them, woul
you, Miss Chester ?" he asked, laughing
| "There is not one of them who ha
enough to occupy himself, not to spea
of occupying an able bodied fellow Liz
l me, too, and have no business of m
own to transact this morning. Some
how, the new early rising system leave
the middle of the day bare of employ
l ment. have few letters to write, br
they will soon be done, and then sha
only be wanting you to come back. Yo
! look very grave, Miss Chester, but rea
~ can not be what you seem to insil
uate ought to be. can not descen
| l. u