Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-19

who she was, asked hlm 0 introducs her. "As ws arc to be neighbour" :" ahe added, in Q voice as pleasant e her brothers.
 Neil went through the ceremony, his voice lazy and rather naughty, but tho color mounting slowly into his face. "Mr. Jeffrey, Miss Chester" he ended, as the tutor bowed low before Lima
 Then Neil Athelston's eyes filled with great surprise, for he had never before introduced two people who received his introduction as did these two. And yet he could not have told how this was. if he had tried. A something quite inde- finable there was in the gaze of each. Was it fear, or was it only astonishment?
 "Mr. Jeffrey, Miss Chester." 3 The words were scarcely uttered, when Lima shivered with an uncontrollable suddenness. MT. Jeffrey had left the door open, and the chill night wind crept in. Quietly he moved from Sir Neil's side, and shut the door then, re- turning, looked full into Lina's small, white face, as if questioning her in an eager, unintelligible silence.
 "Mlss Chester feels the place chilly" |" he said and Lima slid her travelling cloak over her hands, which were clasped rig idly together,
 q am waiting for you, Miss Chester, ' pleaded Sir Neil, trying to hide the real anxiety with which he spoke.
 1T am waiting for the hy," she an- swered. calmly ignoring his words.
 "And we must go, too, Alick," said Mrs, Esdaile to her brother. Are you ready3'
 "Quite ready" rejoined Col. Stuart. who, for the last minute, had been curi- ously watching Jelfrey's face. "Come, Jack, jump up to youi seat"
 Just as the carriage from The Anchor age left the station-yard, the hotel fly drove up, and Lima took her place. The men were putting her boxes on the roof, when Sir Neil, who had stood at the door ever since he had assisted her in, spoke suddenly to his groom.
 "I say, Ridley, drive on with the greyhounds; they want looking after, and they make the dog-cart deucedly uncomfortable. I'll come on after you. Make haste"
 And the next moment, easily and pat ronizingly, he had taken his place beside Lima.
 On every subject that occurred to him he talked, through that drive in the closed fly, which, in itself, was sore penance to him. Perhaps he wished only to amuse her, and shorten the dis tance for her; perhaps-and this was likely to be far nearer the truth-only to smuse himself, If he could, by drawing some few words from her quiet, beauti- tul lips, or making her eyes turn to his, As they had turned only once.
 But all his efforts were in vain. Ex- cept cool monosyllables, or an occasional indifferent remark, Lima did not speak at all and never once did she turn her eyes upon him from the moment the fly left the station till it stopped before the portico at High Athelston. The foot men, standing at the open door, with the rich light from the hall fal1ing upon their powdered heads, saw with intense and speeohless astonishment that it was their master who issued from this thoroughly-to be-despised vehicle, and turned and offered his hand to lady saw, even with greater astonishment, that she passed it by without noticing it.
 "Of course, the poor thing-only . companion, you know-was to confused to know what to do. She actually walked up the steps, leaving him to fol low. He might we'll look angry and dis 6O6GSNs W AuG U AAGbA0 uEIoOuAU 0AO WUo pretty. though-very prettyl only
 Thus the twin Mercuries while sh Neil Athelston, following the slight, quiet figure into the brilliant hall, wa. puzzled in his thoughts as he had moi been puzzled before.
 What was there about this girl which made him feel so unusually strange Why was she not awkward and sly in Uni. first introduction to his magnificent homep Why, she entered it with just such qulet grace as he could fancy its | young mistress what 8 ridiculous thought
 Where's my lady, Martini" b. | asked, as the butler came toward them | looking quite ss much . gentleman c! Sir Neil himself, thought Lima, in he | ignorance and bitterness.
 "My lady has gone to her room, believe. Sir Neil. She bid me tell Mis- Chester that tea iA served for her in th' blue morning-room."
 "Win you not dine, Miss Ohester2 interrupted Sir Neil, eagerly.
 'I would rather not" said Lima shrinking hastily from the idea of dining with him. "I would rather not" | She never attempts even any excus for her avoidance of me-" thought Neil and his lips frightened rather cruell, under the handsome light mustache.
 Drawing of his coat leisurely, he watched her pass on up the broad lighted staircase, and he thought that though SO thoroughly at her ease, ther, was a certain shrinking in her eyes an' step, as if she avoided even seeing tn. handsome place further than she need certain nameless shrinking, quit apart from any ahyness.
 CHAPTER IT.
 The blue morning room. in whiol Miss Chester's tea was laid, was smal luxurious apartment, rarely used by Si