Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-10
THE ATHELSTONS;
 OR VICTOR AND vANQUISHED.
BY MARY CECIL HAY.

MISS CaSuualnf
 "Yes, officiating at Louisa's clothing. club festival, which was a most depress- ing success."
 "Did you aid in the depression or the success, Miss Marjorie asked Lima, laughing.
 1T didn't know what to do. Louisa said must go, so went but l could only conduct myself according to my dim lights, trying on the shawls and pouring out the tea. l should have come off with flying colors if there had been sufficient breeze to fly them. which is, being interpreted, if I'd been sufh- ciently appreciated.
 Glancing down into her companion's face, Marjorie paused a minute, as if her lips longed to utter other words but at that instant Lima looked up with a smile, and then Marjorie resumed her light tones.
 |" You should have seen one old wom- an, Lima; you would have laughed. She took her place at my table with the most resigned and absorbed expression of countenance, and then, signing very plaintively, helped herself to cake. While she gave me melancholy recital of her widowhood, she slid the cake into her lap and pocketed it and this she did over and over again, signing each time more and more heavily, and looking more and more lugubrious yet each time I handed her the cake she helped herself to the largest piece with much humility. Oh, Lima, I did won- der how far south her pocket extended Will you come with me across the meadow, and out into Neither Lane-to Mir. Spendir's cottage?"
 The question was asked so suddenly that it was no wonder Lima hesitated.
 "Do come," urged Marjorie. "I have a request want to make; and you know the little boy has been ill want to ask after him. Oh, Lima, it has been almost more than could bear, to go and see him through his fever, and to find him always, always reading aloud to his father when he was able. Such funny books. too I can't think where they got them, unless at the secondhand place in Churchill. And there was the father always sitting at his work, ready to listen and sympathize and talk, but always busy. Iknow he works too hard. He is etching borders in Miss Jorden's album now, and putting so much beau tifully-tine work in them, for hardly any payment, I know; and all the time the boy reads on and on. Oh, Lima, what Q funny life it is for them Think of his education and of Jack Esdaile's; and yet I know the artists boy has the better tutor. How wonder what their lives will be !"
 "They are all marked out for them, I suppose" said Lima, gently.
 "Oh, hush r cried Marjorie, in nasty earnestness. "That's terrible idea {; don't promulgate it. My one consola- tion at night is that tomorrow may bring forth anything"
 And so, talking of everything but that one sad subject which was uppermost in Mariolie's mind, they reached the cot tage.
 Miss Castillain errand to Mir. Spendir was to ask him to give her few lessons in drawingj and Lima stood by ill won- dering silence, to hear him pleasantly and courteously y refuse.
 "I really could not do it, Miss Castil- lain, however much I wished, he said. "I have seen a drawing of yours far better than any of mine, and"
 "And what, Mir. Spendir?" she asked, quizzically.
 "And this wish" he said, the scarlet rising slowly in his dark face, "is only continuance of the kindness you have shown us all through Jets illness. I cannot help understanding it so." HIS IS UOO Uh<l, "DGu l uAu b6G IuY heart upon it." fretted Marjorie; "and have been saving on purpose. If you only knew the difficulty of saving on a small allowance, Mir. Spendir, you would value my efforts"
 Again the red rushed over the artists dark skin.
 "I know that difficulty, Miss Castil- lain" he answered, quietly.
 Do you? Then will you consent to teach me?" the girl asked, eagerly.
 Il could not, " he said, with laugh which was not very genuine; cit would be case of Bleys and Merlin; please don't ask me"
 And Marjorie, seeing how much in earnest he was, though knowing that that was not his reason, let it pass.
 "I can, at any rate, spend on his child those savings which he is too proud to take." she thought.
 1T shall slowly saunter back" said Marjorie, when the girls stood at the gate before they parted. "Pve quar- reled with Louisa, and cannot with dig nity address her for two hours at least. Lina'-the words kept back so long were on her lips at last, while a great tenderness shone in her beautiful eyes- "Lina. I am always dull-and, forebod- ing hke-in the dusk of 6 November day; are you? and I feel now as if, at any minute, I might be suddenly made to face some unexpected tear or sorrow. So I want to be sure that you would be my firm friend through all, and that might, in all confidence, come to you for help and sympathy"
 "Oh, Miss Castillain," " began Lima, but some look in Marjorie's face, and some new tone in her wooing voice made Lina's words falter, and her eyes grow sad and wistful.
 'And, Lima, before we separate vii you promise me-oh, promise, dear, a' I have promised you-that if any unex pected danger threatens you, you vii come to me, just as shall come to you and let me help and sympathize witl you-I will not say as sister would but as any one would who loved yor very truly, very trustingly ?"
 The thanks faltered on Lina's lips, bu she gave Marjorie her hand with a grate l r. ,.k