Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-28
THE ATHELSTONS;
VICTOR AND vANou1sHED.
BY MARY CECIL HAY.

"Not as being fixed for any particu- lar date but hear of it oftsn." she answered. "LAdy Athelston is fond enough of talking about it. What . day of schemes accomplished and hopes realized it will be for heri won't 1t, Alick?"
 "What were we speaking of beforef Oh l Jeffrey. Now, much as you dis like him, Adelaide, you must own he h . gentleman.
 "It depends . good deal on ones translation of the word," shs said. "! the true metal, Alick. But, still" she added, quickly, "I will own he is what people call gentlemanly. never saw any one who could make himself moro irresistibly agreeable, nor one who could oftener make you agree with him ID spite of your better sense and judg' ment."
 "You are going too deep for me, dear," put in the Colonel, laughing.
 "Nonsense It's only because you are so determined not to speak against any one. It is 30 like you, Alick. We'll, I'll say no more than this wish he were not admitted to be the friend of
  perhaps, by nature, but know that ey- cry hour spent with Eustace Jeffrey makes him a worse man. And wish the period of his engagement for little Jack were over. cannot bear to break it-l mean cannot bear to ask you to break it.
 "No, dear We engaged him for two years, and it is but just to treat him Gin our minds, of course, I mean; there is no fear of your not doing it other ways) as generously as we can for that time. Jack is SO continually with you, and so young, that no influence, such as you dread for Sir Neil, could injure him. And Jeffrey is really an excellent teach or, as far as we can judge."
 The "excellent teacher" with his head bent, and his hat low over his eyes, was making his way just then along Neither Lane, in the rain and the dark ness, walking from the town toward the two cottages which stood halfway to High Athelston. The overbranching trees oply extended so far as the lane skirted the park, so that from Churchill to the cottages the road was open to the sky. Jeffrey wished tonight that it had not been so and yet he cared noth- ing for the swift, light rain which fell upon him unhindered.
 He passed the first cottage, only just glancing at the closed door and shut tered window; then he trod with eau path, and rapped at the door of Mrs. tall woman, with faded face and fierce, sharp eyes, opened it to him only a little way:
 "What is it ?" she asked, tartly.
 Jeffrey pushed back his wet hat. He had winning smile and a pleasant voice and the irresistible force of both of these was brought to bear upon Dor cas.
 "Will you kindly tell me if MT.
 "Lives here No, thank God he does not /" And the door was shut abruptly in MT. Jelfreys face,
 The sharp retort and sudden repulss took his breath away but he was not one to be nonplused for many minutes at time. Dorcas had hardly settled herself to her work again, when he sum- moned her with another rap ; and, with out waiting to see whether she would answer it or not, he softly opened the door, and entered the room with his hat in his hand.
 "If you will allow me, I shall be very glad to shelter here few minutes," he said, courteously. at is raining heav- fly, and have no umbrella. Will you allow me?"
 "The rain off your hats falling all into the kitchen" remarked Dorcas, shortly.
 He gave it, with bland apology for troubling her, and then sat down with the utmost ease in the prim parlor.
 There's no objection to your shel- tering," said Dorcas, looking rather favorably upon him when she returned, but still evidently resenting some injury which she felt ranking " but I thought you said you wanted that man next door. Shame it is, too, that he sho&ld be next door,"
 "Oh, no, do not want him." smiled Jeffrey, pleasantly; "I only needed shelter; and, as l happened to know his name, thought it better to ask him in- stead of troubling you"
 "Neyer mind the trouble, ,; muttered Doroas, gTufiy, "1 suppose, '" she oon- s:.sea s:.::ea With intense acrimony, che could have given you shelter, but I don't suppose there's anything else he could have gwen you.
 Poor, understand" put in Jeffrey, in . tone of encouragement.
 Poor Ugh, I've seen poor folks 9itsn enough 10 know them by sight, but that's not his disease. He's born miser. And, can tell you, half-uad miser, forever singing and making noises with iddles and things, and laughing and knocking about, is not just the right sort of neighbor for a quiet, order ly,woman,"
 Indeed, he Is not" assented Jeffrey, readily, suppressing tho smile which must indeed be. as you say. half mad. I'm sorry for his child" "' ''
 ,"Sorry for him2% echoed Doroas, shrilly; "he's not the one to be sorry for. It's more natural to be sorry for those he worries and torments to death."
 CT almost wonder that Sir Neil Ath- elston let Col. Stuart have the cottage for them,"" said Jelfrey, with intense sympathy; Che might have thought