Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-28

rain and the darkness.
 And as he walked back very rapidly toward Churchill, he laughed once or 1 twice to himself, wet as he was, thinking how dexterously he had prepared for | the work that lay before him-the crafty, cruel work which his hand and heart were skilled to do and to design. CHAPTER K.
 May, June, July-the summer months have come and gone. A few hours more, and August, too, will have smiled her parting smile, and hidden her bloom ing, beautiful face. But in the light and warmth of this golden smile of hers there are enjoyment and festivity among the Highshire hills. Her last glance has to fall upon merry faces lingering among flowers in the valley; and the music of her soft farewell whispered among the leaves-is to mingle with the clear and jubi1Ant young voices on the hillside. But, before we join them there, in the beauty of the August after noon, let us look back a little, and see | how these summer months have sped. Lady Athelston has grown fond of her companion now yet in such thralldom is she still to her maid Fletcher that she hides this fondness carefully even from the girl herself. Always obliged to lean upon some one, Lady Athelston finds it pleasantest to lean upon Miss Chester, who is always so calm, 50 wise, so gentlei always knows exactly the right thing to do, and never makes fuss about doing it.
 Lady Athelston dislikes a fuss; if there be one thing capable of rousing Tn hay mind foolino vir ,rv1, k0 be called hate, tllen Lady Athelston hates a fuss. Fletcher, getting often now excited in her jealousy of Miss Chester, forgets this, and fusses in her duties; therefore, day by day. Is Fletcher undermining her own Influence; while Lipa-always patient, always self forgetful, always alive to Lady Athel- ston's wants and wishes, and always a true lady-is, day by day, as surely ln- ereasing and intensifying hers.
 Lima thinks nothing of this. Just as she is perfectly unconscious how her earnest thoughtfulness and simple wom- ans wisdom supply all the deficiencies of the lady she calls her mistress (and the while hides that they do sol, SO she IS unconscious with what true bravery and humility she walks that solitary path which she has chosen. She only knows that she is trying to do all she has undertaken to do, leaning on other strength than her own; and that the task is strangely heavy one, in spite of all.
 At first she thought she knew the only reason of this heaviness, and that it would vanish-at any rate, for n time when she and Lady Athelston were alone. So she looked forward to the xxyha Gir NoSl 1>o s,,T But when he went, the load, though she knew then that this pressing, over- whelming shadow of great, indefinable fear could never leave her, either while she lived in Sir Neil Athelston's house, or while the artist remained in that cot tage near. Yet, now that she knew he did SO, her one strong reason for remain ing was stronger tenfold than it had ever been.
 Sir Nell Athelston had not staid long ln London. In the very height of the season, from the very heart of its attrac- tions, he had returned to High Athel- ston, youchsating only the rather novel explanation that he had been "bored to death." His mother did not often trou- ble herself how to spend a season in London, and she rejoiced, with an utter ly childish delight; to think thpt he had found the great house in town too dreary without her..
 "Foolish boy" she said complacently to Lima. "He really had no other req son for coming back but that his old mother was here, and not there."
 And Lima, whose eyes had been proud and hot and angry ever since she and Lady Athelston had left the dining room, where Sir Neil had whispered ail- other reason to her even in his deaf mothers presence, was grateful that the words were not put as question,
 This was in May, and now she looked on to the time when she and Lady Ath- elston were to go to the seaside together. In July they went, but at the last mo- took them.
 Pickle and uncertain as ever," his mother said, with smile of pride and pleasure.
 To Lima this seaside life was worse -than the life at High Athelston. Here Sir Neil seemed to be able to take entire possession of her the greater part of every day. There were ladies there who knew him and welcomed him among them; yet he was alwa = disengaged to' walk with Lima, and c,,asl always man. sge that his mother should think him the same dutiful son, yet should not be able to interfere. in any way, with his selfish, pleasures. There were gentle men there who sought him, evidently accustomed to his prompt participation in any amusement which might be the fancy of the hour; yet he was always at liberty to ride, or drive, or sail with Lima, and no refusal or rebuff of hers daunted him. or stayed him. And what the world said, or what it thought, had ss little weight with him as had the whisperings of a conscience which could not quite forget that there was such . name in the wide world as Marjorie Cas- tillain.
 "What's the use of caring what's said about you P. laughed Neil, rather enjoy ing the banter of the young men with whom he was playing billiards. "You may fret yourself to a shadow in no time, if yon> care what the world says.