Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-24
CRApTKR xxx

lEhe second volume of Q new novel in her hand. But. though she was highly in- terested in the fate of the golden-haired and angelic heroine therein portrayed, she went but slowly through the vol ume, because whenever she heard the sound of the hall bell vibrating through the silent old house she slipped it under the cushion of the couch, and leaned back, with her white hands lying on the masses of bright wools which were scattered in picturesque confusion on the rich folds of her black silk dress.
 No one, except theservants (who most | of them hated her with pious hatred), ever ventured to assert that Miss Gas | tillain was wearing mourning for MT. Jeffrey: but certain it is that since Fitz | Spendir had been pronounced guilty of manslaughter ct tho magisterial inquiry ct Churchill she hsd worn only this one black dress {" though she wouldn't If It was not Q handsome and becoming one," as her maid declared, with toss of her head). And, indeed, If abjuring all col ors constituted wearing mourning, Lou isa Gastillain did mourn for the man whom she delighted to fancy she had loved with an undying love. And, be- yond the black dress, she wore soF- rowful resignation on her face, c melan' choly droop in her ight-blue eyes, and a graceful inertness Tn her whole at- fitude wore them at least to all who
 called at Hawksdale in those days (and
 fhey were many, for the curiosity and
 sympathyof HighShire had been aroused
 by that scene at the mountain tsrn)j
 and, of course, no one saw the novel un.
 der the sofa pillow, or heard, either, the
 sharp words in the store-room, or the
 gossip ip the dreSSing-room.
 But there are few of us who could bear
 the examination of our skeleton closet
 by our morning callers; so we will let
 Louisa prsctice with impunity her little
 harmless 6ctioBs.
 This time, however, the book was put
 away unnecessarily, and the effect of the
 pretty hands among the brilliant skeins
 was wasted; for when the door opened
 it was only to admit Marjorie, although
 the step was so different from the light
 step which belonged to her that even
 Louisa had not recognized it.
 "Riding again p' she said, sneering 8
 little as she surreptitiously drew the
 novel from its hiding place. "What in-
 duces you to be riding forever ?"
 "What else is there to do?"
 Marjorie asked the question with an
 intense listlessness, as she stood oppo-
 site her sister. Her habit Dropped as if
 her hands were tired of it) lay in thick
 folds upon the rug, her whip was thrown
 upon the easy chair behind her, her
 hands were locked upon the carved old
 chimney piece, her eyes were fixed upon
 the fire.
 "What else is there to do 1" echoed
 Louisa. "Why, plenty of things, I
 should think. for girl like you. You have not been to the school for this
 whole fortnight. MT. borden will be astonished at our neglect, and I cannot
 those things again yet" "No," replied Marjorie, tersely ;
 " don't try. Let it drop" "But it is not right to let these things drop" put in the elder sister, resigned ly. "I never should, under ordinary circumstances"
 , "I shall be very glad when you feel : inclined to do them again, Louie, Mar jorie said, almost sadly, "and to take pleasure in them. But please don't ask me. don't feel it's of any use tc l do these things, as you say, unless one . feels sure they are henehting either one'1 ! self or others. know ] should not . benefit any one now not myself, for t should be chafng sorely all the time taught; not the children, for l should I f all. I could not even tell them what l p-a-t-i-e-n-c-e spells"
 Q "And so you find your time pass more [ prohtably, randomly riding about the a country alone, or joining Neil at some n dismal place among the hills Riding !. together as you used to do is different d thing from this"
 "Very different" assented Marjorie .- without raising her eyes. "And, really" Miss Castillian added 3 with acrimony, "I wonder you can ac n as you do, when you know how the
 Highshire people talk.
 "What sort of people ?" inquired Mar v jorie, hstlessly.
 r "And I doubly wonder" continued
 her sister, unheeding the remark, "hov ,; you can persist in it, when you must SC,
 what @ continual insult to you was Neil'i Q behavior to Miss Chester while she hve( > with his mother, and what double in IS suit now is his assiduity in searching fo d her himself, setting every tongue bus. Q with your name. As if it were no n enough, lamented Louisa, with disma o relish, "for me to be the subject o
 gossip and pity p
 d Mariorie's lips curled little, but stil 1t her eyes were not lifted. le "Why don't you take off your habi 10 DeIore you come 1n nere 1nqure' Id LouiSa. "Are you going to do so a g. all
 Id "Presently. Louie, has Col. Stua1 at been here to-dayT"
 re "No. WhyP
 "Because he said he hoped to come ,n If thought he had been prevented, m unused Marjorie, "I would ride on in The Anchorage before I take of m ,e habit"
 re "Well. I'm sue." eiaculated Louiss ly "I wouldn't ride after him as we'll g Id after Neil, if were you, Marjorie !; yo at do nothing else all day." ,g "One thing more" said Marjorie; !" on count the days as they crawl on, an as long most vainly for the months to fl
 till they bring March," %aS ask tbon whS' .Oa ar1wls STs