The Irish standard., 1890-11-29

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| he arrived In London about two days
after Mr.. limerick; yet although at
times they were not much more than
arms length apart, they never con-
fronted each other In the crowded
| streams of human life which surged up
and down the city's streets,
| Mrs. Delaro and Armida also returned
to London about the same time.
Eugene Breezy lost no time in calling
on them, and they expressed much de-
| light at seeing him; while he, on his
par5, was overjoyed beyond measure.
and seemed so pleased that he acted all
most foolishly. He at once made him
self exceedingly familiar and insisted
on accompanying the ladies every where
| they went
Finding that he would have no oppor-
tunity of speaking to Armida in private
| while in the busy, noisy city, amid the
incessant din of business, pleasure
seekers and callers, Eugene invited her
| to take trip with him as far as Rich
mond.
This beautiful spot was looking its
best. In true English fashion they
went to the ''Star and Carter" the most
fashionable hotel in the place, and par
took of tea served in the conventional
manner, with cold meats, chickens,
salads, watercresses, etc.
| Afterwards they walked up the hill to
the park, and there, while sitting on
the grass in place where they could
obtain fine view of that exquisite bit
of valley scenery, they commenced to
talk.
! Armida seemed as though she could
not take her eyes from the sight which
| lay before her 1t was not rugged or
romantic, such as Armida had known IN
her own country-it was purely English
"a grassy valley along which flowed
| the Thames, hemmed in by sloping hill
sides covered with parks and ancient
forests. She thought it was the most
| pleasing and enhancing sight she had
ever beheld. AS far as the eye could
reach the waters of the Thames could
| be seen winding through the valley
| like a silver ribbon. On the sides of the
quiet river the hillsides were covered
with luxuriant foliage of the brightest
hues, and the surface Of the river was
| fleclxed with little pleasure craft, whose
gay-colored canopies added to the bright
ness, ii not the grandeur, OF the scene.
! Now and then few bars OF a sprightly
catch or glee would be waited upon the
| gentle breeze from the pleasure-seekers
on the water below. Eugene allowed
Armida to revel in the exceptional
beauty of the scene for time and then
approached gently the subject nearest
his heart. He did it clumsily enough, but
with the utmost confidence that he
would be successful in his suit.
'Miss Delaro," he said, hesitatingly,
81 have brought you here to tell you
something"
Armida looked at him quizzingly, and
said: SIT must be something Of very
important nature if you found it neces.
sary to bring me all the way here for
the purpose of telling me-"
Yes, it is, indeed. wanted to tell
| you tina tt love YOU" he said.
| These were probably the very last
words which Armida would have ex
pected to hear from his lips, and all at
| once she recognized that she had acted
| unwisely. In the next few seconds she
| accused herself Of numberless unwise
actions to which Sue had never given
| thought before She blamed herself for
! leading this young man on to such an
| extent and in moment bitterly repent
! ed that she had not acted with more
| discretion. All these thoughts were
! chasing each other with frightful rapid
| ity through her mind, and she was try
| ing to formulate reply when Eugene
spoke again:
'May l ever hope for some return OF
| my passion?" he asked. Still Armida
could not answer. though she knew that
Eugene would in few seconds misin-
| terpret her meaning FOR silent consent
if she did not speak.
At last, with an effort, she gathered
| her senses and replied: Eugene, you
| have made a great mistake: such
thought has never entered my head. /
admire you, respect you, but love you
| oh--never. ..... r..
Then your actions have belied you."
said Eugene, rudely.
eff they have it has been contrary to
my Intentions" replied the beautiful
! girl. Il would not for the world have
misled you.'
'tThat is a pretty speech to make
now" said Eugene ''You ought to
have thought of that in the by-gone
months and not have deluded me-" he
continued in a passionate manner. and
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