Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-02-17

'You are right. You see. / resnec,
your scruples, II do not share them j
and he took out his watch. .It-fs ms,
quarter to twelve. BY the time have
got the boat ready it will be Monday
morning, and then there will be moth.
ing against it"
He had one foot in the boat before ]
could do more than say:
''But, Mr.. Carruthers, it is SO late,
What would Lady Mills say?"
III make it all right with Lady
Mills; and you are such a good little
girl that nobody will think any thing
did not understand this speech so
well then as did later; but it gave
me sense of uneasiness, which how
ever was but momentary, for he talked
and made me laugh until he had the
boat ready, and we heard the big
church-clock strike out twelve.
''Now, unless that clock is fast, our
consclenccs are free. Give me your
hand. Step carefully. There you are. !"
was in the boat, srSiling with pleas
ure. yet ready to cry out at every move
ment, for had never been on the wa
ter before.
'"There isn't much wind; but I think
there is enough to bring us back, so I'll
Just skull down the stream. Take the
llnes-so-an pull which ever one
tell YOU"
disengagcd my hands from the
shawl was shrouded in, and, over
whelmed by sense of by new respon-
sibility, did as l was told without a
word. And, as there was not much
steering required, l fell to thinking of
| Laurence.
"You are not thinking of me-" said
Mr.. Carruthers, quietly.
l started, blushed. and pulled the
wrong line at orce.
why is it," he asked. suddenly,
'that a woman never cares for the man
| who loves her best?"
doesn't she--evcr?' I asked anx-
iously.
IL am afraid not" said he, in q
very low voice.
but how is she to tell?'' asked,
TREMENDOUSLY.
II think she can tell best by the look
in his eyes when they are bent on her."
he whispered. with IL long steady gaze
which disconnected me-
turned away my head.
'1f, he went on, still in the same
soft voice quite close to my ear, .'she
raises her lips to his and then tries to
read in his eyes the emotion he feels
for her.
''But did," said quickly, turning
to him with my heart beating fast at
the remembrance of Laurence nrst
kiss.
Mr.. Carruthers drew back, s.roked
his mustache and looked at .ue IN
quite a different manner.
''4ou have not lived all your life in
the country. Miss Christie, think"
said he. dryly.
And 1 saw in moment, bv the
change in his look and voice. what I
had done. He had been making love
to me. while was thinking of nothing
but Laurence. l put out my hand to his
very gently. and said:
Don't be offended with me, Mr.. Car
ruthers. l dare say all you say is true;
but am so fond of him can not help
thinking he does love me best"
He took my hand and kissed it, and
then said it was time we were getting
back.
1t was just half-past one when we
ers proposed l should slip into the IL
brary and pretend l had fallen asleep
while reading.
But why should do all that?'' said
l. II haven't done any thing to be
ashamed of. You said Lady Mills
would not mind"
mo. of course not, nv dear child:
I'll tell Lady Mills al, about it. Don't
trouble your head about that She
won say word to you, and you need
not say word to her. But none of
the other ladies could have done thing
SO unusual as you have in your limo
and-and Sir Jonas would sc6ld
you for your rashness, and say you
might have taken cold.'
but it wouldn't look innocent to
pretend had never been out at all,
Mr.. Carruthers. And wasn't alone;
was with you-so I was all right. L
dare say Lady Mills has not gone to
bed yet. I'll 60 and sec."
And ran away before he could pre-
vent me. and found Lady Mills looking
anxious and grave.
'My dear child, where have YOU
been? We thought you were lost!'
Her voice trembled.
''Oh, Lady Mills, am so sorry! ] |
went on the water with Mr.. Carruthcrs.
He said you would not mind; but l
ought to have known better when it |
was so late"
Lady Mills face was tightening as
she looked at me.
Don't you know. my dear. that
MIR. Carruthers is one of the most dam
gerous men"
Then she stopped, for Mr.. Carruthers
had come into the room; and, turning
from me to him, she said, in such a
stern voice that it made me tremble:
lion LON; aren't yto,u9, just a little
And he answered, very gravely:
perhaps, but that doesn't m after.
This inquisition is out of place,
Stephana. for it is easy to see that to
that child night and day are al, the
same; and. if I had been my respected
father in iniquity himself, she would
nave been none the worse for my So
ciety. 1t was very sensible of YOU to
come to Lady Mills, child" said he to
me kindly.
And he shook hands with me. and