Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-06

himself very well.
They arrived about shutdown, and the
Colonel, being confined to his room by q
very sharp attack OF gout thsy had some
chocolate in Judith's Tea Caddy." Tho
hard times of sweet potato coffee and
blackberry-leaf tea had not yet changed,
and Judith's chocolate was above praise.
Boughton cast n rather curious look about
tho room as he sat down, and Judith hand
ed him one OF the wide, shallow cups that
he remembered 1t was all just the same,
all except the kitten in the Toby-collar, who
was now q scdate mRtron with two chill
dren, who had each inherited n Toby-collar,
as much like their parents as possible.
Boughton took one upon his knee, and
Dick captured the other, while Judith min
istered to their mamma with bits Of cake
soaked in the chocolate.
II say" remarked Dick, suddenly, "by
-! If it isn't only week from Christmas.
Do you remember the way you trotted off
and left us on Christmas Eve three years
ago, Cousin Phil! You do, don't you,
Judyr
Judith said: 'Oh, yes" that she remem-
bered, Of course.
Boughton, who was smoking one Of tho
Coloners old Cabanas, lazily stroked the
paw of the kitten on his knee with the unoc
cupied fingers of his cigar hand. Judith
thought she detected q smile-the wrath of
a smile behind the smoke haze. She drew
herself up, and u very naughty look came
over her fair, firelit features.
"Assurcdly remember it," said Bough-
ton, all of q sudden, when Dick, who was
busily engaged in tormenting his kitten by
pulling Its Toby-collar half over its ears,
had forgotten that he had put the question.
~ should think did" ne wenton. 1.-THE
thermometer was only fifteen above zero,
and the wagon got stalled in n snow drift
before we were half way to the station"
Judith again waxed perccptibly taller.
She would have added two or three cubits
| to her stature If she could have done so.
| She told herself that she hated her cousin
Philip Beughton very much indeed.
"Well, Jude certainly made a lovely
present out of you, anyway" laughed Dick.
| "And, must say, she appreciated it. I
don't believe It's been on Of her arm for the
last three years"
Boughton could not repress O quick look
| in Judith's direction. She was making a fire.
| screen out of one of her long hands, and he
could not SEQ her expression for the shad-
ows from her fingers. But, by and by,
| when Dick went out for something or other,
| he pitched his cigar into the fire and went
| over beside her.
Have you really worn that trinket all
| this timer he said, with more of curiosity
| than any other emotion apparent in his
| voice.
"Certainly," said Judith. stifHy. "You
were very good In sending it to me, and
was very rude to YOU"
She got suddenly to her feet and stood in
front of him.
"Cousin Phil" she said, in quick, vi
brating tone that he had never before
heard her use, II began three letters to you
about that, but l was ashamed to send
them. was afraid you would not read
Il them. was sorry-I-I am sorry" she
/ ended, under her breath
There was n pause, but before he could
| speak, she had turned back the sleeve Of
her gray gown from her pretty, blue
/ yeined arm, and had unfastened the dull
gold links, with their sapphire settings.
"Hcre," she SAID, holding it out to him;
"1-I ought not to have kept it. I-always
meant-to return 1t to you"
IBID youl" said Boughton, in q somewhat
| curious voice.
He allowed her to put the bracelet in his
hands, stood turning 1t about in the glow
from the fire which made daylight in the
big, blue stones
| "Of course you don't expect me to keep
itv he said at last, looking up at her.
"Whyl whyl" she said, rather blankly.
40, well, because like to fancy you more
consistent than other women, perhaps. You
know 1t wouldn't be very consistent to tell
me that you were sorry for rudeness in
one breath, and then to commit another in
the next. Would it, nowr'
"I-don't understand" said the Lady
Tongue, who seemed all at once to have
forfeited her claim to that title.
"Why, you see," Phil went on slowly,
cit isn't very civil to return gift. May
put it on for youI"
She stood perfectly silent for fully q mo-
ment. There was no sou nd save from the
softly cracking fire. Then she held out her
arm. AS he slipped tho bracelet back into
its place, he said, quietly:
"That was very pretty custom among
the Jews, was 1t notl-the custom Of having
betrothal bracelets"
Ibid theyl" said Judith, indistinctly.
"Why, you must have read Of it. The
lover put on the bracelet and then pushed
back his sweetheart vail for the first time
Your hair is like a vail, Judith"
sis itr' said Judith.
There was a hammering at her ears, ant
his voice came to her indistinctly. She fell
that he was drawing her nearer and nearer
to him by the arm that he still held, ther
his hand was on her hair pushing it bacl
from her temple and eyes. Then hi:
mouth upon her mouth.
She seemed suddenly 10 break from
spell. She pushed him from her witt
, might and main, and stood apart, shudder
z ing but erect.
. "You-you-think that you have only b
command, Sir Oracle" she said, in
i steady voice. She even smiled little
, Then abe took off the bracelet and laid it OIL
the table between them.
= 'Tcan not wear it" she said, very clearly
Sand dad will be wanting me now. Goo
night"
She was gone, and Boughton stood 70
several minutes with his chin set in hi
thumb and foreanger, looking down ut tn
pretty blue and gold kckshaw.
1t was just three days after this that
rather lively skirmish took place in tn
Mill-Meadow.
1t was an encounter between Boughton'
\ men, who were ON their way to join Genera
- at Gordopsville, and o regiment tina
had lost its way in following.
CHAPTER Y.
ACCEPTED AT LAST.
The popping of the rifles went on 70
some two hours, and then Judith coul