Evening journal., 1891-03-31


ceeded my eventful visit Did finally see |
signs of impatience in his manner2 |
touches Of manly intolerance at my treat |
ment? periods Of coldness in his general |
demeanorg Well, if / saw them, 1 chose |
not to see them; and so the days passed.
At length, one autumn morning, /
rushed into the room where mother was
seated, holding an open letter in my hand. |
"Oh, motherl motherl" / cried what
do you think?"
'well, Adag" was the placid question.
"You remember" / sped on, 'how, in
my last letter to Cousin Helen, jokingly
invited her TO Meadowtown? or course ]
never dreamed Of having her come and
just put in the invitation as q means OF
filing up my stupid letter, and now she
writes me that she viii take me at my
word--that she is very anxious to taste
real bit of country life before going back
to next winters gayeties in New York,
and-and-ohl she'll die Of modification
at the thought Of having her here!"
But have her l was forced to do, and
modification spared me any such terrible
result as that prophesied She came, look
ing the thorough lady she was, dressed
with suitable quietnese, and accepting all
our homespun hospitality with sweet,
thoroughbred lack of surprise.
u want you to appear your very BEST
l said TO Robert in the morning before her
arrival. Cousin Helen is very particular
and fastidious about gentlemen. She is u
great belle-and, for that matter, a great
beauty-and the least coarseness ia
mans manners or dress always shocks her
keenly."
Roberts brows darkened. had gone
too far. For the first time since knowing
him ! saw his handsome mouth take bit
ter, sneering curve.
Perhaps a clod like myself had better
not appear at all, +" he said, while your
paragon is here"
But he did appear that night. Helen
was very affably cordial to him. She
knew nothing of our engagement had
never mentioned word of it either TO her
self or Aunt Cornelia.
When Robert had left us that night and
we were alone together, she astonished me
by saying;
What charming man Mr.. Carroll isl
Why have you never mentioned him to me,
Ada? Has he been long in Meadowtowny"
''Oh, yesl Nearly all summer
"He comes of the CAROLS Of L., does
he notg'
Yes" said, little confused great
deal astonished "That is, his grandfa-
ther Mr.. Everhard Carroll. lives in L..
This Mr.. Robert Carroll is an artist, as he
told you, and-and quite poor"
"Oh, | know nearly all about his fam
ilyl" Helen said. His grandfather, Mr..
Everhard Carroll, treated him shamefully
| on account of embracing art as profession.
| The old gentleman is one of the greatest
millionaires in the country, and he has
| given out, believe, that he will bequeath
all his fortune to this Robert, his only heir,
| though he refuses to notice him while he
| ives-and for that absurd reason, tool Is
| it not wonderful what simpletons some
| people can make of themselvesg"
Very" l murmured. was more con-
fused than ever.
During the next four or five days Robert
| came constantly TO the cottage. Helen
| showed the most marked attention and
rapidly growing preference for his society
His manner was very courteous to me-
nothing more. ] could not complain, fol
had more than once pointedly limited tC
him that desired no mention Of our en-
gagement to be made during Helen Aber
crombie's visit.
Two weeks passed on. At the end O.
those two weeks / was sick, tortured az
onized with jealousy. 1t seemed to ml
that in every motion of Roberts and il
every sound of his voice l saw proof thai
he had transferred all his old allegianc,
from myself to Helen. And for my owl
feelings, every vestige of my own slumber
ing, maltreated, half despised love revived
under the present shock of circumstances
blamed myself for the past--I hated my
! self for it'll told myself that deserved
terrible punishment.
II And the punishment came.
/ Helen staid with us three weeks. Th
2 night before she left they took walk to
} gether among the paths that skirted ou
cottage. 1t was a night Of perfect autumn
moonlight, and now and then ] could Sc
e their dark forms sharply outlined in tn
I silver air, as / watched them from tn
{ window Of the sitting room, where / sa
I alone with a miserable, throbbing, fore
I boding heart.
At last they entered the house Then
+ heard them pass into the little librar
where mother often sat and was sittin
8 now. Presently heard Robert ask;
e ''Where is Adag"
: He had never called me "Ada" before i
I her presence. / knew what was comm
then. ! heard mothers answer, "In th
O sitting room, / think" and waited an
j shuddered.
e The door was half closed. Present.
there sounded a little knock upon it.
l. rose as If stung.
; "Come in l said.
I Robert entered.
j / can't write out his words. They wer
very mildly spoken; he said that he ha
r for some time been forced to believe-tha
& cared nothing whatever for him.
q And then, though my heart was nearl
{. breaking in my breast, woman's prid
,, came to my rescue.
4, "You are right" said, II do care notl
q ing for you. | suppose you have come I
= tell me that you wish to break your eI
9 gagement with me and marry Helen Abe
crombier
n y DO" he answered simply, 'if you wi
" release me-"
it VERY well, !" managed. "You are PEE
s. fcctly free
!. But the sitting room light was dancin
e before my eyes as / said it, and my poe
@ heart was wildly galloping.
Ie had gotten my punishment. Was
Il oyersevereg Often, often ] think so du
r ing the lonely, eventless years Of maidel
hood which have followed.
A They have been married almost mol
is years than can count over. ! rarely St
d them, but know they are very happy. i
A. you call this miserable, sad story, reader
'e Well, remember that, as ! said at first,
10 is sad, but true. TX. ID. in New 1or
r News.
al Pigeons and Balloons.
N In the North of England pigeons hay
long been used TO convey messages betwec
II 4 bot and