Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-04-13
CHAPTER XII.
JACK AND JILL

| sense of life and freshness into the old
house in Cecil street. A subtle fra
GRANGE foated in with her; her soft
black skirts rustled gently through the
dim passage; a bunch of violets nestled
in the lace that was folded loosely
round her neck she wore a little black
bonnet glittering with Jet, and was al
together a very Observation-Disclosures
young woman. At the sight of her
Stewards quiet face frightened, but
she was not alone. Granny was slowly
getting out of her carriage.
"She nouid come" murmured AIDE
line, land she won't go anywhere else.
The carriage is to return for us in two
hours. said that / could not possibly
look through all your sketches in less
than two hours"
How do you do, Seaward?" said the
old lady, formally. 81 am not fond of
the Strand, and l don't like being
dragged out in the afternoon unless it
is absolutely necessary But Adeline
has the strongest will | have ever
known. / am quite unable to cope with
her-quite unable"
Still uttering feeble complaints, Mrs
| Villiers was conducted into a pretty
room where fire was burning on the
brigbtly-colored tiles of the fireplace;
a luxurious armchair stood invitingly
near tea table, and Stewards house
keeper (who had been Adeline's nurse)
was waiting to take the old lady's man.
| tie.
Now there were few things that
| granny liked better than a chat with
Tabby, who knew all about the family
and its ways, and whose only fault was
her absurd adherence to Seaward Ayl-
stone. And Tabby, being a discreet
woman, knew just what TO say, and
what to leave unsaid. She guessed
that the cousins wanted to have a conf
dental talk upstairs in the studio; and
she also OWNED that they relied on her
to keep Mrs. Villiers amused and in a
good humor while they were absent.
81 am not going up into the studio,
Seward" said the old lady, from the
depths of the armchair. 1.-The sight of
many pictures wearies me, and hate
unfinished things. Don't keep Adeline
there too long; don't like to feel nv
self neglected. At my age l have a
right to expect attention. But the young
people of the present day are heartless
very heartless. They do not consider
the Old
"You can always command attention
in my house, grandmother" Seaward
replied with grave courtesy.
Il wonder you don't take another
house." said granny, looking round
with disparaging air. This is hor-
rid neighborhood Why not move to
Kensington?'
"Old associations are pleasant to me-"
he answered. And after all. it does
not matter where bachelor lives. does
it?"
Not if he means to remain bach
elor," Mrs. Villiers said sternly. ''You
ought to marry, Seward. Every year
confirms you in your selfish solitary
| habits. / can find you nice girl if you
will trust my judgment"
You shall introduce me to the nice
girl whenever you please, grandmother,
and Will promise to think about her"
he returned, with meekness
Adeline, whose eyes twinlled with
amusement, set down her empty cup,
and made a sign to her cousin He
rose and the two repaired to the studio.
Seward" she began when the door
say TO you. Why are you not my broth
or, old boy? Granny would not dare to
restrain our intercourse if you were.
But surely she has given up her old sus-
picion about our philandering?'
II don't think she suspects us of phi
laundering" he replied But she doesn't
like me, and she disapproves of your
taking me into your confidence. Never
mind her, Adeline. What is it that YOU
want TO say?"
''Claud will come home tomorrow,
she went on, land granny has set her
mind upon marrying MS out of hand.
She says we have dawdled on as an en-
| gagged couple long enough. For my
own part / have found the dawdlinp
| quite pleasant. We have mooned about,
and looked at houses and furniture, and
talked vaguely of far-off future when
we might possibly want such things.
/ There is nothing like seeing ones prom
l ised land in the distances IL is the near
/ view that destroys the enchantment."
But | don't quite understand you.
Adeline, he was beginning. when she
stopped him with "a pretty, impatient
| gesture.
! ''t'BAA OAfA NY HOW can You eX-
| pect TO understand woman who
/ doesn't understand herself? And it is
not Of myself that ! am thinking. IL is
of Claud."
/ Seward looked at her thoughtfullv.
She had bright gray eyes shaded with
/ black lashcs. and delicate. but rather
irregular features. To-day her face had
/ the brilliancy that often comes OF anx-
/ icty; the clear pallor of the checks was
| tinted with vivid rose She was pref
tier perhaps. than usual, but curiously
unlike the cool charming woman OF the
world he had always known
u am not romantic" she said. sneak
/ ing in calmcr tone. II do not cxpect
/ too much from man But I can't
| help thinking that Claud has NOTHING, 90
/ give At FIRST ! admired that gentle
/ lanEour Of bis. and fancicd that IL was
/ q mask, worn gracefully 20 hide dcep
/ feeling. believe now that 81 only
/ hides an empty heart"
Seward still regarded her attentive
/ ly, and was silent
~ have never been really in love
I with Claud. She continued, "but II he