Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-01-19
CiTCumStaltial-..-
Evidence !
BY MARY E. sTICKNEY.

wen, II You insist upon lt-though
am afraid you will only make light of
my sufferings when tell you," drawing
long face, 1.-THE fact is that my new
homeland sent to New York for it
is a perfect failure, | am racking my
brains as to whether | shall send it back
and have a row about it, or give my
vanity the discipline of wearing it as
it is
"Vanitas vanitatum," with queer
smile. Did she think to take him in
with any such stuff as this?
81 have to make the most of my OPP
portunities to indulge in vanities, don't
you know? l have to make up for such
lot of lost time. Do you remember my
chronic condition of nothing to wear in
the days of old? 1t was pitiful."
Nobody ever looked 50 well dressed
as you, always, protested Gray warmly.
And the worry and trouble used to
have to appear even decent she went
on musingly The ripping up of old
dresses-the braid around the bottom is
the worst of an old dress; you can have
no conception of the nastiness and dust
it can hold"
Il suppose not" with languid amuse-
ment
And the plotting and contriving to
make old look new-to induce skinny
draperies to seem abundant-and withal
to be grateful Aunt Martha thought if
she gave me home it was but fair that
the rest should contribute my clothes,
and each was continually limiting to the
others that the burden of my expenses
was not fairly distributed Isabel.
Aunt Annie would say, why don't you
give that old brown silk to Anita? 1t is
the most hideous shade imaginable, and
you have worn it nearly to tatters. 1t
does seem about time that you did a lit
tie something to help the rest of us out
with the child. There never was the
slightest delicacy about allowing me to
hear what load they regarded me"
What set of old cats they arer'
frankly commented the nephew of the
house. But had no idea it was so
bad as all that. You never told me"
why should |? But it was almost
unbearable. One good purpose it ac-
complished, though, | shall always be
spared the usual sentimental warnings
for my lost youth Bad as the present
may be, still would not go back"
Gray looked up with swift intelli-
gence. Anita $ strange emotion at sight
of him the day before, her pallor and
lassitude, the little conStraint that fell
| upon her when her husbands name
was mentioned. all together had filled
| his mind with vague theories as to
which this seemed the tacit admission.
Whatever bal times may come, |
would say-of course my dark days are
| all in the future" corrected Anita, with
faint blush, as she went to take a let
ter from the servant at the door. You
will excuse me if | read this:'
1t was from Donald. There had been
some little delay at the park i'll getting
off, but at last the hunting party was de-
| Eghtfully established in Il little park on
| the other side of the range, One of their
! number was all broken up with the al
| titude, and was returning to the park
| hence the chance to get IL word to the
| dear little woman at home. Their larder
was already stocked with venison, but
| individually he had had hard luck and
| shot nothing except an owl, which, how
ever, he would bring home in case she
might like to have it stuffed. The fish,
| ing was simply immense. and he was
| having as good time as he possibly
could without his precious girl. He
half hoped to find her waiting for him al
| the park when they went down the last
of the week. 1t seemed as if the fates
must relent, and see to = that the trou
blesome Martha was KEEP. at home in in
nOcuous desuetudc His saddle made {
poor writing desk. and his stylographiC
appeared to be possessed Of the devil, 81
she must excuse that scrawl, and believe
him ever devotcdly hers.
/ Anita tore the letter into little strip
when she had read it, throwing then
J from her with an angry haste that scat
tered white shower over the side of tn,
waste basket. SO this was all he pro
posed TO tell about that little delay n
the park" He did not mean to mention
the episode of that night on Ute peak
even to smooth it over, or refer to hi
staying with the Rogerses.
lis it from my Lord" asked Gray idly
watching her with curious eyes. 'Whel
is he coming home"
He did not say, but some time mex
week, I suppose" listlessly reaching TO
a fan.
He is with jolly party, I presume.
"Oh, prominently jolly" hint O
SdICdSIll III IlCI VOICE. LIE lEllSG ldN
been blind not to have seen the clou
that had fallen upon Eer face
"All men, of course"
81 don't know why Of course" retorte
Anita sharply. There was one woma
with them at the park who was quit
capable of going on with them to cam
out over the range, if she was at all ell
couraged to do so. l dare say she
with them"
oh" comprehensively. rs that it:
1t was partly the reserve of pride tha
o held her back at this moment, in her r.
awakened wrath, from telling all to he
old time confidant. She could not COZ
, fess to him, who had been so bent O
making her happy in his own way, thu
the ordering of her life as she chose
had not been IL success. Moreover, he
| woman's instinct had warned her thu
Al,o l>O,., &c ola rNoss;o,, ,,,or,,