Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-22

will make me late. am booked for a
duck hunt at dawn, so must tear my
self away now"
A moment later Bessie Westchester,
with unusual awlzwardness for her,
caught her founce upon a carved chair
and fled upstairs to repair damages.
Passing her cousin in the hall, she whis-
pered:
Ready at two, sharp!'
The ladies' dressing-room showed no
occupant to the girls glance through
its door; and, passing up the dark stair
way beyond, to the third story, she
tapped softly at closed door, entering
without pausing for reply.
A bowed female form before the fire
raised suddenly at the sound, from the
hands that covered it n pale face
crowned with glossy coils of ruddy hair;
and the eager eyes of Carolyn Clay ques-
toned hungrily those of her friend.
''Oh, Bess! thought you would Meier
come! Has he succeeded Can get
off?''
Eyes, Caro-; all is ready"
''Thanl1 God! Thank God!'' Miss Clay
murmured, with a choking sob. ''Oh,
Bess! had anything stopped me again
should have despaired-brolen down!
Never before have been so nervous
so oppressed! If anything has hap
pened over there-if Fairfax"
For answer Bessie Westchester drew
from her bosom the crumpled note. The
other girl clutched it eagerly, rushed to
the table lamp, and devoured, with
burning eyes, the hastily-scribbled
words, without address or signature:
''Only a moment to write. Am al
most wild with doubt. She should be
back, but has not even been heard
from. Fairfax no worse; his fever per
haps lighter. Messenger waits. God
! guard you-and her!''
Miss Clay reread the words, twice,
thrice, and pressed them to her
trembling lips ere they formed the
| words:
"Poor, dear mother! How anxious
she must be! But our baby is better,
thank God! How did it come?''
"Willie Mckee brought it to mamma.
| Carroll Meredith met old Pete at the
Ferry
Again the older woman read the let
ter; then, with u deep sigh, she stood
erect, thinking. And fair contrast
were the women, seen thus: Bessie
Westchester plump, fresh, petite, he1
low ball dress showing the perfect neck
and bust and softly-rounded arms Of
lately-budded womanhood, her bright
face grave and soft in sympathy, and ITS
dark eyes tender through unshed tears
Carolyn Clay tall, majestic, defiant, hel
grand head thrown back, the supple
curves of her form well relieved by the
rough riding-habit, it's skirt turned il
and sewed lightly, to be used at need
At length, with sigh-more of decis
ion than of discontent,-shed dropped
into her low chair again, with the quie
query:
cat what hour, dear?"
cat two this morning." the other an
swered, promptly. "Willie is supposed
to be going ducking; he has passes,
needful. You will reach the Ferry b.
dawn; the moon will be late tomorrow
and the river is clear"
Again Miss Clay's lips moved, blu
only the half-audible sound came:
l. ''Merciful God! 1 thank Thee!"
Then, gliding to her side, the othe
girl slid softly to, the floor, resting he
head in her friends lap, while tn
round, white arms CLEANED fair in tn
freight against the rough habit, a
they clasped Carolyn Clay lovingly. An,
her naughty head bowed over he
friend, till it mingled it's spun gold wit
the dark curls upon which she presse
her lips.