Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12

ths promsnads, up The htsls lodging nous,
her brain.
q the doc. Of shs sitting room .As pss.sd.
II am tired sunt; good night" she faltered
She could not. would not enter to hear then
tear away the veil from before her holy Of no
lies
Mrs Slingsby received the statement unques
tioninsly. There were times when . certain
good nature supplied in her the place Of tact
1t was Hilda's way, and II shs liked IL we'll and
good. but it was not herA
Not 80 Kato, however.
"Welir' she insinuated, 'syou still people d.
know how to take care Of yourselves when any
thing good comes in your way, 1t seems after
all"
Hildas gray eyes contracted for an fnstan
into two bright points Of light. She hal
opened her lips to reply; then, a. she drew ny
her supple figure, she turned hastily away.
I'VE needn't be % hoity-toity though ";
have caught . young man all to ourselves, "
sneerod Kate. on whom the veneer lay but
thinly.
Hush, Kate" interposed her mother
"Hiida is not like you, dear. Few can take
things ss You cam
again mindful Of the main chance, she called
after the retreating figure:
Il IL bring you something warm up to your
room in a moment or two. dear
NO, no., Hilda returned-as much vehe-
mence in her manner as she was capable of
| want nothing, thank you, aunt"
Nothing-nothing but to be alone.
| ON, yes, cheerfully insisted Mrs. SIingsby,
In high good humor, I'VE must do something
to bring tho roses back before tomorrow"
| You are very kind" murmured tho girl
wearily; and she wondered how long it would
| be before she might hope for solitude
! Not at all. There, go to bed, my DEAR" re-
turned Mrs. Slingsby.
You see what it is to be person of i'm
portance," cried Kate after her, unable to
| forego little taunt.
"katen reproved her mother again.
AT length Mrs. Slingsby. after many fruitless
| endeavors, had been persuaded TO withdraw,
| and Hllda was left to the solitude she craved
| she drew aside tho white curtain, opened the
window, then, kneeiing down, rested her arms
on its ledge. A soft breeze touched her cheek;
| the murmur OF the sea came up to her; her
eyes sought the great blue above her. rs
though ITS stiffness might help her to realize
what was this-this something that overcame
her. AT first no clear thought seemed posi-
BILE. Where another woman would have
blushed, she trembled, and for the first few
moments her whole frame shook in short, con-
vulsive throbs.
What was it' What die it mean2 A speck of
bright light caught her eyes, the echo of firm,
springing footstep. She leaned forward to
watch until the figure with it's lighted cigar,
passed from her sight
She knew who it was. Had she been in doubt
and she never was even for a moment-the
opening and shutting of the little wooden gate
belonging to the cottage garden next door
would have decided her.
She drew back her head.
The trembling fit had passed away; her eyes
once more sought the sky
II love him ~ she said, softly
The inarticulate tumult OF her heart had
found words at last. Galatea had come to life.
she kneit on, breathing, FACILITATING, hardly
uttered.
The church clock tolled the hour: it chimed
single stroke again; and still she never moved.
Il love him %
The words ran riot in her brain. and filed
all her being with a vague, delicious joy At
last, when another halt hour had weiI-n;gh
winged its flight, the first perplexing doubt
presented Itself. With. long sigh she gave
place to it. She had been in Paradise. and 10
even there was the serpent!
docs he love me. too3' she asked Of her
But the heavens were silent. There came
from them no clear voice topour assurance into
her ear.
Quietly, systematically, with all her habitual
method and GOODNESS, she passed the events of
the last fortnight, since the day she had first
met him. in order before her. Her passion Of
few moments ago might never have been, SO
calm was she.
ASS, ASAo = AooA -suoSo y zone. Stay. was
she so calm after alp How her soul stirred
within her.
Had he not sought her out, talked to her Of
MS aims, appealed to her for sympathy, relied
on her for comprehension.
Surely, surely, this must be love- No other
man had ever turned to her, singled her out,
set her apart, ~ he had done. Daisy. had ad-
alrera In paauty; even Kate had not been with
out her share; only she had stood alone, only
she had been cut of from this great gladnexs.
There had been moments when her heart
Weiied iorth Its silent protest, when the dreari-
ness OF her lot appalled, her. 1t was not that
she craved for love, as the term is generally
understood. man because he WIS q man had
no special interest for her. But what she did
ash was a little sympathy; some one to talk to
OF the things that filled her life, some one on
whom she could rely. She could not rsmem-
Der either her father or her mother. She never
had a sister. Kate. with her mental horizon
bounded by bonnets and u somewhat unre-
strained sense OF admiration, was worse than
| useless. Daisy was her only refuge; and even
Daisy, bright-eyed child that she was, could
noI minister to ner intellectual requirements
1t was this void that George Carimore filed.
She had thought Of him as a pleasant friend
might, perhaps. have continued to do SO until
the end had not Hates insinuations kindled
| another flame in her heart.
Tonight she forgot all this pain. Softly
she closed the window; softly she crept into
| bed.
She had tasted Of the fruit OF life, and how
sweet it was! And the after taste?
| Well sufficient for the day is the evil
| thereof.