Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-04-26

seemed to make a point of securing
himself against observation while he
read 1t. He planted himself squarely
in front of the gate, with his back to-
ward her point of observation, and held
the paper at close range. After the
reading, hurried colloquy ensued be-
tween him and tho man on the other
side of the gate, who hobbled away at
it's close, leaving John standing in the
same spot, evidently sunk in profound
revery.
He had leaned his gun against the
gatepost while reading the letter. He
picked it up presently, examined the
lock abstractedly, and passed slowly
out through the gate, closing it absent
ly upon the noses of the three dogs.
They ran yelping and protesting against
this piece of inconsiderateness, until a
low place in the fence furnished them
their opportunity, when they vaulted
over it, and, with their bruised noses
close to the ground, soon disappeared,
running in the direction John had taken.
Johns wife turned away from the
window, now that there was nothing
more to be seen, conscious of a very
lively curiosity touching the note which
had, before her very eyes, transformed
her husband almost instantaneously
from a quick stepping, careless, whist
ling huntsman into grave, slow-mov-
ing, profoundly distracted man.
"IIe had forgotten all about the dogs,
evidently, and he stopped whistling! 1t
takes decided shock to make John
break off a tune in the middle"
But whatever might have been the
condition of his nerves when he passed
through the gate going, to all seeming
they were in admirable order when he
entered her room some hours later, in
terribly despatched condition, but radi-
ant over his modicum of success.
Mine snipe and three rabbits! How
is that for two hours hunt, Mrs. John,
by man who hasn't had his finger on
trigger for a year?'
ut is miracle, if 1 am to take my
cue from your face, dear"
She was scanning him curiously.
Would he tell her anything about the
note? She let her eyes drop slowly from
his face to his mud-spattered ankles.
GLOW does one contrive to get so
muddy in such dry weather, John?''
"Snipe,-swamp birds, you know.
No end of trouble to secure them. But
fancied they would be treat to you
and Ninette. Where is the monkey?"
Celeste and she are out together,
somewhere. She will be in presently"
No; it was evident he did not intend to
tell her anything about that note. She
had scarcely expected he would. On the
other hand, she did not intend to tell
him of Ninette's visit to Glenburnie.
Was she in a position to cast stones? A
secret for n secret.
The dinner-beLl rang while he was
still busy with the wisp broom, Kidding
himself of his forest accretions.
"You are not going to dinner in that
rig?"
She turned from the mirror, where she
had been putting the last precise touch
es to her own dinner toilette, to ask
| this question, us. there. was no sign of
Johns dof1ing his corduroys.
81 think must to-day. will apollo
| gizc to mother
Il don't think Mrs. Lorimer accepts
apologize Ivy gracefully. She prefers
your not .2nding."
81 know it; but l have to take anoth-
| er tramp after dinner, and she will have
to take me as am this time"
''More snipc?"
"Ycs-uo; that is, of course, I shall
take my gun along; but you mustu't
always count on my being so success
full" His evident nervousness increased
with every word.
Il never count on anything" she said,
enigma tically, as together they de-
seconded the stairway to the dining
loom. just as they reached it, she tried
an experiment.:
''If you will wait for me to slip into a
! lanrcl dress after dinner, I will tramp
with you. lam splendid walker"
II could not think Of such thing, y
he said, with irritatcd emphasis; lit
would wear you literally out"
CAS- you please" she said, coolly. g
fancied you would like to have me go.
Under any other circumstances
mean. at any other time-that is
You are laundering, John, dear
abominably."
They were in the dining-room now
and John was excusing his hunting
garb to his mother.
Going again, after dinner? 1t get
dark very early, you know, John. lik,
to have you all about me when tn,
lamps are lighted, John"
Il know it, mother; but | must %
this afternoon
Ills brow contracted and his lid.
dropped until his eyes were almost in
visible. Nora had learned the danger
signal. lie had reached the limits O.
endurance.
The dinner was rather a failure, so
cially. Dick and RATE clattered theil
forks and their tongues necessarily, but
to no purpose, SO far as Frightening the
atmosphere was concerned
Lorimer and John were both gravel,
) distracted.
II wonder if he knows" Nora said Il
herself, glancing at her brother-in-law'
handsome serious face.
She was not sorry John did not e.
back to their room with her. Ninett
was up there. She had heard her littl
feet pattering over their heads for som
time. Celeste had struggled her int
the house while they were all at table
By tomorrow the child would have fol-
gotten all about her visit to the flower
lady, but to-day she might make indis