Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-02-28

to be irlminrnt, Il beg leave to end this
colloQuy. You have a claim upon my
forbCarancc; otherwise | should require
you to apologize for the language in
which you have just INDUCED. Good
morning, sir"
1t will readily be understood that the
effect of this encounter was net tran
QUILTING, and there were superficial
traces of annoyance in North's face and
manner when, n few moments later, he
entered Mrs. Maynard's drawing-room.
lie had not inquired if Mrs. Maynard
were discnga&rd, rather indolcntlv talk
ing it for granted that She would be;
and he was very much annoyed ~ find
that lady occupied with morning Wis
itors. Mrs. Maynard was one OF the
few ladies in " who found ii rNpc-
dicnt to hold morning receptions; aud
this happened to hrhrr ''Iay."
North felt rNtrrmrly awkward ON dis
covering that he had intrudrd Il rarely
business call upon Il social hour; hut he
fore he could excuse himself and with.
draw indeed before he was able to de-
eide whether or not this would he his
better COurse-he was seized upon. fig
urativrly, by the entire drawinG-room
and retreat was impossible. Finding
that he was intimately acquainted with
everyone present, he entered with meas
urablr agreCabicucss into the current
of SMALL talk, inwurlly hoping that
none Of his friends would notice the
circumstance that ncilh>r when kc first
addressed tEom. Nor in his subsequent
st.!vrraatiun, die hr call ANY Of then
oy namr.
lie seized an opportunity to speak I;
few W"r,'S To Airs. Maynard in private
during the course of his ,all.
Tho Conv rr~ntion had turned upon /
wonderful cactus which the gardener
had just induced to bloom for the first
time Everyone had seen it. cNrcp;
North; and with the Same exception
everyone was going into rapturrS about
it.
North Immediately became cnthusi
GStic on the subject, for the cactus wa,
in the conservatory. beyond the rcacl
OF the Sharpr$t eyes ~ cars in the draw
ing-room.
Mrs. Maynard" he exclaimed, turn
ing to that lady with an air of noel
appeal, my happiness depends upon
my seeing that cactus. Win You favol
me to this cNtCnt?'
With some laughing rcjoindcr sh,
led the way to the conservatory, which
opened from tho drawing-room, and ;
moment later they stood alone In thu
warm, moist, pCrfumc-ladcn place
with great banks of tropical plants
widc-sprcading palms and stately can
mas casting Il delicate green twilight
around them and soft, dreamy silcnc
pcrvading the fragrant gloom.
| North duly examined the cactus an
expressed the proper degree of admira
ton; then turning quickly to Mrs. May
nard, while his manner changed fror
the superficial suavity that he haC
adopted for the drawing-room to POI
tentous gravity, he said, in low tone
Mrs. Maynard, l have something O
| great Importance to tell you. You will
be surprised perhaps disagreeably
Shall speak now, or wait until som
| other time?"
She was tearing the petals from
| great crimson-hcarted rose, and she di
not look up; but the slight tremor @
the languid white fingers betrayed t
him the nervous agitation against whic
her pride and will were contendin
with only partial success.
You may speak now, Mr.. North.
Then, YEARLY: ''Why should you wait
1t is no worse at one time than another.
True, Mrs. Maynard; and certainty
however unwclcome it may be, is a
ways moro easily borne than suspense
In one word, then-Annie Dupont ha
been discovered"
The soft color In her checks died GU
quickly In the surprise that she felt a
this announcement, and for an instan
her eyes lifted themselves to his with
half incredulous inquiry.
You did not expect this, Mr.. North9
she questioned, quietly, q curious rC
serve In her manner which made hi1
vaguely conscious of having lost groun
with her since their last interview, Th
1ntimatson was too Subtle and EliRh