Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-02-14


There was pitiless mood beneath the
suavity with which, on reaching Mrs.
Maynard'S residence, he inquired for
that lady.
Williams, answering that Mrs. May
nard was at home and at leisure, took
Mr.. N0rth's hat with an air of great
solicitudc, leaving that gentleman to
make his own way to the drawing-room
and enter unannOuncCd.
Mrs. Maynard was quito alone there.
Leaning back languidly in crimson
fauteuil, with the train of her white
cashmere morning dress sweeping in
soft graceful folGs around her, she pre-
sentcd Il picture that struck North's
artistic fancy at once, She was par
italy turned from him, as he entered;
and, us she rested her head Thought
fully on one slender white hand, the
clear, dciirAtr profile Of face and figure
IN its r,rfr,t rrpose reminded him of an
exquisite piH . Of >i.:tI"ry lie invol
UNFAIRLY paused t. r""t'rrp'atc her,
nnl, l."uGf though n WAS against the
fatal hpC!l e beauty. even he. the
cEni Il North, felt Il singular thrill
which was all admiration, bat which
might have been something else had
the soul of an unSpoilcd man been in it.
Suddenly rccollccting himself. North
advanced toward Mrs. Maynard across
the rich, velvet carpet. The scarcely
audible movement aroused her from her
rcvrric. Lifting her head quickly she
met Norths eyes; slight change came
over hOr us she rOSN to receive him. She
stood for an instant
IAnCtthCr
Nor startled hut hctwiXt this mood ind Tint,
Divided IN Il graceful quiet"
a delicate flush, n faint, sweet smile,
doubtful, questioning, wondering
prrplcNity; swiftly as a ray of light or
n passing thought these changes came
and went; and then, as if hy magic-sc
quickly that North almost doubted
whHthcr she had changed ut ala cold
statrlncss came into her manner, n
touch of hautCur that made him feel as
if an impossible distance had suddenly
boon put between them; rs, acknowledge
ing his greeting with gracious formal
ity, she said, in her low, flcNiblc tones:
as it possible, MIR. North? You
never came more "pportunely. l am
suffering from cnnui."
"You, Mrs. Maynartl?" cried North,
in gallant amazrmcnt. "Surcly you
should bH exempt from that ailliction;
! Thought it WAS the peculiar privilege
of commonplace nnrtals like myself"
"rUErthrr with humility and all the
other graCrS of charaCtrr?" qurricd
Mrs. Maynard. as she mutioncd to him
to be seated and sank back languidly
| into the crimson depths of her fautcuil.
81 always knew, Mr.. North, that the
latter were your peculiar privilege and
possession"
lis sarcasm an infalliblr antidOtC for
ennui?" inquired North, as he wheeled
a chair forward slowly and seated him
self near Mrs. Maynard, while his eyes
| held hers steadily for full moment by
| their direct, quizzical glance. IF SO,
Mrs. Maynard, proceed. Your most
cruel satircs will sound in my cars like
| sweetest music"
"Thcn shall have no induccmcnt to
utter them. You quito disarm me, Mr..
North. Besides, some mysterious In
tuition warns mo that you have como
this morning for something of fur
greater Importance than moro pas
sage at arms. What Is it, Mr.. NOrthf
| Word from New York at last? All! ]
see that nm right Tell me Mt once
| ~ IIlC uS"S 1tNOTtDlCE Oil, IL
must be-I cannot endure the thought
of disappointment"
Tho delicate color that had flushed
into her check dccpcned now and hel
dark eyes were sparkling with excite
mcnt as, clasping her hands daintily
she looked up ut North with q bewitch
ing expression of hope and suspense.
A peculiar emotion which was neither
pity nor remOrsc, yet curiously re
sembling both, held North silent for
brief time; then, with his grave, kce1
glance resting on Mrs. Maynard, he ON
swercd, in o low tonot
"Unhappily for me, Mrs Maynard, i
has been beyond my power to contro
this case or determine the results t.
suit ourselves. But, whatever we ma,
have to regret, our suspense ON at lcas
one point is ended, and on this wo ma.
well congratulate ourselves"
An expression of dismay, succeeded
quickly by incredulity, swept over Mrs
Maynards countcnance. Leaning for
ward in her chair, sho exclaimed, i'm
periouslY
"You are speaking In riddles. Mr.
Northl Pray tell me, to what impor
tant announcement arc these vague an'
general observations the preludc9''
"Why-ah-in fact, Mrs. Maynard
nothing could be worse;" and North
after vainly casting about for som
happy phraseology by which to softer
the intelligence, now plunged rccklessl.
into the explanation. Nothing coul'
be worse than the news that Hoplin
and Shepherd have sent us. 1t Is m,
duty to inform you that decision wa
reached In our case on Wednesday,"
"a decision at lastl and what is it2
IA deathblow 70 your hopes and t