The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-08-19


dici in month or So went on Mr., Yer
non. l could do that very well; but these
confounded berths are purely matter
-or-birth, don't you know. He
spoke as though he were a son of the soil
fighting his way against barriers of caste.
81 wish I'd chosen Cabinet Minister for
parent.
"'Im sure you deserve to succeed, said
Mrs. Lumley encouragingly.
"Mr. Vernon looked thoughtfully at his
boots for a moment, as though he were
going to say something deprecatory in
reply to this. Then he took Mrs. Lum-
ley's hand, and said good-day. They met
pretty often afterwards mainly at the
gallery, where, indeed, the pictures hear
more in the way of whispered conversations
than is good for them. expect this is
why they so often want restoring. Each
students day they said good-by just here;
and each students day they said it with
increasing warmth. OF course I'm no
Judge of these things, but really don't
think they were in love with each other.
[ suppose it was pleasant for poor little
Mrs. Lumley to meet some one who was
amusing and who sympathized with her
woes; and as for Vernon, why, until that
consulate came (and it seemed a long time
on the way, he had 50 little to do that
this was to him a delightful way of filling
up the time.
'sShe told him all her troubles; how the
Professor was absorbed in his studies; how
he was frequently absent on his lecturing
duties; how, despite the fact that he was a
good fellow and all that, yet she was begin
ming to feel for him something like aver
sion. She npbraided herself for it in good
set terms. Why was it, she asked, that
the mere sight of the red dent on either
side of the Professors nose, made by the
pinch of his glasses, irritated her beyond
bearing? Why was it that she felt no
inclination to talk with him as she did with
others? Vernon would try to answer her
and find excuses for her, and it was
agreeable for Mrs. Lumley to listen to him.
"But it was risky game to play.
There came an end to it. They were
standing here one afternoon. 1t was a
sunshiny afternoon, and the bright rays
made the water of the fountains sparkle
and the titles of the hotels shine again as
though they thought they gold. The
carriages were busy, the buses were full ;
just down the avenue scarlet coach, with
an enthusiastic post-horn, had returned
from trip into the country. Mr.. Vernon
was in the best of good spirits,
"'Do you know, Mrs. Lumley,' he said,
IL am exceedingly sorry to have to say
goodbye? 1t has been very jolly to see
you, and we have been such very good
friends
"'Such very good friends, repeated
little Mrs. Lumley sadly.
az had nearly given up, you know,
when the news came. If | only knew
who had interested themselves and run
the thing through-I'd-Td-have been
canonized. l would really. I'd buy them
halo. I'm sure that if it were ever pos
sible for me to repay them for their kind
ness, I'd do it if it cost me my life. And
now, suppose, we must say adieu. The
young fellow spoke very earnestly. Mrs
Lumley choked little sob and held out
her hand. He held it for moment.
81 wish l could have spared myself
this he said thoughtfully; 4 shall think
of you so much over at Loindiei. de-
clare he took her hand again, and
flushed and spoke hurriedly-'l declare
that I'd give anything if only you
He looked at her eyes and bent his head,
half ashamed.
"If only | were coming with you,
cried little Mrs. Lumley impetuously.
She regretted the words the moment they
had left her lips
"Vernon turned quickly to her. He
was flushed and excited.
"gDo You mean that 2 he demanded.
.She did not answer.
".You do mean it. You are miserable
here Together we should be so happy.
Don't say word to me- He spoke lower
and faster. III pot come further with you
now, but listen. Meet me at Charing.
cross Station tomorrow morning. start
for Brindisi by the eleven O'Clock train,
and | will take you away; | will take you
away to share and to double my happiness.
aHe bent as though TO kiss her white
face But she turned quickly and has
tened across the road,
''The next morning Mr.. Vernon drove
up to Charing-cross Station. For young
fellow who was about to elope he looked
singularly joyless. He was anxious, too
He did not know whether Mrs. Lumley
would come or not, and in his heart Of
heurts-whiob really wasn't q bad heart
after alI--he wished to goodness she
wouldn't. But she did.
"Mr. Vernon stood in the station neai
the barrier. The eleven o'clock train was
at the platform large, excited, coFPuleni
foreign ladies were being dragged about
by frantic little dogs; mustached gentle
men were gesticulating there were noun
tains of luggage being wheeled off by per
spring pOrters. Mrs Lumley, in a dark