Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-19

now is looking at her cousin from under
heavily dashed lids, that seem barely able TO
support themselves. SO dangerous is the
hoar, and SO contented her spirit.
Her companion can scarcely be said to be
a slight suspicion of WEAKNESS in his eyes,
ms manner is somewhat tinged with de-
preston very Foreign to it, which as rule
Is OF the debonair order.
Anything the matter with you?" asks
Monica at last.
Yes, any amount of things"
W ell-So on-say them all over-it will
DO you good" suggests she sympatheti
''N"' for worlds-at least, not for many
reasons. 1t would bore you; it wouldn't
49, - LIST. .s.id besides with &. half
laugh, my worries are of the kind difficult
to put into speech"
cies."
Does it? Then leaning back, and plac-
ing his hands behind his head, he turns his
eyes slowly upon hers Il wish / had
never come down'here." he says deliberate
V.
.Whatt'' cries she, leaning toward him.
Has Julia proved unkind? or is il kind
Won't she marry you? Or will she?'
NONSENSE" said Mr.. Norwood grufry.
II wasn't thinking of Julia
NO? Then why are you sorry YOU came
to the Court?'
Norwood at this regards her fixediy. II
wonder" he says, in a curious tone "wheth-
err you really don't know. whether you
are an accomplished coQuette!'
Don't know what?" asks Monica. OPEN
and looking at him with such sweet and
honest surprise as awakes within his breast
the deepest self-contempt. How could he
m aye To h. her Tor Even one short mo
little dignifed tone, requires, / believe
practice There is nobody down here ex-
cept the rector and Sir John F-ere"
"Sir John Frere ?'apprehensiyely
Yes. He is toothess and seventy-fve
The rector is hairless and sixty-onew With
him.
Thank goodness" says Mr. Norwood
devoutly. He feels affections tie toward
breviaticns. and in spite of the fact that
he has never seen either of them. 'I beg
your pardon very humbly," he says, after
a pause full of eioquence.
No reply.
"Monica-speak to me-"
Il will not" says Monica, giving herself
the lie direct.
'Oh! but you are speaking" declares he
I'm awfully sorry / said that, because 1t
was as absurd as it was objectionable.
las you acknowledge it to be unpardon-
able. you can't well look tor my forgive
ness"
Nevertheless do" exclaims he boldly.
We'll; then, say at once / am not a CO.
Certainly you are not You are an ang-
You are all you ought to be. You are"
THAT viii do" says Miss Monica with
a mischievous glance, you will overdo IL,
II you go on any further. And now don't
let us quarrel any more. Tell me what you
were doing all the morning"
"Loungtng after Julia"
Happy man! do so love hat old Court,
and l suppose she took you through the
haved properly. and left it to papa! In
stead of which here we are, playing second
where we should be first"
well, it's nearly as bad fo- me-" saws
the man moodily; Il was brought up in the
belief that, as your father was not in IT,
was to be the heir. And see now where /
am"
You will be all right when you marry
Julia" says Monica, with the friendIiest
announcement But this encouragement
falls through
"Oh! dare say" says Mr. Norwood I'M
gratefully. and with inc. easing gloom.
But you can't be badly off. You must
have money now, too" says his cousin.
with swift glance at his clothes. which
are irreproachable.
Not enough TO keep me decently. My
Seven hundred a Year, says Miss Nor
wood severely. II think no young man
could possibly require more than that. You
have only yourself to think ONO other
expenses-no grown-up daughter to dress
and keep"
Well. could hardly have that you
ically. II won't be twenty-six until next
month"
Il was thinking OF papa-if he had seven
hundred year, how happy We should both
"No-you would instantly want more"
81 am sure not. That would give him all
o she Gn aes her aRa
tation with a sweet wistful smile that goes
to his heart.
And you-what would II give your he
asks earnestly.
Me, on. i should be happy enough in
his happiness" replies she lightly. The
much mine as his. Now" she says with a
little irrepressible sigh. he hasn't even
enough money to buy some of the books in
~ mai are lheyE / mean their na,nes?'.
asks he eagerly, too eagerly! She raises
her soft eyes to his: there is gratitude in
NO, no." she says. Remember what
you said a moment since-your income is
not sufficient for yourself. You shall not
Il don't think it is quite q civil thing to
remember every word fellow says" re-
turns George reproachfully.
quickly. Then as though some hidden force
compels her to return to the subject she
says: Tell mellow you get on with !riia?' ~
Very we'll" impatiently. she will look
all that is satisfactory at the head of ones
table. There is consolation. no doubt. in
that thought, as" bitterly. Il suppose 1
must marry her.
"Oh. why say must?" gently, and with a
glance at him from under her long lashes.
1t is not hardship, surely?''
Perhaps shouldn't have thought it SO
a month ago"
She is young, handsome: that is all one
Not quite. There is something else, /
think-many other things; but above and
beyond all, the essential grace that makes
life-that u.s. married life-sweet; l mean
sympathy"
"She hardly knows you yet" says Mon
lea, deep but suppressed pity in her eyes.
by and by it may be different" knowledge
of Julia makes her confess to her secret
soul that small hope for him lies in a nearer
acquaintance with the cousin he needs must
marry.
in six months more 1t must all be set
tied" says the young man restiessly. Jul
liza up to that time has everything. 1t will
then depend upon me whether she will still
have everything or only half"
"You are sure she will accept your"
II am afraid mean,' -oloriag notify at
his mistake, Il think she will do me the
honor to be my wife,
You think rightly. She will not resign
she could not live without it. In six
months, then, she will still have everything,
and-you into the bargainv
Almost as these last words escape her
she repents them and growing pale to her
very lips, turns her head aside and becomes
painfully anxious about an Insignificant
tear that struggling briar has created in
her gown.
II am not so sure of that" says Norwood
unsteadily. Monica, look at me. Nay,
you must" trying to compel her to return
his gaze. which has grown impa ssioned
He has taken one of her hands in his
and is trying to draw her nearer to him.
Release my hand" she says in a low
tone, yet with so much authority that he
at once obeys her. There is a strange flash
in her beautiful eyes that warns him to dare
nothing further, and yet makes his PULSES
throb madly. What a strange proud glance
. Il