Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-27

"Here are scruplesr' At that her husband smiled. and I looked in despair from him to Mistress Anne. Would she sympathize with my feelings? I found that she had turned her back on us and was gazing over tho side. Do you really mean" continued the duchess, tapping her foot sharply on the deck, that you arc not go- ing to open that, you foolish boyf"
 II do, with your graco's leave," an swered.
 "Or without my grace's leavol That is what you mean," she retorted pettishly, red spot in each cheek. "When people will not do what ask, it is always grace! gracol grace! But know them now"
 dared not smile, and I would not look up, lost my heart should fail me and should give her her way.
 You foolish boy!" she again said and sniffed. Then with toss of her head she went away, her husband following her obcdiently.
 feared that she was gricvously offend ed and I got up restlessly and went across tho deck to the rail on which Mistress Anno was leaning, meaning to say some thing which should gain for mo her sym pathy, perhaps her advice But the words died on my lips, for as I approached she turned her faco abruptly toward mo, and it was so white, so haggard, so drawn that uttered a cry of alarm. You arc ill!" l exclaimed. Let me call the | duchess!'
 She grippCd my sleeve almost ficrccly "Hush!" she muttcred. Do nothing of tho kind. l am not wcll. It is the water. But it will pass otl, if you do not notice it. l hate to bc noticcd," she added, with an angry shrug.
 was full of pity for her and approached myself sorcly. What selfish brute have bccnr' said You havo watched by mo night after night and nurscd mo day after day, and havo scarcely thanked you. And now you arc i'll yourself. It is my fault!'
 She looked at me, wan smilo on her face. A little, perhaps" sho answered faintly. "But it is chiefly the water. I shall bo better presently. About that let ter. Did you not como to speak to mo about itf'
 Never mind it now," I said anxiously. "Will you not lie down on tho rugs awhilCf Let mo give you my place, pleaded.
 No, mol" sho cried impaticntly. and seeing vrxcd her by my importantly dcaistrd. "Thc letter, " she went on. You 1 will open it hy and hy?" | No, I said slowly, considering, to tell Il, II think I shall not" You will, you will" she repeated, with n kind of scorn. The duchess will ask you again, and you will give 1t to her. l Of course you will!''
 Her tone was strangely qucrulous, and her eyes continually flashed keen, biting l glnnccs nt me But I thought only that she was i'll and excited. and fancicd il | was best to humor her. "WclI, perhaps shall" said soothingly Possibly It Is hard to refuse her any thing, and yet hope may not Tho grl-it may be [ | girls secret.
 ''Wvll?" shc asked, intcrrupting m, abruptly. her voice harsh and unmusical , What of her" She laid her hand on hCl bosom as though to still some secret pain | l looked at her, anxious and wondering but she had again avertrd her face. 'Wha 1 of her., sh" repeated. 1 "Only that-I would not willingly hur
 hcr!" hlurtrd out.
 Sho did not answer Sho stood n mo
 mcnt; then, to my surprise, sho turnc,
 away without word, and merely com
 mandinS mo by gesture of the hand no
 tu follow walked slowly away. l watchC,
 her cross the deck and pass through tn | doorway into tho dcckhuusC She did no | oncc turn her face, and my only fear Wa
 that she was i'll, moro seriously i'll, per
 haps, than she had acknowledged.