The Yale expositor., 1895-01-18
Lady [ atimer's Escape.
BY CHARLOTTE NJ. BRAEME.
CHAPTER VIII-CoNT1YUED.

CHAPTER VIII-CoNTINUED.
In spite of myself my lips quivcred
as / uttered his name, but my mother
did not notice it. did not distress
her by crying out the truth-that |
had been willing to barter the happi-
ness of my whole life for one months
bliss; it would have broken her heart.
! told her no untruth, did not even
deceive her. for | had never dreamed
OF any return for my great love. |
never misunderstood his kindness or
his gay. chivalrous fashion. 1t would
soon be over now; no need TO break
my mothers heart as well as my own.
The beautiful month was drawing to
an end, but before any of us had be-
gun TO realize what the parting would
be like, Lord Latimer introduced
now feature. One day, just before
dinner, Captain Fleming had gone into
the library TO speak to him. Colonel
North followed. Business of some
kind took Lady Latimer and myself
there; we had lively conversation;
the old lord seemed pleased and
cheered.
al consider" he said, ''that this
shooting party has been a great sue
cess. Lionel, you must come back at
Christmas-come for some weeks, and
help Lady Latimer with her charades
and plays. Come with him, Colonel
North
saw the colonel look first at Lady
Latimer. Her beautiful eyes smiled
upon him.
81 shall be only too delighted" he
replied; and that was how it happened
that parting lost its pain.
Little matter if they left when Sep
tember was over if they returned for
Christmas. When the end came, and
the day dawned on which they left
Lorton's Cray, it was with smiles, not
tears VIC saw them ride away. A few
weeks, only a few, and they returned
for even longer stay.
1t was strange calm after they
had gone. We were not unhappy or
dun; new order of things set in. We
were always thinking of and prcpar-
ing for Christmas and tho New Year.
1--WE win have such Christmas as
has never been celebrated in England
beforef," said Lady Latimer TO me.
ave win have the old banqueting-hall
made into theater; we will have cha
rades, masquerades and theatricals;
we win dance and sing. When it is
frosty, we will skate. When the snow
falls and the wind walls, we win tell
ghost tales. Oh, Audrey, how happy
we shall be-"
And she whose beautiful face had
once expressed all the WEAKNESS that
life could hold, caught me in her arms
and waltzed around the room with me.
1t was both pitiful and touching.
She thought of nothing, talked Of
nothing but Christmas; everything re-
ferred to Christmas; there was no
looking beyond it. If beautiful cos
tune was sent from London or Paris,
it was reserved for Christmas.
al think the end of the world will
come at Christmas, Lady Latimer," l
said. owe are making such prcpara-
tions for it."
She laughed gaily. She was always
laughing now, and sweet, glad con-
tent rested on her fair face.
II never knew BEFORE" she cried
'what happy time Christmas was,
Audrey" and then her face flushed
crimson. 1--WE used to hang up what
we called "a kissing bunch at home"
$50 did we," / answered, and my
face grew oven redder than hers.
"I-I suppose" she said, after a
time, "that VIC could not do such a
thing here at Lortons Cray. IL seems
TO me, Audrey, the grander house is,
the more miserable it is. Think of the
mcrriment at your house at Christmas
Bat we shah be happy. What do you
think OF kissing bunchP"
'1f we have one at all" / answered,
discreetly, ait must be called mistle.
toe bought"
"Well, what do you think OF a
mistletoe bought" she asked.
! thought it delightful. and told
her 50.
Then she drew nearer 20 me. She
took my arms, and laid them round
her neck.
Audrey" she whispered. "if we
have mistletoe bough, win any one
kiss us, do you think--yUu and meg'