The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-24

Chapter II. J
"THE NOOK J

Nnou, a couple OF hours laG6r, we en-
tered Mrs. Laing's garden the first person
we encountered was the man l hated,
Andrew Beck, in his iIl-fitting dress
| clothes and bread crumpled shirt-front
with it's great diamond solitaire, loung-
| ing in wicker chair at the rivers brink
| smoking, and in solitude enjoying the
| glorious sunset that rejecting upon the
water, transformed it into stream OF
rippli ne gold "The Nook as Mrs.
Laing's house was called, was charming
old place facing the river at little dis
lance above Staines Bridge, long, low,
| completely covered with ivy and sur
| rounced by wide sweep of lawn that
sloped down to the waters edge, and a
belt of old elms beneath the cool shade of
which I had spent many delightfully."- lazy
afternoons by the side of my ell-beloved.
"Ah! Deedes.' - exclaimed Beck, gaily,
rising as we approached. 81 was waiting
for somebody to come The ladies haven t
come down yet"
'Have you seen them'?' asked.
"Not YETI he replied; then turning to
my friend Dudley, he began chatting him
regarding young and wealthy widow he
had rowed up to Windsor in our boat a
few days before.
ave saw you, my boy. We saw your
he laughed. "You were talking so con-
fidentially rs you passed that Ella re-
marked that you were contemplating
stepping into the dead mans shoes.
"No, no." Dudley retorted, good hum
oredly. mo widows for me. She was
merely left under my care for an hour or
SO, and had to do tbs amicable. It's
really too bad CT You all to jump to such
rash conclusions
At that instant a soft musical voice
behind me uttered my name, and turning
I met Ella, with light wrap thrown
about her shoulders, coming forward to
me with outstretched hand.
"Ah! Godfrey. how are your" she
sparkling eyes. Then, as our hands
clasped, she added in an undertone, I
knew you would come; knew you would
II have not forgiven" answered,
rather coldly, bending over her slim white
hand.
"But have committed no fault,'' she
said, pouring prettily.
"You have given me no satisfactory
explanation. gs,Fs saga
"Wait until after dinner We will come
out here together where we can talk with
out being overheard, - she whispered hur-
riedly, then left me abruptly to greet
Dudley and Andrew Beck. There was
something significant in the swift in
quisitive glance she exchanged with the
last-named man, and turning away l
moment later met Mrs. Laing herself.
She was elderly and ELUSIVE; tall, and
of stately bearing. Her hair was perfect
Iy white but by no means scanty, her face
was clever and refined without that
grossness that too often disfgures a we'll
preserved woman of fifty and in her dark
eyes, undimmed by time, there was al
ways an expression of calm contentment.
Her husband had been great traveller
until his death ten years ago, and she,
accompanying him on his Journeys in the
East, had become clever lnguist, an &C
complishment which her only daughter,
Ella, shared.
AS we stood together chatting and
watching the beats full of happy youths
ana maidens gliding past in the brilliant
afterglow I thought that never had l seen
Ella looking SO handsome as, standing
with Dudley, she had taken up Beck's
theme and was oongratulating him upon
his trip with the skittish widow.
Hers was an oval face, perfect in its
summary, clCar-cut and refined, trifie
paln p rigals. hut from her eyes OF that
darkest Dlde that sometimes sparklHd into
the Brightness Of a sapphire, sometimes
dcepeneu into softest grey like the sky on
summer night, there shone an inner
beauty indicative of purity OF soul.
The mouth was mobile, short and full,
with an exquisite finish about the curve
of tho lips, the nose short and straight,
and the hair of darkest gold, the gold
that cannot be produced artificially, but
has a slight dash of red in it, just suffi
cient to enrich the brown of the shadows
and give FURNISH to the ripples in the
high lights. Her eyebrows were set rath-
er high up from the eye itself, and We're
slightly dropped at the corner nearest the
car, imparting to her face a kind of
plaintive, questioning look that was ex-
ceedingly becoming to her. Her gown
was Of soft, clinging silk, OF palest hello
trope, that bore the unmistakable stamp
of Paris, while on her slim wrist I noticed
she wore the diamond bangle 1 had given
her six months before AS she chatted
with Dudley she turned and laughed at
me gaiIy over her shoulder from time to
time, and when we entered the house g
few minutes later it was with satisfaction
that found myself placed beside her at
table.
Dinner was always pleasant, if slight
ly stately, meal at Mrs. I.aing's. She
was brilliant and accomplished hostess,
whose entertainments at her house in
Point street were always popular, and
who surrounded herself with interesting
and intellectual people. Bohemia was
generally well represented at her receptions.
for the lions of the season, whether liter
ary, artistic, OF ID usical, were always to
be met tbere-a fact which induced many
of the moro exclusive set to honor the
merry widow by their presence. Wearied,
however, of the eternal small talk about
new books, new plays, new pictures, ana
the newest fads, was glad when, after
smoking, we were free to rejoin the ladies
in the quaint oak -panelled drawing room.
The moon had risen, and ere long |
strolled with Ella through the French
windows and out upon the lawn, eager
to talk alone with her.
''WelI,'' she said at length, when we
were seated in the shadow beneath one OF
the high rustling elms. so you want
an explanation. What can l give?'
"Your letter conveys the suspicion hat
there exists some secret between Beck
and yourself" 1 said as calmly as l could
''Aly letter!'' she exclaimed in a voice
that seemed little harsh and strained.
"What did say? 1 really forget.
''Its useless to prevaricate, Ella" L
said, rather impatiently. You say that
il I knew all would never utter words
of love to you. What do you meanT'
EXACTLY what l wrote" she answered
huskily, in a low voice.
"You mean to imply that you are un-
worthy of the love of an honest MANI" l
observed in astonishment.
eyes" she gasped hoarsely. u do not
IL cannot deceive you, Godfrey, be-
cause love YOU" The last sentence she