Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-02

that so often accompanies sensitive and
devoted nature, he shut himself up from
sympathy as he had done from aversion,
sensitive only to one thing-the attitude of
the girl he passionately loved
For Pfety was not allowed to see him or
to speak to him. She had been put upon her
honor under threat Of being sent away
from the neighborhood, not to have any
thing more to do with a man whom she
could no longer pity for his misfortunes,
and who came of such doubtful stock How
could she tell. they argued, that Nigel
would not end as his father had done since
he had already broken out once into riot
and excess?
P1ety knew how useless this sugges ton
was, and ventured to plead the extent Of
the provocation he had had. and the speedi-
ness and completeness Of his reform. Her
parents and her aunt would not hear her
arguments, and redoubled their efforts 10
induce her to look favorably upon the mag
unanimous John Mercer, who was, If the
truth must be told. piqued into fresh cT-
ertions of his powers of attraction by the
fact that his once-despised rival had be-
come parsonage OF some Importance.
1t Is doubtful whether all these forces
would have had much effect upon Pie.y,
but for the unexpected change which took
place in Nigel himself. Calling his pride
TO the rescue, he assumed front as cool
as theirs, turned In the opposite direction
when her relations appeared In sight with
Piety, and kept out Of the neighborhood of
st. Martins. and out of the track Of Pie:y
herself, who, now that her ankle was too
weak to allow her to ride into Carstairs on
her bicycle, was driven there and back each
day, either by her father or by John
Mercer
She began to feel just the same sense that
she was caught. tied and bound, as she had
done before the murder and the events
which followed John had even begun to
talk about Christmas, and to drop sly hints
about the new furniture he was buying and
the changes he was proposing to make in
nd ct rI,a
grew FESTIVE and fretful. could say nothing
definite enough to check his aspirations
After all. If Nigel had forgotten her, II
he no longer cared. what did 1t matter II
she did marry John, whose magnanimous
references to the man he no longer looked
upon as his rival were very aptly con-
ceived to mollify her feelings?
1t was day in November that Piety
was again able to ride home from Carstairs
on her bicycle, and. being thus for the first
time alone, she came by way of Fourways
with an unacknowledged hope at her heart
The girl was full Of uneasiness, sad and
sick at heart. On the previous evening
John Mercer had spoken out, and although
she had done her best to discourage him.
her remonstrances had been overborne both
by him and her family, who were all anx-
ious to see her safely married and settled,
and were indeed thankful that the unfor-
tunate affair with Nigel had not spoilt her
chances for this good marriage
Luckily, as they thought, Nigel himself
.Ae-~A AOSAA Su A Tic COUteSI. flery,
however, persisted in cherishng a secret
hope that pride rather than forgetfulness
was the source of his desertion, and as a
last test she dismounted when she had got
near the cottage where, as she knew. he
now lived by himself, shutting 1t up when
he was away on his boat, and keeping
house for himself when he was ashore
1t was shut up and empty now; he was
away fishing In the North sea.
With one hasty look round, she ran in
through the gate Of the yard, and up to the
door OF the house. and twined in and out
the knocker two little bits of white Roman
hyacinth. which she had cut that morning
In the little greenhouse Nigel had made
for her years ago in corner of her faith
ers garden VASTLY tying the tiny bits of
blossom to ths knocker with a counIe Of
long golden hairs from her own head, she