Middletown transcript., 1904-03-05
The Youngest Miss Passinsham
TcoNTINuED FROM LAST WEEK

TcoNTrNuED FROM LAST WEEK
Stella drew her hand away sharply, her
cheeks turning scarlet. But she spoke
with laugh.
did not ask you to put my hand into
the basket, cousin Tony. How silly you
are ! But do you really mean to stay to
tea? I don't want to be inhospitable,
but
He rose stifly from his chair.
Oh. I will 20 he said. You need not
say in 80 many words that ] bore you.
Stella's heart failed her as she looked
at his angry face. She had got up that
morning with firm determination to
make Anthony angry, but now that she
had succeeded she could not bear it.
Don't be so foolish she said, smiling
at him, and Anthony's frown died away
in an instant. l thought Molly was too
tired for visitors perhaps. But she does
not count you as visitor.
1 hope not, he said, seating himself
again. But was that really all that you
meant? You would like me to stay
Honor bright, now 2!
Honor bright she answered gaily.
He bent towards her little. She had
begun to sew diligently, and her eyes
were fixed on her work, but she knew
that he was looking at her, and her heart
began to beat very quickly. 1t made her
angry with herself to feel it's throbbing.
Before he could speak, she flung her en-
broidery on the table with petulant
movement and got up.
Come and look at the flowers on the
table, she said. James idea Of table
decoration was two big epergnes stuffed
with dahlias. He still THINKS it superior
to my fanciful 'Lunnon way But come
and see.
That evening, when she went to her
room to dress for the dinner-party, she
took her engagement-ring from its hid
ing-place and put it on her finger. She
kept it there for a moment, gazing
steadily at it. The expression in her
ewes would have startled herself if she
could have seen it. She had not yet
dared to confess to her own soul that
she had blindly engaged herself to her
rich lover, not knowing what love was
She had half determined to wear the
ring that evening, but her courage failed
her. She drew it off and locked it away
again. Then she went to her wardrobe
and took out the dress which she had
told Molly that she meant to wear.
Molly had begged her to wear her white
silk, but she had laughingly declared
that the white silk was too fine for din
ner at home, and the black crepe, ugly
as it was, was much more suitable.
She put the black crepe on the bed
with her black shoes and black feather
fan, and proceeded to do her hair afresh.
She had never had maid, and did not
feel the want Of one. She chose to do
her hair that night in slightly different
fashion, coiled higher on her small head.
1t was very becoming, and she stood
looking at herself with queer little smile
when she had finished. Then. suddenly
turning to the bed, she caught up the
black dress and carried it back to the
wardrobe.
It was a radiant little figure in white
silk, with arms and snowy neck bare,
that was waiting in the hall when Molly
came downstairs. Anthony had never
known her more gay than she was at
dinner that evening. He sat by her side
in kind Of happy dream, not speaking
much, but content to listen to her merry
talk and watch the changes of her bright
expressive face.
It was impossible to him to realize that
only fortnight had gone since Stella
came to the Grange. Stella meant life to
him now; all bis hopes, all his thoughts,
were centered in her. 1t was bliss to
him to sit by her; the sound of her voice
was music in his ears; to meet her kind
smiling glance thrilled him with ineaable
delight. Never had dinner seemed 60
short. 1t appeared to have lasted only
for few minutes when Miss Passingham
gave the signal for the ladies to retire.
Miss Passingham had insisted on tax.
ing the head Of the table that evening,
though Molly had begged her to have
her dinner in her own rooms and to
come down to the drawing-room after
wards. But she had declared herself
quite strong enough to perform all her
duties as hostess. And she played her
part with something Of the proud dignity
that had been Characteristic of her in
former days.
But her ghastly face cast a shadow on
the feast from which only Anthony es-
capped. 1t was not merely that her ILL
ness had left her looking aged and pain.
fully haggard a lonely, unhappy, terri
fed soul seemed to look out of those
deep-set eyes, still SO brilliant. The
Vicar said afterwards to his wife that it
had made him shiver to meet her glance.
He was sure that she was in some deep
mental distress he would give much to
be able to help her.
It was felt as a relief by most of the
party when she rose from the table. She
walked down the room without help,
but she tottered as she approached the
door. Anthony had risen to open it,
and be sprang to her side.
Yes-give me your arm, she said, with
Q wan smile. | am helpless old woman,
Anthony.
He crossed the hall with her. As he
returned, after placing Miss Passingham
carefully in her chair, Stella was speak
ing to old James by the door that led
into the servants quarters. He was
eager for word with her, and went to-
wards her as James turned away. She
had piece of paper in her hand, which
she crumpled up and flung on the hearth
rs she turned to him. Her face was