The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-16
LADY ATnLYNE
Copyright, 1908, by BRAM STOKER
Entered at Stationer'S Han
 All rights reserved
(Continued from Page A.

(Continued from Page 14.) probably not be back till dinner time. Mrs. 0gilvie had gone out after lunch for a drive and would pay some visits SefQrs returning home. Joy pleaded headache as an excuse for remaining home. Indeed her excuse was quite real; no one can pass so melancholy a part of a night she had done with out suffering the next morning. As the Gay wore on. however. the headache insensibly departed; something else had taken place. Joy would not admit to herself what that something was; but that afternoon she took unusual pains with her toilet. Judy noticed it with her usual acute observation, under stood it with her understanding sym pathy: with her wonted discretion she F4mained silent She felt. and rightly, Chat the time had not yet come when she could either be serious with Joy or jest with her on the subject nearest to her heart. One thing she did which can never be out of place, especially when it is true: she showed pleasure in her niece's looks. taking care, how ever to put her own reason for it on non-sensitive basis.
 Joy" she said that terrible experi- ence of Sunday has not told on you bit. You are looking simply lovely."7 Ordinarily Joy would have known it and would not have shrunk from ad- hitting it to herself, or possibly even to her aunt; but to-day she was full
  happy excitement when her aunt spoke would have betrayed her secret to much less sympathetic or experienced person than Judy.
 or emotion or feeling which creates self-distrust with the young. And sometimes with the old, for the matter Of that.
 When she found that Aunt Judy did not "chaff'' her or ask her questions, which she rather feared would happen, Joy beamed. Indeed it looked to Judy'S loving eyes as if she visibly bloSsomed. how well the dark ful1-co1oured silk became her slender figure; but she was careful not to overdo her praise. or to suggest any special cause for so ela- horate a toilet
 But Judy was af a distinctly practi- cal nature She took care to send message to the hall that if any visitors should come, though Colonel and Mrs. Ogflvie were out, Miss Ogilvie and Miss Hayes were at home.
 Athlyne found both ladies busily idle. Joy was reading a novel; which by the way she put down hurriedly without as Judy noticed. marking the place. Judy was knitting; that sort of heavy untntaresting knitting which is mani fest1y for the poor! She was used to say that such was the proper sort of occupation for an old maid. She, too, put down the cause of her occupation, but deliberately: thereby giving time for the guest to salute her niece with out the need of interruption. 1t did not matter. then. if Joys hand did re- main an instant longer in his than for.nality demanded, nor ff-when re- 1eased-it was white in patches as when extra force is applied to delicate flesh For few minutes Judy joined in the conversation with her usual brilliancy.S But to-day she was dis tinctly restless. sitting down and jumping up again; moving out of the room quietly and coming back noisily the proper way as she said on an after occasion for all old maids to move. Whenever she came back she would join in the conversation in sort of butterfly fashion till she fitted away again.
 In one of these trios when Mr. Hardy happened to remark that he would like to know what the movements of the Ogflvies would be. and what address they gave for letters when they were away. Joy answered:
 Daddy always has our letters sent to Brown ShipIeyS- in Pail Mall But we shall be moving about good deal expect Mother has to take baths at Ischia again, and one of us will stay with her; but Daddy wants to go about a bit and see something of Eng land He is set on seeing the Border counties this summer
 'Then how am I to know where you are?" he asked impulsively. With bright smile Joy nodded over to Miss Hayes:
 You had better ask Aunt Judy She might keep you advised. She's the letterwriter of the family!"
 When in her turn Joy had moved away on some little domestic duty he turned to Judy and said:
 Wont you let me know the moves on the board. Miss Hayes. 1t would be very kind of you.' He looked so earnest over it that she felt her heart hutter.S She said at once:
 .tOf course shall, if you will let me evidently thought over this part of the matter, for he took from his pocket book a. card on which he had written below his printed name: care Jonathan Fields, London. w. c. That will all ways find me- I may be away or travelling; but my letters are sent on eEeryf day"
 Joy was. out of earshot added on her own account:
 ..It is only right that you. who did so much for my dear niece-and so for us alEshould know at least where she iS''
 Thank you very. very much!' said Athlyne impulsively. He had. all an Irishman's instinctive knowledge of woman's character and felt that Judy was to be trusted. that she was heart wholly devoted to her niece. On her part Judy knew that he could be trust ed to the full, especially where Joy was concerned. Ana rom that mo- ment she began to take an interest in the love affair: an interest quite per sonal to herself and independent of her love for the girl. She felt that she was participant in all schemes which were to be; and that. she came to the conclusion, was about all the real romance that an old maid could share in. Thank God there's that left at any rate!' was her prayer of grati- tude.
 Athlyne felt a powerful impulse to make confidante of her. This was the first chance he had of disclosing the reality of things, and he was just about to begin when Joy returned. Once again did that self-distrust, in cidental to his state of mind, cramp him. He fancied that it might be pre- mature Not knowing how deeply Joy cared for him already. he was unwill- ing to take my chances which might initiate against his ultimate success. There was also another hampering