The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-15
LADY ATHLYNE.
Copyright, 1908, by BRAM STOKER Entered at Stationer's Hall-An rights reserved


curve of the road. And then all kept l fading away into a blind half con- | scfousness of the strong arm support | ing her and her wearied head resting on his shoulder
 This evening Mrs. Ogilvfe was very | quietly inclined to be fearful. She too had had bad night; constant walk | 1ngS from vague apprehensions, hor- r1ble 1maginings of unknown dangers; dread that she could not localise or specify. Altogether she was upset | something as one is in the low stage following an attack of hysteria; nerv- | ous, weak, apprehensive, inclined to | misunderstood things on the melan- | choly side.
 Colonel Ogilvie was in that state of | mind following high pressure, which | is masculine reaction. He was very hard to please about anything. His wife always thought of this nervous Lucius humors.'' to others she said
 the Colonel is worried about some | thing" Judy called it: "one of his tantrums." This however did not af- times be was perhaps even more pre- else than usual in his observance of the little etiquettes and courtesies of social life. It had perhaps been un- fortunate that his household was ex- clusively female, for want of opposition rather encouraged the tendency. In his club or amongst men such irrita- tion or i'll feeling as he had found more
 
 keep himself so that standard of per- sonal hearing which his own self es- l teem had set. perpetua1ly recalled him to himself. But at home this, though it would not have been possible for stranger to find fault with any part of his manner or bearing. still kept at such times was content to rest in un- noticed quiet. Even Judy the daring kept her natural exuberance in control the rest of the family in a sort of hushed self-surrender. Joy knew well the storm signals and effaced herself as far as possible she loved her father too we'll and respected him too much to do or say anything which might cause him disquiet or tend to lower him in his own eyes.
 Judy on this as on other occasions maintained a strictly neutral position. But her wits were keener and her eyes more observant even than usual on that very account. She did not know the cause of her brother-in-law's dis turbance. but she understood it all the same. Few things there are which lead so directly to the elucidation of truth as a clever, unselfish woman on the watch
 Silence rather than speech was the order of the day. and the talking, such as it was, begun with Colonel Ogilvie. Men when they are carrying out a set tied intention or policy can be more silent than woman; their nerves are stronger and their nature more fixed. But in the casual matters of life they are children in the hands of women. Here were three women. all of them clever. all of them attached to the man and all respecting him; but they had only to remain neutral, each in her individual way. and let him overcome the wis inertia as well as he could. He could not but be aware that the sub- ject of the guest of last evening had been tacitly avoided. He had been con- scious of such in his own case. and with the egotism which was so marked part of his own character he took it for granted that the avoidance was with others due to the same cause as with himself. It was therefore with something like complacency-if such thing could be suchronous with irrita- bf1ity. even if one of the two be in latent condition-that he began on the deferred subject:
 "I am afraid that our guest last night did not enjoy himself?' There was silence for a few seconds. Then each of the three listeners, feeling that one. spoke suddenly and simultaneous ly:
 Why Lucius. what do you mean?"
 You surprise me, Colonel!"
 'Is that so, Daddy!"
 He waited deliberately before saying more: he had been thinking over the subject and knew what he wanted to say. Then he spoke with an air of settled conviction: q
 "Yes, my dear!" He spoke to Joy alone. and thus. to all three. uncon- scfously gave away his purpose. "I thought so at the time, and to-day, whenever I have considered the mat ter. the conviction has increased Mrs. Ogilvie. seeing on her daughters face certain hardening of the muscles. took it for granted that it was some form of cha grin; in a protective spirit she tried to make that matter right,
 My dear Lucius, I really cannot see how you arrive at such a conclusion. It seemed to me that the young man -@-- happiness. I could not help noticing the way he kept looking at Joy. And indeed no wonder after the gallant way he had saved her 1ffe." She added the last sentence a subtle way of re- minding her husband that they were all under obligation to the young gen. tleman Moreover there was in her heart as a mother-and all mothers are the same in this resDect-tnat feeling of pride in her daughter which de- mands that all men shall be attracted by her charms. No matter how detri- mental a man may be. nor how deter mined she is that his suit shall not be finally successful. a mother considers it the duty of the young man to love her daughter and desire her.
 Joy somehow felt humiliated. It was not merely that she should be the cen Ire of such a. discussion after all it was through rescuing her that he was there at all; but she was hurt and disappointed that this particular man should. be discussed in any way She had seen no fault in him; nothing to discuss in his conduct or his bearing or his words or his person. She her self had admired him immensely. He was somehow different from all the other men she had ever seen. Then pride came to her rescue. Not pride for herself, but for him. Tn her heart he was her man and she had to protect his honour; and she would do so. if necessary. This idea at once schooled her to restraint, and stee1ed her to endure. With an unconscious shrug she remained silent.
 But Judy's keen eyes had been on her and both her natural sympathy and the experience of her own. heart allowed her to interpret pretty well. She snw that for Joys sake-efther now or hereafter-some opposition to the CoIonePs idea was necessary She had noticed the settled loOk--it had not vet become a. frOwn-which came over