The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-02-04

thNh' WIN Nafth AAtN aiNAfr M'ss
even after an hours separation OF
course abe notieed this aud. bend.
ing low above her sewing wondered
why
II seemed TO him for a moment as
Z though he were looking al woman
I be had heard about and had Just met
\ for the trxt time. His observation of
her now was lelsnrely. calm aud thor
ough-not so calm. however. when,
impatient Of his rcticence bending
there over her work, she raised her
dark blue eyes TO his. her head ~
naming lowered The sweet silent
inspection lasted but a moment Then
she resumed her stitches, aware thar
something In him had changed since
she last had seen him But she mere
ly smiled quietly to herself, confident
OF his unalsered devotion In spite Of
the strangely hard and unrcsponsive
gaze that had uneaslly evaded hers.
As her white fingers dew with the
glimmerins needle she reflected on con-
uhovhr - euS hhu feit tntlh VIVA
ago. A week ago between him and
her the most perfect OF understand
ings existed. aud the consciousness OF
II she had carried with her every mo-
ment In the country amid the Icy tum-
BILE OF the surf. on long. vigorous walks
over the greening hills where wild
moorland winds whipped like million
fairy switches till the young blood fair
ly sang pouring through her veins.
Since that-some time within the
week evidently had hap
pened to him here In the city while
she had been away. Whati
As she bent above the fine linen gar.
ment on her knee, needle flying. a sud
den memory stirred coidly-the recol.
lection Of her ride with Rosamund-
and instinctively her clear eyes Hew
open. and she raised her head, turning
directly toward him disturbed gaze
he did not this time evade
In silence their regard fingered: then.
satisfied, she smiled again, saying,
Have ] been away 80 long that we
must begin all over. Captain Selwyn"
Begin what. EileenT
ITO remember that the silence OF
selfish preoccupation Is privilege ]
have not accorded your
81 didn't mean TO be preoccupied."
"Oh, worse and worsew She shook
her head and began TO thread the nee
die. IL see that my weeks absence
has not been very good for you.
knew II the moment you came In with
all that guilty. absentminded effrontery
which | have forbidden"
He colored up as he took her hand
In his. Then they both laughed at the
very vigorous shake.
"What horribly unfriendly creature
you can be-" said Eileen. "Never a |
greeting, never even formal express
sion Of pleasure at my return"
"You have not returned" he said,
smiling. "You have been with me ev-
cry moment, Eileen"
"What pretty tribute~ she exclaim-
ed. II am beginning to recognize
traces Of my training after ALL
When the children came In they left
the nursery together and descended
the stairs to the library. Austin had
Just come In, and he looked up from
his solitary cup OF tea as they en-
tered
Hello, youngstersl What conspiracy
are you up to nowf | suppose you
shifted the tea and have come to de-
prive me- BY the way, Phil hear
that you've sprung the trap on those
Siowitha people"
'Neergard has, l believe"
well, isn't 1t Az onef"
"No, II is not" retorted Selwyn 30
bluntly that Eileen turned from the
window at sound In his voice which
she had never before heard.
"Ohw Austin stared over his sus.
pended teacup, then drained It. "Trou.
bic with our friend JullusY he In
quired.
'No trouble. merely severed my
connection with him"
"Ah! Wben?"
"This morning"
'Tn that case" said Austin. laugh.
ing, i've a job for you
"No, old fellow. and thank you with
all my heart I've, half made up my
mind to live on my income for awhile
and take up that chaosite matter
again"
"And blow yourself TO smlthereens!
Why spatter nature thusi"
mo fear" said Sewyn, laughing
"And II 1t promises anything ! may
come to you for advice on how to start
Il commercially"
III II doesn't start you heavenward
you shall have my advice from snfe
distance. I'll telegraph It," said Aus
In. But. II It's not personal, why on
earth have you shaken NeergardY
And Selwyn answered simply: Il
don't like him. That Is the reason,
Austin"
The children from the bead OF the
stairs were now shouting demands for
their father, and Austin rose, pretend
ing TO grumble.
Those confounded kids! A man Is
never permitted a moment to himself.
Is Nina up there, Elleen7 oh, all right!
Excuses, etc. III be back pretty soon.
You'll stay to dine. PhilY'
Il don't think SO"
"Yes, he Will stay" said Eileen calm
y.
And when Austin had gone she walk.
"a swiftly over to where selwyn was
standing and looked him directly In the