The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-17
LADY ATHLYNE
Copyright, 1908, by BRAM STOKER ltered at Stationer's Hall--An rights reserve
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 Judy did not comprehend exactly what the trouble was. She could see thAt there was restraint on both sides and was wondering whether it haG been possible that he had been speak ing too impulsively-"going too quick was the way she put it to herself-and that Joy had resented or feared it Not the fact but the rapidity. Vel Judy knew that in her youth a woman most holds back when the widest de sire of her heart is to rush forward; draw man on. she will spend the last ounce of her strength in pushing him back. Judy had once said:
 "A woman wants a man to be mas ter, and specially to be her master. She wants to feel that when it comes to a struggle she hasn't got chance with him. either to fight or to run away. That's why we like to make a to run after hin1-and to catch him Up!" Some of her circle to whom the , heterdox saying had been repeated professed to be very indignant as well as mortified. This was chiefly notice able iii such of the most elderly of the good ladies as had a lurid past or a large family. or both-
 If. however, Judy had any doubts as to the cause she had none whatever of the fact. There was no mistakfng the droop of Joys eyes. or the sudden lifting and quick dropping of the lids which makes the densest mans heart dutter; no mistaking his eager look; the glowing eyes ranging over face and form when the windows of her soul I were closed, and entranced in their light when they were open. Judy her self knew the power of those grey, deep eyes. Even when her niece had H,eer1 Ia1, ood ,rr, nfI hi 10 hypnotic about them. They could dis arm anger. or change the iron of theory into the water of fact. Often the matter over she had said to her. self:
 'Lordl if she's like that as a baby with me, what will she be with a man when she's a woman!' Judy who was a self-observer knew instinctively that in Joy was an inherent influence over men, There was some very subtle, delicate force which seemed to eman- ate from her; some force at once com polling and tranquillizing. for the ex- was insufficient. The power was now in active exercise; but it was turned 1nwards. Joy was in love! Judy knew it as well as if she had herself ack- nowledged it: indeed better. for the acknowledgment of such a secret. ex- cept to the man himself. is given with reserve. And so she made up her mind to further the affair: but to prevent Joy DeITay1ng nerSen unOuiy OurInS such furtherance By 'sunduly'' Judy really meant 'unwisely" as to ulti- mate and most complete efficacy.
 She had an idea that Joy herself would approve. at present of such dis erection. It seemed a direct conf1rma- ton of such idea when presently the girl said to her in a faint whisper:
 Don't go away again Aunt Judy!"
 When. however, in the course of con- versation as the three sat chatting to- r<cfy7 7ar>-h ha nd that his ship sailed in the early morn ing and she saw the colour, leave the girls cheeks for a moment, just as white sQuaI1 sweeps sunlit sea, Judy's heart softened. She understood that retreating wave of colour. Nature has It's own analogies to its own anomalies; there is a white blackbird, why not white blush! So when the time drew near for the departure of the visitor Judy slipped away for a minute. When she had gone the two sat still. Ath-l lyne's eyes were on Joy, eager, burn ing. Her eyes were down, the black 1ashes curling against her cheeks. In a voice rather husky he said in a low tone:
 Won't you think of me sometimes till we meet again?" Her answer was fer-of-fact tone. but the slight quaver dn 1t told another story:
 ssOf course T shall! How can help 1t? You saved my lifei" There was an entrancing demureness in the down cast eyes. But it was not enough for the man. He wanted to see the eyes, to gaze in them, to lose himself in them once again. There is for each individual nature some distinctive way of ex- pressing itself. Sometimes it is the mouth which tells the story; sometimes it is by simple existence such as the lines of the nose or forehead. by the shape and movement of the hands; sometimes by a characteristic habit. Joys nature spoke through the eyes; perhaps it is. that intention is best given by the eyes Anyhow the lover wanted to see them.
 In low voice-not a whiSper-that thrilled with intensity he said:
 Joy. look at mel" He spoke her name. though it was for the first time quite unconsciously. As she heard ii Joys heart beat so that she feared he would notice it. and all the self-pro- fectfve instincts of womanhood rose at the thought. For an instant her face giowed; then it grew pale again. She did not hesitate. however. She raised her eyes and looked him full in the face. Her cheeks were flaming now. but she did not heed it. In the face | of nature what. after all, is conven- ton. As Athlyne lost himself in those 1 wonderful eyes he had a wild almost l desire to take her in | his arms and kiss her straight on the | beautiful mouth He was bending to- | wards her for the purpose. she was
 
 for long afterwards he could not be l sure of the matter. But suddenly he saw a change in the | girls face. a look of something like | terror which seemed in an instant to | turn her to stone It was but mo- change. however. The spasm | passed. and, just as though it was to | his eyes as If he had walked from a | dream, she was her easeful self again. | At the same moment the outer door of | the piece opened and Mrs. Ogilvie's | voice was heard as she entered:
 Judy. I am so glad! I am told he has not gone yet. I should have been so sorry if had not seen him!'' When she entered the room, three seconds later. she found the two young people talking quietly according to the de- mure commonplace of convention.
 Mrs. Ogilvie was very hearty in her a little mere hearty than usual, for she had a sort of feeling as If something extra in the way of civil ty was due to him after the way her husband had spoken of him. This was