The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-15
(Continued.l

Whilst he was beside her at din-
 ner she was in an ecstacy. Every | fibre of her being quivered in response
 to his. And yet, such as the influence
 did not detract from her outward
 calm. When the ladies had left the
 table she had gone out with her arm | round Aunt Judy's waist as was the
 convention of the time, and her smile ! had not lost its frank gentility. But
 in every truth she did not feel like
 smiling. She would have given any
 thing to have stolen away to her own | room and have lain on her bed, face
 down and have thought, and thought,
 and thought. The whole thing had
 come on her so suddenly. Even the
 little preparation which she had had
 at the auction-the beautiful horse
 at the auction-the beautiful horse and the fine-looking master
 full man who bought him l I- did not seem to count. | As he had swept past her in the Drive,
 man and horse seen singly seemed su- perb; but together a dream. Still there was nothing to fix it in her mind. There needs some personal quality to fix a dream; just as the painter re-
 quires a mordant to hold his colours to the canvas. But such luxuhy or thought would have to be postponed. It would come, of course-later in the
 night when there would be loneliness
 and silence. So she had to content herself and wait
 When MT. Hardy came back to the drawing-room arm in arm with her father her heart thrilled. It seemed like a promise of hope if not hope it.
 self. Aunt Judy, ever watchful, saw and understood. To her seeing eyes and understanding nature there was
 unconscious pantomime-those impul- sive expressions of thought made through the nerves; the eager half turning of the ear to catch the sound i0F@ <, s,;,, and the passing of the feet in the passage way; the uplifting of the head as the drawing-rcom door began to open; the glad look in the eyes and the quick intake of the breath as she saw the attitude of the two men, each to the other.
 As he came in Ath1yne looked at her:
 a look that seemed to lay any ghost of doubt in her mind. She was glad when he went straight across the room
 and began to talk with her mother. She was content to wait till when,
 having done his social duties. he would
 much to say and detained him. Judy
 thought, unduly; but Joy gave no pos sible sign of impatience. When in due
 course he spoke a few words to Judy
 herself that estimable young lady man. aged to find something to say to her sister.
 When the guest was at last beside
 her in her corner of the room Joy felt
 
 matter how willing woman may be
 to take steps to the accomplishments of her own wishes. it is an added pleasure to her when she is the object
 of man rather than his pursuer. Even the placid pussy-cat when her
 thoughts tend to- irritation runs-slow- 1y-from her mate until she sees that he notices her going. Then she stops and sings to him-irf her own manner of musicals he approaches.
 The two young people did not use many words in their speech; such seemed inadequate for what they had to say. Suffice it that what they did say was thoroughly understood.
 Athlyne did not prolong his stay, much as he would have enjoyed stay ing. He felt that it would be better, in every way if he did not enforce his first opportunity. Mrs. Ogilvie very graciously hoped that he would man age to make them a visit before sail ing. Joy said nothing-in words He had a little conversation with Colonel Ogflvis who was standing away from the rest and leaning on the chimney piece.
 When he had gone Joy said good night to them all: she felt that at
 present she could not talk the little common-places of affectionate life; and
 she could not bear to hear him" dis cussed. If that acute reasoner on
 causes and effects in the female mind,
 Aunt Judy. mad been able to permeate her heart and brain she would at once nave uIu0ISIOOu ClIdl SlHlple way OI
 accepting a mans personality-simu-
 lacrum. What need is there to differ entiate when there is but one. Names
 are given as aids to memory; and at times memory ceases to be an import ant matter.
 The Eext evening after dinner MT. Hardy became the subject of conver- sation. and Joy was not comfortable.
 She knew that there must be divergent views regarding any one. and was con- tent to let them all have their own
 opinions She had hers. Indeed she would not have been wholly content to hear him praised even up to the per lection which she allowed him. He was by far too personal a possession of her own to share even community of feeling regarding him with any one.
 In the night that had passed her own feeling had grown, multiplied; the feelings of the others had changed too
 but in different way. The glamour which had become for her intensified had for them been lost in the exact ness of perspective. Perhaps it was that Joys night had been different from theirs. To her had come all the evils of reaction. Now and again with wearing recurrency came the exciting memories of the day; but always with that kaleidcscopic inconsistency which is the condition of dreaming. The brains of most people are not accus- toned to self analysis, else we should perhaps more widely understand that this very inconsistency is mere repro duction. Whilst we think we do not think that we are thinking, and mem ory does not adjust our thoughts to comparison. But, all the time. our thoughts are really errant; reflections of the night, which seem to be exag- gerations or caricatures, are but just surveys taken from an altitude which is not cur own. In the day time thought is too often initiated by car nal or material considerations. Selfish ness, and need. and ambition, and anxiety are bases which thought is built in working and waking hours But in the dark and freedom of the night the mind borrows the wings of the soul and scars away from the body which is held down by all it's weighty restraints. It is perhaps in such mo- ments that we realize that passion however earthly may be it's exciting cause, is in itself an attribute or eruanation of the Soul. Over and over iEl Icxr li1ro 11crla