Year: 1860

vide and too. short for you. All, I have IL,
Charlie will accommodate you; he was Just
about your build


One in hand, Lord Charles Deyereux had
quietly sauntered out after our host. I was
delighted to find him here, for he was a great
fayorIte with me. He was not very bright.
certainly, but there was not more warm
hearted, good-natured fellow in Her Majesty's
service, and he was, as he deserved, a univer-
sal favorite


Why, Lloyd, old fellow" he said; "I
thought from your not turning up, you had
been tooling the mail yourself, and spillipg
the concern. So you want some toggerye
well, dare say can find you something"


mad no doubt OF 1t, for dress was one of his
strong points.


And there is the dressing bell >" exclaimed
LleWellyn, $50 you have not too much time
before Dinner. Be of, both of you. and, mind.
girls"


Il don't STIR 1 said, "till you promise not
to wait dinner an instant for me- neither
wish to be hurried out of my wits, nor to be
worried by the thought that am keeping you
waiting"


"Well, promise" he replied, "but be as
quick as you can. Look your best though, for
have two such killing damsels here You
and Charlie must toss up to decide which each
Of you is to cOnfne his attentions to. or Won





1t was some time before could get comfort
ably dry; my hair and vhiskers especially
being like sponge. When / entered the
dlning-room they we're seated at the table and
went to the head OF it to greet my hostess. a
charming woman still in the prime of her
beauty; a model English matron, with the
single fault of being an inveterate match
maker


After welcoming me che turned and intro
duced me TO Miss Lloyd and Miss Catharine
Lloyd. started. and my heart heat wildly;
Tor there before me was my friend of the opera


In an instant the old feve had returned 1
was enthralled anew. And, to my 10y, | saw
that her recognition also was instantaneous;
that there was a smile on her lip and a faint
glow on her cheek, as sprang forward to take
her hand.


so you know each other already, exclaimed
Mrs. Llewellyn. "Ah, Mona. he is the surgeon
who dressed your wound. Why did you not
tell me so2'


II did not know you were friends" she re-
Piled, calmly, having perfectly regained her
cOmposure.


You do not recognize ne, though we have
met, said laughing voice at my elbow.


1t was another surprise for me. for there sat
the supposed peasant girl. But after that first
shock nothing could move me. and / replied
coolly, ''Ah, the Kitten told you I should
soon find you out"


What, another mystery :" said Llewellyn


Il went to the village when the sun came
out, she resumed, and borrowed Nannie's
cloak to como back through the rain or
should have been late for dinner Mr.. Lloyd
gave me half his umbrella, taking me all the
time for village girl


You acted the part admirably" I said
"and seemed bent on turning the fine gentle
mans head. -


An overpowering sense of Mona LIoyd's
beauty was filling my whole being, and was
immeasurably vexed at finding myself drawn
into this bantering conversation with her
cousin But very different from my usual
habit, which was to parade my devotion,
now had an eager wish to hide what was ex-
periencing


Still, whenever could do so unobserved. I
stole glance at Mona. And each look tight
ened, II possible, the chain that was binding
me.


"SOon after we rejoined the ladies, sthe Kit
ten challenged Charlie to game of billiards.
and they left the room. Presently they returned
with an appeal for a decision on some knotty
point, to unravel which the LIewellyns accom-
panied them to the billiard-rCOm. | was left
alone with Mona, and positively trembled as
l approached her.


Il received your ring" said, land value
1t duly. 1t has never left my finger since"
mo. no. L was almost ashamed to offer il
to you" she replied, 'but it would serve 10
show that appreciated your kindness -
II have given directions about it in my will
for it to be buried with me-" l added. in
reply to her look of inquiry.
The soft air of timidity. the feeting blush
filed me with transport
why did you leave without giving me the
least clue ~ l asked more tenderly. =. made
every effort to trace you"


Her charming confusion though il gladdened
me, might be painful to. her, and fastened to
continue: II had bracelet to return to you;
let me clasp it on your arm"


1t was close at hand, for being a gold chain
bracelet, had attached it to my watch. As |
fastened the snap my eye fell upon the white
seem slightly msrriDg the symmetry of an arm
which Hebes could not rival.


You will always carry that mark, l said
''How the sight of an injury to you panied me,''


As L spoke l pressed the scar with NV
feversd lips. Instantly L was aroused from
my happy dream, for her arm was snatched
away, and her glorious eyes flashed fire.


How could | have imagined she had any ten
der feeling for me! Her confusion must have
sprung from annoyance.


The days few by at Llandethryn, for if I
was not happy, was the next best thing to it,
always excited. Daily my infatuation became
greater. would willingly have torn myself
away, but had not the power


Yet cherished an insane self-delusion.
mere latter of belief that no one saw what
was going on, and to keep up this ignorance
abstalned from any manifestation of prefer
ence for Mona. But with all the unreasonable
ness Of human nature, was panied when she
seconded my efforts, stunning me and shrink
ing from me, as was too often the case


AT such times l would fall back upon fthe
Kitten" who gave me a ready, but half
mocking welcome.


Presently found that there was something
like this in the case of Devereux He too
drew near Mona with kind of timidity, as if
he dreaded that each advance might be re-
pulsed. With the Kitten he seemed, on the
contrary, quite at ease, and their lively sallies
often wound up with a regular romp. And L,
Judging from my own feelings, imagined that
our cases were the same-that he felt no more
than friendship for the Kitten, while he loved
Mona. Still worse, sometimes gnashed my
teeth with frenzy, as thought she might re-
turn his affection.


One of the worst features in the case was
that Devereux never uttered to me a word on
the subject, though every night he smoked his
cigar in my bedroom, and chatted with his
usual simple frankness. He was just the man
to rely implicitly upon the advice of some
friend, and for long time now he had done
me the honor of setting me in the post of Men
tor.


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