Year: 1874

torrent oil explanations winch Cne lauy ulu
not even hear. She had thrown herself
back in her seat, her face shrouded in her
thick veil, silent, and unconscious of every
thing passing around her. The farmer
closed the door, and the coachman drove
on before the young man recovered from
the astonishment into which the whole
scene had thrown him.


The lady did not move or speak, and her
face was SO completely concealed by her
veil that he could not catch another
glimpse of her features. They drove on for
some time in utter silence, at length, the
righteousness of the scene struck his quick
fancy so vividly that he could with difficulty
restrain langh.


81 cannot thank you, madam, for your
Kindness" he said, "but--"


She gave sudden start at the sound of
his voice, as if she had forgotten his pres
ence. William paused, fearful that his
but after a little she said, in low, hurried
tone.


Did they not say you were hurt %


" 1t is nothing, madam, my horse fell
with me and hurt my arm somewhat, but
can very well bear the pain"


She returned no answer, but Sears
caught the repetition of the word in a slow
undertone. She spoke no more, and he
would not again intrude upon her medita-
tion. He longed for another view Of that
pale countenance contracted with some
terrible suffering, and marveled who the
woman could be with whom he found him
self SO unexpectedly thrown. The silence,
and the remembrance of those wild eyes
brought back the sorrowful feelings of the
morning, mingled with his curiosity and
aroused compassion.


That face reminded him OF something, but
he could not tell what; he knew no one
who resembled it, and yet the likeness was
there. Then came thought, it was like a
book that he had read, yes, book which
had inspired him with an interest no tale
had ever done before. 1t was story OF
vague suffering like his own, record Of
patient endurance breaking at last from its
passive misery to the sharp agonies Of de.
spair. Such was the expression of that
face-his poet glance had read it in that
believed her akin to one of its characters.
Then he smiled at his own folly and strove
to think about something else, but the
idea would recur with pertinacity which
wearied him.


His unknown companion sat there silent
and immovable, and after time the pain
in his arm caused Sears to descend from
his poetic romance to the commonplace
reality of physical suffering.


The coachman drove rapidly on, and they
reached the outskirts of the city before
William was aware. Then he forgot his
discomfort in the desire to hear that voice
once more, and impress it firmly upon his
mind. He tried to frame some expression
of thanks and regret, but the words re.
mained unuttered, not from feeling of
timidity, but the knowledge of the suffer
ing which that woman endured, and how
harshly commonplace would jar upon hel
strained nerves. Hr1f .


So they drove on until the coachmar
himself came to halt, and tapped upor
the glass back of him to attract their at
tentiOn. iH
Ask the lady where shall drive hel
to, he said, when William opened it.


She did not appear to heed him, and
Sears repeated the question.


"Ho wishes to know where he shall sci
you down, madam"


sho half rose and partially threw bach
: her veil like one amazed.
"Where?" she muttered, "where?"
She sank back in her seat-in all that
great city was Mrs. Lennox, for she was
the occupant of the carriage could think O.
no friend of whom she could claim protec
tion William felt rather than understood
her hesitation, but the coachman called
out, ~
= 81 didn't understand, where shall
drive to?' nr 1tfal
The lady strove to recall her thoughts
and after another pause gave the address
of q woman who had once been servan
in her house-of all the many with whom
her station and wealth had given her in
huence, that poor domestic was the onl!
one to whom she could look in that terrible
hour 9fafad slia ad aa lA a8
They turned down the narrow street sh'
! indicated, and thecarriage drew up before
: ahouse that looked dingy and dilapidateC
l I avan In tha lipht froro tba e4raat Gaar