Year: 1873

husbands statement So pleasant was the
impression made upon the good lady Of the
house by her visitors, that as soon as they
were gone she exclaimed to one of her daugh
tiers, who had been present,


upon my word, Jane, l think MIR. Stan
ley is one of the most agreeable and polite
gentlemen I ever met; I wish your father
would make it point to become more socia
BILE with him. His wife is sweet, pretty
young thing, too was quite delighted with
her modest, sensible manner"


At the next house they went to, the same
scene was enacted, and with equally favora'
BILE results.


For several succeeding days the programme
thus arranged was carried out until finally
all the long-neglected acquaintance had been
visited, and convinced that it was entirely the
misfortune and not the fault, of the Stanleys,
that they had hitherto seen so little of them


Lucy knew her husband too we'll to ques-
ton or demonstrate with him upon the line OF
conduct he had seen fit to adopt, and he never
touched upon the subject when alone with her,
or volunteered any explanation. Her truth
full and upright nature revolted at anything
approaching deception; but as Stanley treated
the matter so coolly she was forced to believe
that he saw no harm in the circulation of this
polite fiction.


Her life was now much more cheerful than
formerly, as she began to receive and return
visits, and her husband encouraged her to
drive out frequently, appearing as anxious
now to get her out of doors as he had former
ly been to keep her in the house.


When at home, the society of little Claude
was great pleasure to her. He was an
ahiable and afectionate boy, intelligent be-
yond his years, but with slight tinge of mel
ancholy in his nature, that made him more
silent and thoughtful than children of his age
usually are.


Her first impression of Mrs. Ford was not
softened by farther acquaintance with her.
1t was true that she saw her but seldom, for
when not engaged with her duties she usually
retired to her own apartment in the "west
wing" in the vicinity of the disused and
boarded-up apartment. Whenever they did
come in contact, however, she was more than
ever repelled by the woman's whole appear
ance and manner. Her stealthy, cat-like way
of moving-her soft, deceitful voice-her sly,
uncandid glances, and above all, her peculiar
smile, invariably gave Lucy the sensation of
having snake or some such loathsome rep
tile, come across her path, and made her de-
sirous of escaping, as quickly as possible, from
her vicinity. Occasionally she was forced to
give her directions in the way Of housekeep-
ing, which she always hurried over as briefly
as she could, while the housekeeper would
listen with deferental air, answering in the
smoothest and softest monosyllables, and
glancing up, from time to time, with sly
CLEAN in her narrow greenish-gray eyes, as if
experiencing malignant pleasure in the dis
agreeable sensations she knew Lucy was en-
during from her presence.


Stanley, on the contrary, appeared to enter
tain the highest opinion of the woman, to
whom he always spoke in the most courteous
and considerate way, and whose good quail
ties he was never weary Of praising and COM
menting on to his wife.


Lucy was surprised to find them occasional
ly holding an interview in some entry or out
ofthe-way room, engaged apparently in con-
versation of most absorbing nature. Stan
ley always accounted for these interviews,
however, by saying, in an easy way, that che
was consulting with Mrs. Ford about the ne
cessity of an additional closet in the house
keepers room," or che was asking Mrs. Ford
to speak to the cook about her way of pre-
pairing certain dish," or giving some other
reason equally plausible and trifing.


Lucy, however, could not divest herself of a
certain feeling of suspicion in regard to the
matter, and more than once, when meeting
them thus unexpectedly together, she detected
the semblance of flush on Mrs. Fords sal
low face, or an uneasy expression on her hus-
bands, which led her to believe that there
was some mystery aaoat of which they were
cognizant, and which they did not desire to
reveal to her.


Her suspicious being thus aroused, she be-
came more watchful; but apparently they had
been groundless, or else both her husband
and the housekeeper were on their guard, for
after one or two surprises of this nature she
never met them in conversation with each
other again.


One day when her husband was out, and
she was preparing for drive, little Claude
came to her, and in low tone said,


"Please, aunt Lucy, may 60 with you ?"


"Certainly, my dear, if you wish it," she
replied. "You can accompany me any time
you like, if it gives you pleasure"


"Mrs Ford said must not ask" he con-
tinued in the same tone; "but thought you
would not mind"


"Of course not" said Lucy. "Mrs. Ford
has nothing to do with your going out with
me-"


The little boy ran off for his cap, and was
returning with it in his hand when the house
keeper suddenly made her appearance in the
entry, and inquired in sharp tone where he
was going.


81 am going in the carriage with aunt Lu'
cy," he replied.


"Did your uncle say you might" she asked


81 didn't ask uncle" said the boy in timid
voice, twisting his cap irresolutely in his hand
as he spoke "Aunt Lucy said"


"Boy, YOU are left in my CHARGE" said the