THE RURAL MEW-VORKER. 
vory sacred thhjg—t never lightly use the word— 
and [ cannot hub say that for Lady Chevenix of 
(Jarswood and a very hard-working lawyer there 
ican he no common ground." 
“ 1 hove known you all my 1110," she said. 
lie looked at her—he did liol.speak; It scorned to 
him that lurthorspeech would he imprudent. Her 
eyes fell before the clear, honest gaze; there was 
no reproach in It, no upbraiding, hut it, reached the 
depths of her soul. 
They came to the end of the path; lie did not 
turn back. There was a garden-chair; she sat 
down upon it, and he passed on with a low bow. 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
Lady CJicvcnlx and Felix Lonsdale did not, meet, 
again for some time, sir Owen had not made a 
very favorable impression at Untiubor Towers. 
The Earl had Invited him, with Ids beautiful young 
wife, to a grand ball, but Felix was not present, 
and Sir Owen forgot, himself so far as to drink loo 
much, and then, when Intoxicated, to use coarse 
.language. 
In September sir Owen was Invited to be present 
at a grand political banquet given at ordstone, 
and Felix made one of the most telling speeches of 
the night. It. was so eloquent, so mugnlllennt. In 
Its true, noble ideas, Its picturesque langtuige, 
that he became popular; a man who could speak 
so well ought to be in Parliament, tho leaders 
said—and It seemed very probable that at the next 
election Felix would stand an excellent, chance. 
Sir <>wen was atari,led; he thought a groat deal 
about “young Lonsdale.” Willi all Ills own dense 
stupidity, ho was capable of admiring great talent 
In others. Another tiling struck him. During the 
banquet, lie sal, next to Captain Hill, who told him 
that he heard Lord Arlington say that the wisest 
act ion of Ids life was t he placing of his affairs In 
the hands of Da ivy and Felix Lonsdale, sir u wen 
thought a great deal of that; a good, clever, trust¬ 
worthy land-agent was a person he bad long de¬ 
sired above Jill others, and, ll t he Lonsdalea served 
Lord Arlington so faithfully, they would perhaps 
serve him In a like manner, lie thought over tt, 
some days before he mentioned the subject to his 
wife. 
lie knew that bo was deficient, In business ca¬ 
pacity. in his sober and most sensible moments 
he owned that. .Study learning o! any kind -bad 
always been irksome to him. lie never had read 
anything but the dally newspapers and some ol 
the sporting prints; he could not write a letter 
properly, and he bad Just Sense sufficient to know 
Ids own shortcomings. ] 
One morning he received a number of letters 1 
that puzzled him -some documents that he could 
not understand were sent for him to sign. 1 
“;a man may sign ids whole fortune away with- f 
out knowing it,” be said. “I wish 1 had some 1 
clever mah to see In it, all for me. Arlington has 1 
none ot Mils trouble, j know.” 
Lady < lievenlx, in her graceful mornlng-cos- 1 
tunic, sat opposite to him. They bad just finished I 
breakfast., and that was, as a rule, Ids most amiable t 
hour, lie looked up at his wife suddenly; be bad 
never consulted her on any business before, and r 
would not, have done so now but that she knew the 
Lonsdales. 
“Violet,” he said, “what a clever man that I r 
young Lonsdale 13 ! He la making quite a. good 
position lor himself. I should not. be surprised to ji 
hear of hts getting Into Parliament." r 
lie did not notice the Hush on her face or her I 1) 
agitation, sue did not know what answer to make d 
—she dared not. say she was glad, sir Owen did 
not want an answer, lie went on— “ 
“I have been Mdiiktug of asking him to be my ri 
land-agent: they say lie does so well for Arlington. t- 
I really cannot grapple with all these matters my- A 
self; and be seems to be the only man about here 
who lias u head worth carrying on Ids shoulders. vv 
I wonder ir he would undertake the post If I asked 
him, violet?” n 
“ l can not tell -I do not know,” she replied. 
“ But you must; surely you must havesome Idea d) 
—you have known them a long time. What do you pi 
think ?” gj 
“ I should say the Lonsdales would be very pleas¬ 
ed; they ought to be. You would pay them well, “ 
of course ?” Jl( 
“ 1 should be quite willing to give live hundred alt 
year; but then J should expect all my work done w 
lor that. I pay jilmost as much as that, now in one 
way and another. 1 think 1 shall go and see them In 
about It, Violet.” « 
“It woul<l be the wisest plan,” she said. loi 
“ Young Lonsdale has not shown any great anx- an 
lety to visit us,” he continued, with a sneering Ei 
laugh. “ Perhaps he has not quite forgiven me wt 
about you -eh, violet V—though he did notseem. to So 
care about It,.” ^ 
“ De iti'S forgotten all that nonsense,” said Vlo- ov 
let. “ I do nol believe he remembers even that we < 
were friends.” I ga 
“ ' So much t he better. I sha ll call to-day and see coi 
them H young Lonsdale consents, J will make on 
him come and dine with us. He dines often enough dr< 
at Brarnbor Towers. I hope he will consent. I he 
thought of tra veling next year, and I should enjoy Oh 
my trip much bet ter It l left him in command.” frt 
“ I hope you will succeed,” she replied—and she 
did hope so; sue would have been glad of anything 1 j, 
that would have loreed Felix into her society. She sin 
Avas lonely In spite ot all her grandeur, and there s 
were times will'll site was dreadfully tried. )H j 
it was bard work to live with Mr Owen ; she had CO j 
to watch him incessantly to study Ids humors, to W || 
obey him readily; she had less real liberty than “ 
the wife ot many a poor peasant, .she would beso tlili 
pleased It she could sop Felix sometimes—not that tha 
she wanted any allusion even to their former ae- r ,,,. 
qualiiUtiec bm slm iiovarKnnw what, that, sweet s 
sunny presence of jus had been te her life until lie me 
had passed out. of it. “ 
If they could meet .sometimes, and laugh as they ■> 
used to laugh over all the little comic scenes anil s 
sensations Lllford afforded, if shecouldtulk to him arid 
of some of the thoughts and Ideas that began to 
crowd upon her mind and brain, showould be rvell g- ra 
pleased; there Avas always a sense of something pie 
ivanting, something missing. In her life, So she 
hoped that he would consent to act as Sir Owen’s 
agent. Surely she should see 1 dm occasionally. 
Her husband was not a pleasant companion, and 
at times, when her nerves and patience were over¬ 
taxed, she Avould go to her mother with a long list 
of complaints. Rut Mrs. ll aye was always diplo¬ 
matic. .Sim would listen with every appearance 
of sympathy; she would condole with her daugh¬ 
ter, and Mien she would say, “ Every ivlfe, my 
dear, has a good deal to undergo; the foolish one's 
talk about, their I,rouble, the wise ones keep it to 
themselves. After all, you must expect some lit t le 
drawback. You have wealth, title, grandeur, dia¬ 
monds, carriages, seivunlH; the only drawback Is 
your husband, and you must study to boar with 
him as well ns you can.” 
Tills was all that Lady Chevenix ever had from 
her mother. 
Francis Hayc would say to her at times— 
“ 1 do not like to interfere, Violet; but is all that 
I hear about your husband’s Intemperate habits 
true ?” 
“ l am afraid so, father,” she would reply; and 
t hen he would add - 
“Can you do nothing to check him? A wife 
should have some InUuence over her husband.” 
“I can do nothing,” she avouIU answer; and 
Mien her father would doubt whether, after all, 
things had happened lor the best. 
sir Owen rode over to Lllford and called at the 
1 office In Castle street. M' be had found Felix there, 
1 his request would have been refused; but Darcy 
1. Lonsdale was lu the office, and listened calmly t o 
5 what the Baronet had to say. 
, “ I cannot gi ve you an Immediate answer,” lie re¬ 
plied; “but, I will think over your proposition and 
1 1 * 1 . you It now our decision.” 
Sir owen stepped while he said something about 
his earnest desires, and he made some impression 
on Darcy Lonsdale by ills evident trust in him. 
once tho elder man was inclined to turn round and 
say, “You robbed my son of the greatest Joy of 
bis life—hts love and J will have nothing to do 
with you or anything belonging to you.” But, Men 
Avould have been undignified, and be bad learned 
Ills lesson of mercy. To him there was something 
almost pitiful lu the fact of this strong, coarse, 
rich man, unable to take care of Ids own, unable 
to hold Ills position Avltli dignity, appealing Lo him 
for the sensible management, that he could not, give 
himself. 
He would not decide hastily; he did not think 
his son Avould like the business. But live hundred 
per annum was a consideration; besides which. 
Darcy Lonsdale shrank H um the remarks that peo 
pie would make d ho refused such an ofTer. He 
said nothing about It until lie returned home at, 
night, and then lie found Eve Lest,or there, and the 
matter was revie wed m solemn cotuiell. 
“ I say take It,” urged Kate. “It, seems to me 
really, Darcy, that there Is an especial Providence 
for ns. Take lt„ by all means. It Is a sin to thro av 
live hundred a year away. 
“ M.v dear Kate, this ts more a matter of senti¬ 
ment than of money,” said Mr. Lonsdale. 
“lam of Kate’s opinion,” put, In Evelyn. “I 
quite think you should accept It. if you do not. 
people will say disagreeable t ilings.” 
“ r have thought, ot that, too. The general im¬ 
pression Avould be that Felix held some kind of 
resentment, against Lady ( lievenlx, or that lio 
had still some lingering liking left for her. What 
do you say yourself, Felix ?” 
“ My dear father. I will say nothing,” he smiled. 
“ It Is a matter ol utter Indifference to me. I do 
not see that, there Is the least connection be- 
tween Lady Chevenix and her husband’s agency. 
Acceptor decline it, Just, as you will.” 
“ If I accept it, ] will undertake to do all the 
work,” said Darcy Lonsdale. 
“ 'J’hen 1 avIII do more for you, so that you may 
not feel it,” said Felix. 
“There will bo one tiling,” remarked Mr. Lons¬ 
dale. “ir we take the agency, wo shall be com¬ 
pelled to visit, (Jarswood at times; and 1 do not 
know whether you would like that, Felix.” 
“1 shall neither like nor dislike it," be replied, 
“it is a matter of utter lndiiTereuoe to mo. 1 do 
not, like Mr owen. I confess; as to Lady Chevenix 
1 say nothing, ll we are compelled to visit them, 
avc must sutler thepenalty ot mixing In society.” 
lie spoke in a tone ol such perfect, ireedom and 
Indifference) that, Darcy Lonsdale said to himself. 
“ He has forgotten her;" but Kate and Eve both 
looked anxiously at him. He looked Indifferent,, 
and Kate thought, he achieved the victory; but 
Eve knew him better, and understood tiiat be 
Avould fight to the death but Avould never yield. 
So, after a long and animated discussion, it was 
decided that Darcy Lonsdale should write to sir 
owen and tell him that his offer was accepted. 
“ 1 am glad,” said Eve, “ tor I hear many poople 
say that unless matters improve the time avIU 
come when Lady Chevenix will badly want some 
one to look after her Interests, sir OAven drinks 
dreadfully, and has no thought of the hundreds 
he lavishes when he is not sober. Poor Lady 
Chevenix, with all her beauty may yet want a 
friend.” 
“ I hope not,” said Darcy Lonsdale kindly. “ if 
I have anything to do with Sir OAven’s affairs, I 
shall do my best always lor her." 
So Mm mat ter Avas sett led, and Sir <hvon, when 
lie read the note In which Mr. Lonsdale gave Ids 
consent, was grateful. He took it at once to ids 
wife. 
“They have consented,” he said. “Now from 
this day henceforth 1 shall load a happy life; all 
that reading and wrlUng and worry was too much 
for me. I was tired ot it.” 
she road the note, and laid It down without com- ! 
meat,. 
“ Are you pleased, Violet ?” he asked. , 
“ I am pleased if you are,” she replied. 
■sue Avas thinking whether lids Avould bring her 1 
and Felix more together. 
“ I tell you Avhat we’ll do, violet. We will give a 1 
grand dinner-party, and you must ask all the peo- 1 
pie from Bramber Towers, with Mr. and Mrs. ' 
Lonsdale an 1 d Felix. See about it at once; send 
3 the notes OUH to-day.” 
She obeyed liini Avlthout a word. 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
“ We can not, refuse,” said Darcy Lonsdale, as he 
■ llcl d Sir OWen’S invitation open In bis hand. “ We 
must go 1 his once, and t.licu we can please our¬ 
selves arte rwards. W bat. do you say, Felix 7” 
i Felix Lb.ouglit for a few minutes, und Mien I10 
said frankly— 
“To tell you the truth, father. I think I would 
rat her ho t, go—I do not, like Die idea. To transact 
sir uwenfs business ts nil very well, but to dine 
with him is quite another thing.” 
“Y r ou shall pleuso yourself,” returned Mr. Lons¬ 
dale. in bis heart, although he toit, great com¬ 
passion and great Indignation concerning bis son, 
bo was pleased that, lie had not married violet! 
lie had seen no chance 01 happiness for him- lie 
bad resumed her conduct to him, 
Darey Lonsdale knew that Ids son washitterly 
wounded, but lie said to himself, “ Pain lg dis¬ 
cipline,” and every one has some kind of t,rouble to 
undergo. so, when lie declined to go to ( JarsAvood, 
Darcy sighed to himself, and was sorry that his 
son still fell the rankling of an old wound. 
Blit, Kate would not have It so; tor the Ill's! Mine, 
almost, in her life she differed from her step-aon. 
“lou must go, Felix,” she said, “Only think 
what people av 111 say If you stay away! Even Lady 
cboverdx herself will be nattered and t hink you 
dare not, meet her. Mo, Felix; I should nol like to 
give her that, triumph. You will have to meet her 
some time or other do it now." 
Me was not quite Avllling at, first, hut after a time 
Kale persuaded him. and It was arranged they 
should go. 
Yet Felix lmrdly lilted It. To have refused sir 
owen’s agency would have been to stand In Ids 
father’s light, to prevent- the children from receiv¬ 
ing the benefits of an ample income. He would 
not, do that,; but, when he was in sight of oars- 
wood he hated himself for having come near the 
place, lie could not help Avonderlug hOAv Lady 
chevenix would receive him, what, she would say 
to him, whether sne would be pleased, or the re¬ 
verse. 
“it can never be pleasant for her to meet me,” 
lie t hought. “ Dio sight 01 me must remind her ol 
her unfaithfulness.” 
As they came in view of the towers and turrets 
of MarsAvood lie expressed this Idea to his father 
He wished even then that he could return, lie 
looked anxiously Into his father’s fane. 
It seems to me,” ho said, “(bat we have com¬ 
promised our Independence by accepting the 
agency.” 
“ My dear Felix,” Darcy Lonsdale laughed, “ if 
every man were to carry his private feelings into 
business, business would soon stop. Bear one 
tiling in mind, and you will never be vexed about 
coming here. You are Invited here, not as the 
lover whom Miss Vlol?l Haye In her Innocent pride 
forsook, but as the agent without whose services 
and restraining hand Sir owen, rich as ho is, will 
soon be ruined.” 
“There is common-sense lu that view,” said 
Felix. 
“ Then, again, for your own sake, Felix, forget 
tlio past. ’I he world Is very unjust. A woman 
forsaken Is always pitied; a man forsaken is often 
laughed at. Let people say how little If must have 
affected you since you can visit her husband— not, < 
bow bitterly you must grieve for her since you 1 
are compelled to decline all Invitations.” i 
Ami with those words I Jie carriage slopped be¬ 
fore the great entrance. Father and son entered 
the suporl} hall with Its ancient oak and armor, i 
Its stained glass AVlndoAVS, and an ancient crest t 
orn blazoned every w here. 
They passed through the magnificent rooms, 1 
until they reached the great drawing-room where s 
sir owen and Lady (,’lievenlx received Lhetr guests. i 
Severn 1 wore already assembled, but standing 1 
apart from all others Felix saw Lady ( lievenlx. 
it, was t he Itrst. time lie had met her m her own 
home, in the midst of the (splendor that. Avas now 
hers, and bis eyes were dazzled by her Avomlrous 1 
beauty. Her dress of white silk with trailing roses « 
avhs richly trimmed with fringes of gold, she L 
wore a tiara of dlainons get In gold. Her exquisite fl 
beauty and her exquisite dress dazed him for a U 
row moments, but, be made 00 sign; and Darev 
Lonsdale avhs proud of Ids son, as be advanced t] 
wltli princely grace and carriage Into the room b 
and bowed to the lovely woman who, despite all :l 
her efforts, grew deathly pale as she saw him. tt 
Lord Arlington, avHo never neglected any oppor- 
Utility of otihllclv show 1 lir** hiw cti'ah 1 iifTnotiA., Ir 
d a good sign. 'I ho gentlemen had a pleasant half 
hour, and then t hey rejoined the ladies. 
“Surely,” thought Lady chevenix, “1 shall be 
aide to see lu in. to say a R'av AVOrda to him. 1 must, 
know It be always Intends lobe as he Is now, so 
cold, so proud, so unforgiving,” 
0 But it was a far more difficult matter than she 
hjul t bought. M10 could not speak to him without 
attracting observation, unless he either purposely 
"i accidentally found himself near her. Perhaps 
0 J le wo,|W make Hie Opportunity, she t hought—but 
be did not. lie talked a great, deal to Lord and 
Lady Arlington, and at times to Lady Maude; but 
, at last came an opportunity, some one asked for 
- the old-fashioned glee, “ When shall avc three meet 
again V” and Lady 1 lievenlx remembered that, she 
bad the music. Felix was to takc the tenor part— 
1"' hiul a glorious tenor voice, rich, clear, and i ing- 
’ s ho Dimed to him with a charming smile_ 
l he music Is wit h some old books 01 mine in 
Hie canterbury will you help me t,o find It?” so 
aa bile l bo room was idled with laughter and song! 
Lad.v Chevenix and Felix bent over the old music! 
books to look lor I bo glee, she turned her head 
and said in a Ioav voice.-• 
“i want to speak to you, Felix—will you listen 
to mo fora tow minutes v” 
“ 11 YOU wish It," ho replied coldly. 
“ 1 ,Jo wls h It. I want to know if all our lives we 
arc to be like this.” 
" Like Avhat, Lady Chevenix?” he asked. 
“You know what I mean -If our lives arc to bo 
so entirely apart, If you will always be cold and 
distant and proud 10 mo—ir you avIII always avoid 
mo and Ignore my presence.” 
He looked at liar In mute wonder. 
“Must I remind you ot one thing, Lady Cheve¬ 
nix he asked, 
“ AV hat’s that?" she said. 
“That. It was your hand that separated us—that 
broke all lies.” 
“ Yes, I knoAV that; but could avc not be friends? 
Could you not come to see us sometimes—talk t o 
me, share our amusements, and be really a friend 
—could you not do ibis, Felix?” 
“No," lie said, “I could not.” 
" Why ?" asked the sweet soft voice. 
“ because 1 happen to be a man, and not a statue 
-beca use i have a human heart, and am not made 
01 marble, our lives lie apart, Lady < lievenlx.” 
“ You might be kinder,” she said; and the beau¬ 
tiful woman shrank from him as though he had 
struck her a bloAv. 
“No,” be rejoined, “It, would nol bo possible. 
As the wife, of another man, you are nothing to 
me; lo enter Into a compact of friendship with 
you would lie to endanger what I hope to keep 
stainless until I die-my honor before men anil 
heaven. Our lives He qutteapart, and nothlngcan 
bring them into contact. 
‘•van l help you, Violet?” said a voice near 
them; and. looking up, Lady Chevenix saw the 
anxious raced hot mother. > 
Mrs. llaye bout over the music-books. 
“ I will assist my daughter, Air. Lonsdale,” she 
said coldly. 
Felix bowed and left them. 
“My dear Violet.” said Mrs. Haye, “how can 
yon be so imprudent ? Why do you talk to him? 
You will cause remarks that, wUl not please you.” 
“Mamma.” replied Violet, raising her white 
face, •< he says that he will not even lie friends 
with me.” 
“So much the hotter, my dear. Lady Chevenix 
of (JarsAvood will choose her friends from amongst 
Mm highest, In t he land, not from her old play¬ 
fellows. Try to look like yourself, Violet." 
" 1 w bl; but 1 wish I were dead, mamma.” 
“ Nonsense, child, See, Lady Maude Is wilting 
for you. come now, my darling Violet—courage; 
this Is but childish nonsense.” 
.So with inspiriting words she brought the smiles 
back to the sweet lace; but In her heart she re¬ 
solved tlnii Lady chevenix should, see but little of 
Felix Lonsdale Avhlle she avrs there, and she kept 
her resolve. 
tunUy or publicly showing his great affection and 
regard for Darcy Lonsdale, went, up to him and 
began a Jong and interesting conversation with 
him. Lady Maude called Felix to her side. And 
so the Lonsdales’ arrival passed off as the arrival 
of any other guests would ha ve done. 
“ 1 a,b Bind you came,” said Lady Maude to Fe¬ 
lix. “ 1 was afraid you would refuse—and I should 
have been sorry for that,." 
Then dinner was announced, and the long and 
stately procession moved forward to the dining¬ 
room. Felix, from where he sat, could not only 
see Lady chevenix, but he could hear all t hat was 
passing, llc wondered at. her perfect grace and 
elegance. Slut took her place „t that, superbly*- 
nj’pointed table ns though she had been necuslom- 
«d toll all her life, lie watched her keenly, and 
AVltb wobeter. Where bad she acquired her perfect 
grace and ease of maimer? 
sir Owen, awed by the presence of Ills distin¬ 
guished guests, behaved wltli great, propriety, and 
altogether the dinner was a great success, Lady 
<'lievenlx gave the signal to the Countess of Ar¬ 
lington, and the bulk's rose. J el I \ sprang* up to 
open Mie. door for them. Ills eyes met Violet's, and 
he saw a red Hush cover her race, and rise even to 
tho roots of Uer hair. 
AVas she ashamed of the juice of her faithless¬ 
ness 1 ho Avondered. Was she ashamed to parade 
before him her Avon 1th. her grandeur, her jewels? 
Tho more shame she felt the better for her—ll was 
chapter xxxiv. 
Flvw years had passed since the peal of Violet 
llaye’s wedding-hells bad driven her lover Felix 
almost, mod, since the wonderful turn of good 
foi l,une had come to the Lonsdales and made them 
famous—live years, and they had brought ivltli 
them many changes. 
Darey Lonsda le seemed to have recovered more 
than tils usual health and strength; he had nover 
been so happy, so prosperous and contented. Over 
und over again he said to Ulmgoir that Ids misfor¬ 
tune bad been a blessing. Me attended almost 
entirely to Sir Owen’s business—Felix very seldom 
Interfered with It; but he in his turn attended 
entirely to Lord Arlington’s. The Hrm was emi¬ 
nently prosperous, and It was fast, taking the place 
of ono of the most eminent in the county. 
A groat, change bad come to Felix. These five 
years had wonderfully improved him. He was 
looked upon as the rising man ot the day; his so¬ 
ciety was courted; his opinion avrs sought upon 
eveiy leading question. He retained all the simple 
habirs of ids boyhood; he reverenced and loved Ids 
father, he loved Kate and the little ones, lie 
might have set up a separate establishment for 
himself, but he Avas quite content Avlth tho old 
home at vale House. The only luxury In which he 
had indulged was l,he purchase of a spirited thor¬ 
oughbred. When he had worked until oye and 
brain and nerve were exhausted, he would ride 
through the green lanes, gallop over Mie breezy 
Commons, anil return with renewed vigor. 
They asked themselves, those who loved ldm 
best, it be bad forgotten Ids unhappy love-affair 
It, was Impossible to sav. 
He never mentioned' Lady chevenix; lie never 
Rim!!?' m . . balf-eynleal remarks 
in wiiiui iiMappaiiiMvJ im'M so often Indulge ir 
anyone spoke o) her In his presence, lie listened, 
and replied If necessary; but there avuk nothing 
revealed In Ids manner, Kate said to herself 
proudly Hun he had forgotten her, that Ids heart 
AV.-is loo noble to keep alive 1 he memory of a woman 
so false. Eve knew him better. There were times 
aa hen even a gallop over the breezy uplands did 
ll.e o'utlanils' 11 l ° l11 U "" "" n 1,0 "onld'go over $ 
(?b bo oontinuea.) 
