Lucknow Sentinel, 1893-03-03, Page 6greet hei •guest. She wishes her • httsbatici • 6 "tHowtypit mest laugh,"•heseyti, in a -low,
, . .
- . J
were at home, but he has gone fishing,: . and husky Voice,- "when. you :•thinktrier.. the
9- her father i's i4This -study absorbed in. his werningeepy people end other-- friends were,
beloved work. •-- It would be - Meet to dieterti -so kind as _glee you! It is- ,it. pity, 'isn'
hin•i, and Venetian - icareely . sees .,.how he it, that they never thought of warning -Me
weuld-beeefit the situation. - • • instead? - They Might- have 'done -so, •• be-
- An -Euglisheironiafl with e geed. •com-• 'cause I itin not stifortuteate-as you in having
plexion alweyaleoks her best in the move- a talitanaa •that makee• me . impervious_ to
ing. Vanessa, in her blue batiste with lace feeling." . - • . • • . -
Omit her thee -at -tied wrists, is itnotable • "1 de not untletstand.yOU," she answers;
example of this feet. .. - - • - - ..• pale ea:death, tied with -a sick feeling -of .
• - " HoW - d'yoa do, Lord. Re:ye-Wield ?": terror 'et•het heart, - -. . . •
and she advances -smiling. He replies,. ' "- Yes," he says, ileYei reenovitte his eyes
rejoins rather,with the -same inevitable from her. ." yea- do. . • You know that I am
question. . ,: ?-: • . madly in love with You-etliet I aill- sliffdr= -
- .Raven'nold puts on hie best manner. Mg tormehis at.thethought of Patting from
"1 am thiebeitret of 4. tound-rcibine" .he you-e4hat tee idea- et life..witheut you is
says. - " The.party at, the Hall areindeeptide hateful and monettous to me."
at your having forsiken them: 'I em chaeged : yaliaSert tilts as if thained to the spot. ..A.
to -implore you to come up te-day. to ' spend sense al h.ertor end guilt - ereeps over her,
the -atterneon and dine.". . , • • • es if 13y listening eo .hira she it •ceinmittieg
New whatperversitymakela Vanessa, affer. - id to start up and,
deciding to herself that she will -nert• keep
away from the tiell• and be bored am she was
.. _ e .
yesterdaye reply: • tt- ..
. fr.tflianks, very much; but -I de•hot think
I shall be.able to.diatiage it to -day." - -
* Revenleoldte handsome fate darkens, .
' " A _previteis engagement, I toippose 7,3
Thereee,a Mealiest- sneer 'in his tone as
Well as his words.
' "..Becatise " retnrnaYaneSSa) again acting
on -ete inept:lee veltich is .not it. particularly
prudent one-" becatiae it is the old: story,
and- I have been warned against_ ;you for the
third 'tante:" - e . ' - • - • --: . • °-_, -
. 0-Cpoit my lidel;thie is too raneh I" eriett.
the young map. '-‘ TO.Wboin eitel•indetted
On thitroccaaieu?” . ' t • .
Do„ not go away, and -*tad :not be
. ) .
Offended ;" shesays. • Then-, withat beef-itch-
ihg- smile: ." After. allr:I think I can get Off
the mothers' Meeting aed•the Bible-cla.ss "
(with- meaning). "so -.I Will come up this
efterneon, if . you really . think, they - *ant
me. . . •.
. "They do reelly," returns tRaVealield,
There is- BD much 'Confidence' in Mali's
ton and tuanner that :Vanessa finds . it- no
easy task to. pooh -Pooh her-epethaps she
feels Ithet her •sharp -sighted friend- is not
• altogher - withoat foundation for'. her sue-
piciener After a element's pause she says :
" all- right," !she says, with ,extreme
coldness; - there is One very ample. *ay
oat_ of it. Aspeeple seem to think: me either
fool or a -baby, unable' to take eett of
'myself, I will not go up to the Hell -as long
• as Lord Ravenheld is there,"
"e•Donet. be. silly I"- -cries' Mab, -rather
frightened at the tone Mrs. Brandon is.
taking: 44 That -would rouse every ones.
suspidions." ' - •
.;
e " Aed ley them; toe," retorts Vanessa.
" For if we ido not meet, it -is :impossible-
forttlie moatteceedalothe person .to think ' or
say Luythil* _
. - vain Nabs entreats, conjures; im-
. !toile& Vituesiets anger and obstinaey are
a rowed, and ehe adhere•s to her Idetermina-
tion Of net meeting Lod. Ravetlitord again.
Se at last:Web hes to leave her, feeling very
crestfallen. ;and --like an officious *person who
kits been Elk/1).Pd in the face for his. pains.
-
She know a pretty veell that if her grand-
father sespected her interfering with• his
. --plans she voted have a very ' uncomfortable
time for that fleet .few weeks. Venesia
.Teft, to hereelf, is sorely vexed and put out-.
She has antiCipated a certain antoent'ot
• pleasure from Lord Ravenhold's .visitee
hag been looting • forward to _ picnics,.
elawn-iennis vied pleasant .dinners at Abe.
, Hall. And)notir, it she keeps her . wordas
ehe Meana to, she will have the. constant
-
bitterness of thinking that all these agreei
able things are taking place withoutlf hen
for -the, first time' in her life she alincet dist
likes Mae. So ruffled are her plumes that
Brandon, joittiog her half ite atour leeer
in
the' garden, - cennoe. but observe het per-
turbed and altered. theenere. e .• - •
*.t . .-CqAPTER XXI.
- • -
.4
;
elearat
-
hands; ltist intreverie. : She hies her way to . Ile tries to take herhand but she puithe
i
tatt-a• jaaent wood, *here =the thicie 'fcaletie her chair back sharply and rises to herfeeit..
shut out the sun,. and Bits_ there in deep He rises toe, - -
thought and heatang miconseieusly profound "Do not teach • -Me 1" she cries, in la
eighsir Sometimes Ihe : weeps .passtonittely. -stiothered. voice. "If you come a step.
What hat.cenat to her ? . ._ : nester I will leave you l" .
. Saehas lost All rancor against. Lord He stands looking at her; lull of fierce *
, • • • .
Rev uhedd ; she recalls that •scene in the emotions of love anger. 4 t.
wood .with tearnething of hinging ; after all, "-Why do you keep .up .,this pretence t"
there was. excitem.ent- in it -it was better he cries passionately. - "You know that •
dwelt this terrible •• stagnation. She likes we love each other. 'I have read it it your
no* almest to remember' the paesion Etna eyes a hundred tiniee. I asknothingof
pain of . hie handsome face and his violent yout-I hope nothing from you -only bon. •
words and matater-4vords•that made little fess it once; -let me hear it from your own' .
impiession upon her are burnt into her lipti, and I shall go aWay, happy."
heat 1105P. - . • Vanessa is. terrified at his words; at her
".ivvhy did not they ask" me here last own feelings -she takes refuge in anger.
year, and thee you would have loved me :" How date yot-say such thinget -to me !"
instead . of. him 1.• It *mild b.avelieen fifty she -cries. "Ad it is qUite. false.. I -care
times ' more natural. And.. then -I should for nO one but- hay husband. • And you pre- -
have been the happiest man aliyeatted' I tend to be his friend! HaveYOU no MOS
., .
a crime ; she. is *mild have node youahe happiest woman,' of honor ?" • . ' . - • '
break awiy. Iran :. him, because_ inetincti TiTould it haire been so 7- - At. all events 6' Can I help it 7'2 -he _says. • fiercely - "I
• •
h t he would' detain her by Main they would have beereyoung to get e anA aiiiih to God. I hadoever tiet eyes on you.
"Who has been offending , Mrs; Bran-
don r' inqu:tro Sir Bertram,- the -next
inerning at breakfast, with his Worst smile."i.su-poa ehe is eettieg Op for- a tesh-
lotitiblebeautit: remarks Lord Raviedield;
with i bitterness . that • betrays_ him to two
out of the other lour, persons - assembled.
. "She thought we wanted. her, and. so- she
• - • ,
stayed P.WOBTO Trials.e he feellier loss.".
- -ft I think we did very well without her,"'
remarks-M", who is extremely -iedigna
with Vauessa for the fright and, discornfort
_ she has caused her.
- 4‘.4 Do y.otr-r! eneeri her ' grandfather'.
"Your' ideas- of aecheerful party must be
, lather of -,e singular kind. - :Bit% itti doubt,"
• - with a still more vicious . twist to .his seine,
-
"you were occupied With yourOwn pleasing
"rleS)" returns Mab, demurely, i g: I was
thinking of dear Sir Tummes,"-and her tone
and the little accompanying sign are Se irre-
attiblY Comic that every. one except Sir
-Bertram. bursts out laughing.. 7
-It'effects a diversion for a moment: -
"Brandon is an excellent fellow," pultsuee
the squire, "but -he' is monettous dull
'except when he is talking about his own
- vecitgite." . : . - , -
t_Bfiecialite sherry," murmurs Mato--; but
- her sister tudges her sharply. Sir Bertram
is, not lea humor for trifling.. ••
"1 thifile," sees_ the' old gentleniee, look-
ing blandly at •Reveialiold, "thet we 'must
'get yen to go down to the Vicarage and
persuade Mrs, 13a:huddle to ,..spend the -Meer-
' noon' and dine here. \-Ve - minuet really do
_ _ .• .
without her. .
A ligheleapi bete the young maafs eyes g
. that is neither lost On the squire nor Mab.; the party, but voice. lies been respect-
."'" 1. will go with you," dries th.e latter'. . ail, deferential,: - courteitusly-t. friendly.
- " Ilo,"eitters :Sir Bertram, in- bus stern-- Vanessa likee hinititetter than at Oite- time
- tit; mot authoritative tone. -Then, more she thought it .possible -he bi- certainly very
mildl ; "Your misston wes net. so. success- plaasiug to leek:titan, and it is impossible
e
- fa ye terday that we can 'eutrust ydie even to feel dull or bored in liti company. :-
. .
titlake part -in one to -day.". - • . . .
' Lord 'Revenhold has been eight 'days at
' - Mali quails. - . She did nOttkettiw that her the Hen t On the • ninth he . is .to ,---leave
_ . . . I
grandfather teas aware of; her visit' to the it -Sir Bertram has. ordered a. picnic for
• Vicarage. At. all events he Catitiot know his last. afternoon: The: party -epeeists of
her errand, but the expression Of his eyes t.3ix persens-Sit Thomas and -Mate Mr.
• and lier own coescienee Mika: her terribly and Mrs; Brandon; Lord Bavenleold and the
' uncomfortable. . • • : • •-• - i • , • -
yen behief Mil. Breeden :back to es. Your it. is. teat unnatnial that Revelnhold: and
- . - - Ravehhold goes onehis WeY- rejoicing etral shaae. is SO Obtefill this het • day, paid they.
te s ner
force enail•hehed hid_ hie -say,
° " Cad I" he "cried, • paisionately,
• •when • -I think hew epeivertielyt things
happen! -Why., did. they .nottr ask me.here-
thie time 'het year, and. the you; would
have .
loved -instead him? -Neu
would ereheinentlye• as theue.te -ehe lead
ciitittedioted ..him.. • - Yout must have done.
----it would. have: .heen: fifty- --times More
natural.- - And . then 1: 'should _have been the.
happiest man alive,- and I Wont& have made
yu the•happieet 'woman.," - .• • .
"You would net tt cries Vance* almost
violently. "1- never, never could have
cared for anyone • as do for my huaba.n.d ;
he Will always be more to--Ine;toalisall the
other Men in the world." • - • • •
"Aro ..you 'quite Sure of that?" -eels
Ravertliold, cetehino her heel.: 'She-. drags
it frotiahimand starts up.
•
"Quite sure.: How:dare you say ;these
things to me!. I am glad and theek..tul that
you are going to-morroir.- Audi nOVet,
ei!)getlY: "Sir - Bertram bent en speak to yeti:again oolong as I live." ,
your coming -he said was . :to do illy She .fliee.: ite'er the turf -he has t� take
e .-
-.utmose to persuade . • • • tolerably. long strides to keep up with her;
"Instead *high you have . done your he daresnottouclehere-hetrieo:te-stamrrier
utmost -to quarrel With matand to dila a feee propitiatory:words.- ,
agreeable, ' sayaVenessta " • the distance th.ey. suddenly -see a Eon-
eepressee his centritiOn with tary . figure . epProeehitia tbent; It is Sir
thelutinost. He can afford to be Bertram.; .; Vanessa slackens beepade and
humble teow that . he -bas• who ja endeavors to asaume_en- in.differeet manner
Bo he is pardoned and shown the ger-den as he edifies hp. -• But he marks well their
aed various Objeats..olintetett, and makes -Whitefacea. and their unnateral air and law
Minfelf se agreeable I and amusing that he With '
leaves 1/.1.:rs. Brandon with -a -distinct C61,17 -",Rsive pin y otang..peopte leet all count of
vietion-in- her mind that solitude. et deux time? - We have been waiting ttienty
ihfieiteitt Moreegretahle than the real bona Minutes •for you. What a thing it to be
fide solitude.. . :• 104? - - .
Bertranatheughtfully seeds thelowphaeOn . -
ClIAPTERaXXII.
She looks lofward to the afternoon, Sir; - • -
for. her, arid invites - •Ravenhold_ - An:thr °Ugh :the- hing.: -flight Vanessa lies
ChArIpteer -
"You might... ask Mrs. Brandon to show-
.
you e bit of :the park instead of : coming
straight: here," -remarks -1 the squire, but
.whee this. suggestion- is comMunicated • to
tiles. Brandon • she el,-ys at -ones . that she
would muah either -go straight to th.e Halt;
Whetever bemay- feet, ,RevenhOld dares no
she* any -More temper •to -day. . - He does
not pay any particular attention to vaneasal.:
:but seems rather by. way of Makieg. himself
Agreeable to who receiVealii atten-
tions friendly and, as ler as he it con-
- corned, heart -whole manner... Between him:
-elect •Mab there jai certain antagonism -he,
is afraidof:her sharp -eyes; and She wishes
him to know. that -kite, is *etching. him• and
qiette, eWe,re of his sentimeetta - •
Three Or - bier.* dela .piaie in unbroken
-hermenyetitot once has ItavenhOttl betrayed
--
44y petulance to - MOB. Brandon nor at-.
tempted to make hive to here - it - may be
that his peak have alibi yoltunes When'he lute
edhimsellunobeereed - by the rest of
• d bt My life has .been a curtie to me- ever since I.
Veneesa says to herself there le n
•th+peop1e ought to be young when they
merry.. She atioree her linsband-he is the
134) kindist creature in :ttie world, but Ms
day otpaesion and strong .feeling over;
hetpnly wants to live a comfortable, easy,
plOid tile, and that does not satisfy here-
sh4 feels as though her-1'10qt were intombed
• • - • • .. • •
The days:creep by -her reveries continue
ee4he grows'.holiciwteyed, andinstead Of the
country eiabrittging fee* roses to her cheek
it seems to make her more pale, She has
,indulged her reveries, has wept; her bitter
tears, and in all that has never believed -beet
mit guilty Of a shadow of treason towardlier
husband. • -
One day Edith says to her: -
0. I have Soinethieg for you. I had a letter.
from Gerard Itiveehold to -day and he in-
closed one for .10112' •
•Vatiefse feels her heart • beat to suffcca!
n it frightehs her. . •-`
"This iswhathe says to me," pursues
Edith, reading e passage' from: her letter:
Will :you give the enelosed to MVS. Bran-
dn Prieately.? It concerns a mutual friend
ol hers and. mine. I wish he e to kite* it,
but nob any one else unless of course she
I - -
feels disposed. to tell Mr.- Brandon. But
that will' exercise exercise her- , owe discretion
thoughts!'
have known you." • . -
- "It shall be a* curse no inore, 'she
*Mowers. "1 said before I would never see
nor speak to you again. . 'Illis time I maim
And before he can guess her intention,
she flies to a book stand. and brings out a
Bib"leih'e're.!" sh-le -cries,' Panting and trem-
bling as she puts her lips to it, "I swear on.
this that I will never Willingly speak to you
again, and that I will ne'ver be alone with
you from this moment.,"
It is positive fear. that inipels her to this
violent step -a dreadful doubt • of herself -
that assails her and makes her mistrust her • ,
own -strengtb.. - ' -
TittNeLviLil .'sClioimeectrhieine'ie"soglir:jes. tic; so- grand,1
licher air, that Raventtold has no choice but
to obey her. . - . , * ' -
"Will you not at least bid me gooattarer
he says, holding out his hand. - .
. " No !" she cites, and puti both hers •
behind her back. • *
"Ah I*2 he 'says, bitterly. " Some day r-gt
will think of this: Some day when you know
what. it is you will not be so hard -when
you are tortured- like I am, then, pettily&
you' will be sorry ! '
• So he goes, and when she hears- the door
close upon him, she flieseipstairs to her room
and throws herself on the floor :with. cries
and soli,. • And all that nigtit and t e next -
?
day•and the day after, until she • It owe he
is gone she is tormented by a mad desire to .
write to him or go to him and put her hand-
le his and say: • . ' .
"Forgive me. Good-bye, and Goa bless
you 1" .
- But she conquers it.
. • CHAPTER .X.).clii.
bread awake.- She is bitterly . indignant
against Lord Ravenh.old. HoW, dared he
epeakao. her so! She felt it -a- isett of 'die-.
grace tolavelistened to seat words. - She
mid never been hard upon those ifatihimeaVe
women -who allowed men to make love t0.
them because they e ' she thought, were • not
married to men they . loved ;- ut She had
rooked upon herself as ininteasurably eup-
eeior to them. , She. had not imagitted ;: that
any man would -' dere to speak to her • in
eerneet about levee - How glad she was that
he was going away, but in any case, she
would not have seen or spoken to iiimegain.
I Weetrei lying -awake, she got up softly
and looked out of her window. ..Tbere Were
red streeks. aotoss tha. pale sky -the :trees
and the old • church tower stood out .dark.
and clear against :it. t After - a While she
alined away.... Her eyes fell. on her hus-
band's plead face as he lay eleeping-ewhaa
a kind, geode honestfice it was I - how elifj;-
•fetent from thatiiassionate,-.. distorted -onel
however handsome, which lied frightene4.
arid -Made' her angry' to -day_ i A sudden
impulee seized Vanessa- to Wake - him t; tit
te4 hint everything, and to. heat him _ ex-
onerate her from any wiong-daing . °riven
imprudence in having been aima e with Raven'
hold and compelled to listen to lets passion.
But few people are cruel enough deliberately
to rouse. e fellow -creature from • his ,bleat
Oblivion at day -dawn Melees there is a. train
to • be caught, and Vanessa Was not one of
the few. She did, it is true, move abo t
the ream leas :quietly thin she might ha
ij
done, in the hope that he Would utiolose Ms
eyes without her actually disturbing Iiiiii;
and then, most certainly she would • haye.
poured ont her whole heartto -hire. But he
was -sleeping' the sleep of the just, tied
nothing short Of a vigorous shaking ,.would
have awaliened.himr. _ - ' • . .
' When, at last, Yenisei fell asleep, she
eleet heavily,,se heavily that neither her
husband nor Susan' - thought fit to.disteirb
her in • the morning.. •It was half -past' 0
when she uncloied her eyes, still vrtth a
!sense of .droitsiness and untiecounta le
Ir
nia/aise. VV -het ailed her? . She looked at
About?. . -
.-V-Luies9a. does not atteuipt:to open the
lietter u, shwa isat home pelt. ed . her
own moue Then she, reads : -
I "Fur G-Od's.. sake forgive me t You
wohld you•keew what .1 have suffered
and am'auffering. Some. day 'perhapi. you
May know what :it . is to be as , am -
utterly hopeless and heart-brOkent. Then
You will tea for me. For pity's sake think
tbettei of your cruelresolve never to see me
gain
• When Vanersa has read this,an
awful,
deathlike chili creeps through her heart.
This letter has broughta revelation to her.It is
though some voice were cryieg aloud
in her ear-shaputs up both heeds to _010,
it out. • Then; with a violent gesture, she
tears the paper across and iicross and Rings
it into the grate. - Not content with-- that,
she lights a Match' and burns every morsel.
Would to. God she could." burn • the memory
with the writing!
• One wet afternoon of late Oetober she is
sitting in. the drawing-yoornte-her .•boudoit
he not ye•tifinished-she has not even -heard
the bell, when, suddenly, this door opens
and Lord Ravehhold is announced., ..fier
heart - stands still -she -starts up, - first
hot,' -then cold: Bathe comes.. forward
smiling, -unembarrassed, as though he. had
never said vioient and passionate words to
her; as though he had never written to her
about his -broken heart. -- On • the contrary,
.he is cheery and debonair, :tells her of his
doings; Me amuiemente,, his sport_ ; has
little. stories of people whom she knows and
talks generally in. e gay and heart-w'hole
strain. And next month, he telleher, he is
-going-to India- to shoot big game.
An unacknowledged 'sense of diaappoint-
ment, Of mortification, steals to Vanessa's
heart,- whilst, all the tithe, she bi trying to
tell herself how glad she is that he has for-
gotten his fancy and that he is inclined to
be friendly With her -nothing more.'
e The time for departure drew nigh;
it
Only wanted two days of it.. Vanessa told
herself that she was glad he was going; the
last fortnight had been. delightful, but she
had a misgiving whether it had been very.
good for her.. .Truth wairthe time 'spent in
his -company Was too happyewhile the hours
away. from him were too long and dull, and
she could not settle to anything.. " • - •
• • The dusk -Was' creeping on. Vanessa was
sitting with idle, listless hands' looking at
the little -spurts-. of • flame in the fire, when
Lord Ravenhold was. announced. She had
not expected'him. . • -
I am so glad you came," she says, rising
and smiliegeas•she put her hand into -his.
I was feeling rather bored. Tell me some-
thing amusing." -. • • . - • •
-" I•have come to tell you something he
.
a-nswerie and, in a monaent, she - sees there
is 'an- ueuseal -constraint in his voice and
manner,- -"I don't know whether you will
DU it.imusing."
squire. . - _ •
"Be mire," eaye the squire, impatiently, - A late lunehemi his been consumed -the
_to Bavenhold, -as lie is sating -"be sure party hive divided into pairs of which
powers •;f- persuasion ought to
beconsider Vanessa.. slunild. meke tone. They - :have
• unsesPietous t when a- -Person . plays . into have foiled a -tree :With' a -_rude carved seat
our hands we•seldorn suspect. him of III 'me, beneath it; and there they rest. ;from. their.
- tiveS; it is 7reserved for the." lbokere-on a labors and .areahankfue -ConVereation ii. at
. - ttilb thikt: - - •,. ,-- .i. . .: . " trifle desultory, -- but they have arrived at
There are not, aftee all, • a - great many that pitch of familiar friendship Whose suit*
_ . .
- villains- in the worldetVillaine who premedi- sign 18 that neither finds it emir:treating or:
tate_ seduetioneemaider t and other heinous impolite eo say nothing if be has 'nettling
.crime. 'A Sudden' impulse- comes upon •a to say... . Itavenholore- oecasional silences,
Mall. ;- he deett, not check it, he has hotthe however, are not, be • truth., the result- of
courage to stop and look tthe thing in the his .not having anything - to say, ttdit ef-
fete ; - he lets himself - go, that itrall, . Bet -hienot daring to ear it. Veneriaa feels Ian-
onee,your let yourself .go,ithere: .i.s. i only one &id frem the _heat. and in•••shade depressed,
way of going, bee -eine. the reed it downhillhesides.. . . :: ., • - ...• e , - - .•
every et the way: J - , - - ' : -- - "This time taanOrrow,"- Biqa -Ra.Venholde
- The door of the vicarage • stands wide after_ aelmiget pause than. usual, "1 shall
-Open, but, as he cannot enter -unannounced, - be in -the train, getting farther . and farther
Lorclitetvenhold naturally rings the belt, and away - from you every . xi:temente-. thihking.
Stasi% C•omes.. in hastetoobey the . shrtintona. that this..musb have been the happiest hour
Susan; in -spite of her •age, has an -eitrentely af my life and. ready to give. everything.'"
susceptible hetet, and, at a glance, she aces poseess.in.the World :to haveitcrane • over:
thet the. handsomest sbnci rnost-distinguishea -sagE44." • . ' 4111: ,' •
young- man she:has ever i clapped, eyes on" "Shall you?" Utters Vanessa. • . "One
is before her. ' --1 •• - -- • „ - often thinks afterward :that one'. was much
tais Mrs: Brandon et home ?"- - happier than 0110- really *twat!: ' ... .
- 'tg. • e - • - . - . • - - 66 Yes," : -_ _-_ - • - • •___ • • -
.._ . Yes,.. sire _ rephesr Sagan,. invitingly. - he ,- answere, - in a - low • voice..
"Will you please to welkin ?"- and lid joy- `liftet, all, Goa i.tio.vos . that if What "feel
. Zesty follows her. to the drawing -room. . hew iit happiness, is scarcely a sensatioe
-'44 _What name, "shall•I pleasete say, ?" to claire-very:ardently," --.
Susan inquires. . • - - She glandes up at r'' him and swiftly away i
• -16.liord Ravenhoicl." • .. - agate. 'Something she - reads. 'in his. eyes1
gt i an your pardon, my lord," and Selma disturbs hereeet• little flutter -crostini her;
bluthes„ drops -a courtesy, and :hurries out, heartr--she .has not - been draid tabe.mitte
learriaed at. having committed-- the awful him before; because hi. his not betrayed any
soleciste of calling a lordsir. - .-: .-.- • feeiteg that need . shock or .aterm ber:i but
_ "- Oh, My dear; I am vexed !!' :She 'ea- now she- Wiiihes thatshe had not -come hero
claims, as .she enters the bteakfatit-room in 41011.9-ivitli:him.. She hair n terrified. con.;
e. quest ;Of:Vet:mesa: 4' There's •Ii -.lord come- seioneheas that he hi-going:to say something
to see you; and I _Called bile plain esir. I •whioli he .ought •iitit to -say and she:ought not
hope his lordship isn't Offended. ' .1 -Might to heat: - a • ' .... - .
'have heovin by the leek of him; he looks a -"Shall you see Mrs,- • Mine- soon ?" she
-lord every inch, •I hope you'll excuse. me to asks, quickly, just for - the sake of saying
hislordship," - something. But he does not _ answer . her..
• i. .A nerfous iflutter'f CoMett.-.-to -Vaiiessa'8 Then, . perforce,' the•tooks. at • hinet again,
heart; she dries not i know- wbet. Susan.. is compelled by some magnetic. power : - lie is
- e eating.; she-is:divided between being .eegry. -very pale -his eyes have dark streaks under
with Lord -Bavenhold : for , corning, . .aa4. -themee.hitlips are quivering:. -: - . 4
*ondering.liovr. she shall behave to him. :•"Let tui go," she says, rising • hurriedly.
•‘-' NO," and fie, lays a detaining hand on
' She rises and prepares to join hire.
."-Ydri will tell his lordship, ma'am, won't, her arm. "-Not yet --not jest yet:" -- - -- .- -
your, raiterates tE3USI•iii,- --antieudy, . and _She sinks tack .. again, on ;the _ seat, hell
Vanessa teturntibsently: .. • • - - e afraid to oontradiet him.- ,- There is another
e silence, which 18 horribly painful. and : am, .
gef Ob, yes. . -go won't mind,.
: Her lip quivert a Unita but she assumes barraesuThg to Viiitetila. Iteetinhold breakii
a 1iinilingtrunconcertied- air its she- got* in to it preeently. . - -. . • . •
. . • • :
able:" ; • . , etrollea into -the loVely . woods Where the
Greatcatastrophes do not generally' take,
long to happen. Oae moment we are • •
smiling and happy, the next our hearts are
broken; one moment we are in the flash of '
health, th.e next we are crushed and
maimed beyond recognition. • .
John. Bran. ou was hurrying home to his -
-
wife. He ha got away earlier than he $
expected fro business, and was pleasing
himself wit the thought Of giving her
agreeable surprise. Just as the hansom Walt
within a few yards of his own house, the •
door opened hastily and a man- ran down.
the steps. IV was - Lord Revenholct.
Brandon was about to call to him when, by
the light of the gas lamp, he sew the white,
excited look on the young Illateb face.
Instantly it struck him that he had been
declaring his patsion to his wife. -At yeti
however, no misgiving crossed his brain—
his confidence in Vanessa was unbounded -
indeed, he felt half disposed to be sorry for
theHleades.rent upttairs into the drawing -room.
It was empty, and the door stood open; he
looked into the unfinished boudoir, but an
was darkness., Then he went up to her •
room by way of his dressing -room. Hie
hand was on the door when a sound from
within made him pause. He listened,'
Again and again there came cohvulsive Bebe
and cries smothered but he4rt-breakiega
•
Then, suddenly, as he stood there, the truth
flashed upon him ; theawful, hitter truth.
She loved Itavenhold. Sof
should hear hitn, be went and
a chair and leaned his head ag
of it and clasped his an El
,the clock. Half:pest 9 'why, they must
have finished breakfast. How was that
no one called. her?, _ •
- At that moment the handle turned so tly
and her husband came in. -
- " What has happened, Johnnie" he
ories, rubbing her eyes. "Why was I ot
called ?"
-0
You were in in& aasoundt sleep, My
child, . that we had -nOb. the heart, to Wake
you. . Sassarend I looked at you and con -
tutted, and then _ we •decided to leave you
alone." •
"1 remember now,'" sitys Vanessa,:
was awake all night •It Was broad daylight
before Lwent toaileeP." . •
•
"Why, -how was that ?" ran-
dom And•thene bis practical mindtearela,
ling for probable cause. 66 Did: .you eat,
'anything .• thet. disagreed with : you last
night?* ' - •
Vanessa laughs. •
"No -it wastheheat, I sittopee.".
"Revenheld has just been here," says
-Brandon,- sitting on the .edge Of the bed,
"He west on his way to L--e-e-e and teethed
dreadfully dietipppixtted:-not to be able to
evish•yOu-goodthye, -.al ton afraid," limiting,
"he Itanotheerviotim olyOure."-
• "Really I" utters Vanessa., in iniliffete
etit tone. She has no manner Of inclintition
to Make any ccinfidencee b.er :bueillaand
this. morning on the subject of Lord Riefeia•
held. But whit -can be Said by a Woman in
the night, or at &toe:dawn; pilloled on her
-beleived's• heart, - is One: thing -the . garish
light of morning has theeffebt of shuttle%
up -her -Confiding inclinations; - -
Two day:siesta-two lona, heavy, Ii(tatO
days, which -drag their 'lengtltalong.. Van
-
ease leeks fifty timesat.the clookeaud thinks
centintally that -the hands. must h&c
stopped. Country :life :is very dull and.
inonotonus-- .certlinlY, and there are -yet
three whole weeks to be got throughibefore
they will return to town. 'Vanessa tiekesto
thinking. SheesitafOr long liours•with idle
. _
. _
Vanessagrows pale; an uneasy sensation
creeps through her heart, she shivers ever so
little. . • ,
Revenhold takes a chair near hers,
"6 I have thrown up ,ray pert," he says,
looking hard at her. Did -you know that
Iliad been acting all this time ?"
Vanesea's eyes fall before. his; she tries
to think of sogiething to say to &Vert the
catastrophe which she feels to be im-
pending. But no inspiration mimes to
her..
66, We have been playingatbeing friends "
he goes tia, "'and it is a farce, at all
events, as Jar as I am concerned.",
66 Why shotild we not be Monis ?" asks
Vanessa, Speaking very fast, "it has been
so pleasent.'•
6 Has it ?" be echoes. ""• I give you my
word of honor it - has not been pleasantto
me. I have been on the point of tlreaking
out fifty times. It was all a deception
from the first. I only made a 'pretence of
friendliness because I was afraid of ytiu ;
because I thought you would keep your
word and show me the door if I ventured to
betraymy real feelings." •
His faceis white e the firelight shows the
emotion that is winking in it. -
4
' 46 Please do irot talk so, . Lord Reveri-
hold," says Vanessa,/trying to speak coldly.-
" You know it is useless, and much worse
than melon, wrong. Do not let us quarrel
just at you are going-eway."
"1 would not have spoken," he says in a
low voice of which she catches the tri:mor,
" if I hitd- not known, in spite of what
yotesay, that you pare for me. -Oh, darling
ly limit she.
-
t .
sat down in.
inst the back .
ht together.
What a blind fool he had -been these Isab ,
thieteen months, to think that.the love of
.
common -place, middle-aged manwan nough. -
to satisfy .a hematite' young woman t en-
tering upengife f, He revaemberett w all
his misgivings before he marrieda - his.
conviction that when she saw your 'and -
some men she would feel the • he had taken
that he
unfair advantage Of er -ignorance
of the , world. He ecalled , her
fits . of crying, he :!' changeful
moods; he understood them now; they
wereethe outcome of her disappointment,
evidence of an unfatisfied he rt. If. he had .
-read them. earlier, if instead of Ms blitz& •
foolish confidenceria himself and in her love,
he had looked for the cause and grasped it, •
might things have gone differently? .
He diel not blame her Te. o jealous rage
againstRavenhold rushed i -Ms heart. Ke•
felt nothing but an immense pity for them,
an•immense regret that h stood between
-
his beloved and happmesii. H knew now
how•right his first;impulse had, en to wait
until had had tlee opportune of seeing
Other men,. and how Wrongly he. • had done
afterward snatching at his happiness VIC
fear it should evade him: Thirteen month*
of brisk and oh! at this moment how far
more he prized it, how far dearer it seemed
to him, than it had done est it was hbs I
And now it was gone. e could never be
happy again; remorse Would always stand.
between him and her; he would -always-
suspect,' however kind and 'affectionate she
might be to him, that her heart was with,
that other.; • He had perfect confidence
in her outward fidelity; he did not for one
instant fdoubt that she • had repulsedany
,
overtures Revenhold had made; his facer
bore token to his sufferi g and disappoint-
ment. At this moment another stifled soli
struck _On Brandon's ear. It pierced hie
very soul;he shut Ms e s.not to hearsana
then an impulse 'seized hate go to her, to
gather her to -his aching eart and to cam-. .
fort her, if he had d. ne so, how well it
would • have - been for both! If . Venues
could have known t he was there,
broken-hearted and guessing all, she might
have gone tolum ; hav bad hr head CO.
his faithful :breast an forgoten Raven
hold. But Fate arrang a matters her own,
way and stands and je re at our helpless -
Demand blindness the while, moat of au at
our delusiop. in thinking we are free agents.
(To be Con ued.)
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