Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-04-05


kindly before yon 60 away 2"
| saw the color rise angrily to Mr.. Lori
mer's face
why have you reserved your tender ap-
peal till the last moment 2" he said. Were
you anxious for a witness to your protest
against my neglect? / shall write to you
duly. Don't attempt to delay me another
moment
lie spoke in hard, severe toRe--put her
gently on one side, as she blocked his passage
and was gone. A moment after, we heard
the carriage roll from thedoor. Isabel clasp
ed her hands
"Am | not laundering fool?" she cried,
passionately. / never make an attempt to
heal but widen the breach. He thiaks,
now, | am playing a part-wanting to con
vince you am neglected wife !"
She walked restlessly up and down the
room had not much to say in the way of
consolation had felt from the first that it
was impoliIc to have insisted on my presence
during the interview. but she had overruled
my objection and I was deeply grieved to
see matters were worse between them than
had thought. / had hoped last night that Is
abel had exaggerated or mistaken her posi-
ton.
" And il does not seem so very long ago."
continued she, gloomily, "that he never left
me for a few hours without q tender farewell
| never came into the room but he smiled and
gave me seat near him. lie could scarcely
pass me without touch that was caress :;
and now
"Oh, child" said you have acted very
i'll y ..# a..
Have | not told you so 2" she returned
bitterly aud do | not suffer for it 2" He
never loved me as | love him now What
long patience he had with me-blind to my
selGshneSS, indulgent to my vanity, giving me
SO much with such an ungrudging laviShnesS,
aud only asking me to acknowledge it and
love him Can | blame bis sister that she
helped him to discover how unworthy | was ?"
/" l fear" said, "she still does you harm
She will not be here when your husband re.
turns | cannot believe, Isabel, that when
left alone to exercise judicious influence you
will not regain the place you have lost There
must be some tenderness left for you in his
heart your love must reanimate it."
She shook her head "No: despair of
it, His love aud pride have both been too
deeply wounded. lie does not believe that
what | feel is love, but caprice--the desire to
regain power and influence lost. He does not
think love my children but We cannot con-
time to live like this If there is no change
for the better on his retnrn, we must part
We
The entrance of Vivian arrested the con-
versation she appeared in most elaborate
morning toilet, and apparently in superaban-
dant spirits.
" 1t was cruel Of you to forbid my wishing
my brother goodbye, Mrs. Lorimer," she said
gaily. i tried to hail him from my window !;
but the noise of the wheels. er his grief ia
parting from his Isabel, made the effort vain.
/ wish my engagements permitted my staying
day or two longer with you I'll! g0Gr spirits
had rallied"
This was intended for sarcasm, for, Of
course poor Isabel was doing her best to ap,
pear cheerful and unconcerned, and, as she
had always succeeded so well in this doubtful
rEse as effect ualy to deceive her husband as
well as her sister-in-law. Mrs Vivian chatted
on while taking her leisnrely breakfast, until
the effort of repartee became too much for
Isabel, and she left the room under the ex-
cnSe of going to her nursery. Left thus alone
with the stranger guest, a sudden resolution
seized me. | had been studying Mrs. Viviau'S
counterance for some time attentively, and
came to the conclusion that though her man
nerS might not please me, there was Nd ind-
cation of want of heart or Intelligence in her
phySiognomy, and that /, in my turn, would
make sudden appeal When she rose, to
excuse herself for leaving Hie. to make her
final arrangements for her departure, begged
her to remain a few moments longer, as | had
matter of Importance about which | was
anxious to consult her. She reseated herself
Immediately, with an air of undisguised sur
prise then, on q sudden, her brow clouded.
d" 1t is about your niece H-about Mrs. Lor
inner and my brother. Do not let us speak Of
it, my dear Madam. | should be really griev-
ed to hurt your feelings on the subject but
it is one on which | cannot trust myself to
speak calmly"
She was going, her tactics ofretreat evident
Iy corresponding with those Of Mrs. Lorimer /;
but intercepted her boldly.
"Do let me speak" I urged. Il am so
thoroughly conFnced that Isabel is misunder-
stood. wrouged by both of you unconsciously,
of course, but still wronged. A little explana-
tion. -
But had chosen my expressions ILL.,
"Wronged !" Mrs Vivian repeated with
flashing eyes" wronged !"
:" beseech You to be patient" | said, half
smiling am but a bungling old woman,
bat | love my niece as my own child, and l
cannot witness her unhappness without some
attempt, however awkward to arrest it. Do
you imagine she is happy, Mrs. Vivian"
=" Yes, or at least imagine her TO have @
constitutional guarantee against the reverse." "
was the reply !" an entirely unmitigated hear
tlessness. Oh, my dear Madam, you touch a
sore place by your appeal | cannot contain
myself when | think how my brother has sac
rifced himself to that girl Wise men are the
greatest fools in love-" she pursued rapidly ;