Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-03-17

with theologlcal dlnerenccS. Mrs.
Winslow was a stauncRH church
woman. Paul, she knew, was Of
another faith.
''Let me wheel your chair to the
fire, There-so." She seated her
in triumph. The gentlemen gath
cred in knot at little distance.
"And you really go home to-mor-
row." Vesey said, sitting down
beside her.
ayes, I've done all my shopping.
Ny mauve poplin came home to-day.
There is nothing to wait for now;
and Darrel does not care to stay.
The opera season is over, you
know
So it was for the gayeties of the
town he had fingered week after
week, she thought, with a sudden
sinking Oft the heart. Oh, how blind
she had been! His careless laugh
came across the room just then, as
if to mock her.
"You'll not come back before an
other season." She could not hide
the pain that quivered in her voice
But the limp little woman crushed
into the depths Of the arm chair by
her side did not heed it.
"No," she replied, simply, 81 sup
pose not"
The gentlemen joined them.
"Sit down here by me-" said Mrs.
Winslow to Paul, motioning to the
chair at her side.
cit is of no use," whispered Yes
ey to Darrel, with a hysterical
sound between laugh and sob.
.'What is Of no use?" He fol-
lowed her away from the fire.
Crying to avert grim fate. Your
mother is determined to discuss
church affairs with Mr.. Hayes.
What will she say to find he is not
in the succession at all? That he
simply cares for the souls Of our
butcher and baker, and"
Candlestick-maker, suggested
Darrell.
Eyes, for aught l know. l have
tried to keep them apart, but"
Extremes will meet. / believe
there is an attraction between the
poles. But what does it portend,
this invasion? Are YOU about to
assume stuff gown aid plain bon
net? Or do you propose to bring
him into the true church? Not a
bad addition, | should say" fixing
his eyes upon Paul, who had won
the respectful attention, at least, of
his rather light-minded audience in
the armchair.
"What were you saying?" Vesey
asked presently. Her eyes had fol-
lowed his. GLOW he chanced to be
here? Oh! father has met him oc-
casionally, and 50 asked him to din
ner. am sorry he came tonight. !"
"Ahw Darrel looked down upon
her with conscious air. She had
spoken truer words than she intend
ed. She went on, as though she
had not heard him-as though the
color was not flaming her face.
because l knew you would have
little in common, and thought it
might be awkward for us all. 1t
does not matter" Nothing did or
ever would any more. A gray wall
seemed to shut out all beyond this
night.
''But am not to be defrauded of
my rights. I am to take you out to
dinner, am not? You surely wont
throw me over at the last, Vescy?"
He bent his head close to her face.
81 don't know; you can sit upon
one side and Mr.. Hayes on the 9TH
er, if he will" She moved away
toward the others; leaning on his
mothers chair she pretended to lis
ten, smiling assent; to what, she
never knew. She was thinking how
pleasant she had hoped it would be,
with only Darrel and his mother
here-they four around the fire in
the twilight, Darrel by hcr-of the
words she had thought he would
speak. There was q ring hanging
ON his watch-chain. 1t fitted her
finger. He tried it once in jest.
"Vesey!" called her father. And
then she knew that others were
rising-that dinner was announced.
81 hope you and Mrs. Winslow
have become friends" she said to
Paul, as they were coming out.
zone hardly gets SO far as that in
a half hours chat" he answered
pleasantly.
"And just before dinner," added
Darrell, from the other side. ''That
is the time to make enemies, Miss
Vesey."
'Then do hasten to be served,
gentlemen, lest you quarrel"
"And the cause?" queried Darrell
in her ear.
She turned away from him to
Paul. And yet what should she
say? What do people say to min
listers? she asked herself helpless
ly. And to young ministers above
all? Oh, if he had not come! If
he would only go! If they would
all go, and leave her alone with her
disappointment and shamel
How she passed the long dinner
hour she never knew. She talked
OF trivial things, as we all do, tho
beneath the outward calm our souls
are seething. She dared not speak
of others, lest she break this crust.
Paul judged her. She has found
her lowest depth, he said, when she
chanced to name a ribbon. Her
spirits rose; buoyed by her light
words and laugh perhaps. When
they were back in the drawing-room,
and the others fell into the quiet,
desultory chat that follows a din
ner, she alone could not be still.
Her cold hands refused to lie quiet
ly in her lap, as shapely white
hands should. Hel feet beat an i'm
patient waltz under her gown. She
glanced at Darrell. He had thrown
himself back in an easy-chair, his
hands under his head. There was
no teverish glitter in his eye. He
looked simply bored. He yawned