Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-01-10

"I am going 10 spend the winter abroad" I"
he said, "I am thinking of going to India +;
indeed, have sort of half intention Of
joining the Indian bar, and setting there
for good" He looked down again, and
saw upon Mrs. Gaisfords face shadowy
smile, gone almost before formed, and fol-
lowed by thoughtful look. "Sho abso-
lutely exults over it," he said to himself.
Amer dinner, Mr.. Gaisford proposed a
sti oil by the lake, and after short delay,
while the ladies we're up for their things,
the party went out together. For a while
they strolled together looking across the
lake, upon which the moon was shining
brightly, lighting mp the dayrounded form
of the Righi and the snow-crowned peaks
beyond the Altorf Then they broke into
pairs. Mrs. Gaisford fingered behind a
little, and as at the time she was speaking
to Rupert, he could not but stay with her.
He did not know whether he was glad or
sorry. He loved her still passonatoly,
though she WAS false and cruel and had
spoilt his life he loved her as much as ev-
or, and should do 80, he felt, as long as he
II we'd. Mr.. Gaisford and Miss Turner stop
ped and leaned upon the railngs on the
low wall Without joining them Mrs.
Gaisford did the same. Rupert could see
her face now, for the moon shone clear up
on 1t. She was very thoughtful, earnest
and troubled. "How her face bellies herr'
he thought. "What can she be going to
say?" He would not speak first, and there
was silence for minute or two till she be-
gan.
"You do not look well, Mr.. Holmes (;
have you been i'll ?"
"a doctor would say no." he said bitterly;
land as he only examines the body he
would be right. No, have had no Illness"
"And do you really think about living
in India3"
Eyes," he said shortly.
"There was a pause again, and then, she
began, this time in lower tones even than
before.
tion, Mr.. Holmes. Did you first hear of
my-my engagement to Mr.. Gaisford that
night at the ball2"
"Yes, Mrs. Gaisford, did," Rupert said
coldly. There was another long pause.
"And If you had not heard it, you would
not have gone away so suddenly-that is,
IL was the knowledge of it that made you
part from me as you did2"
"Yes, Mrs. Galsford, 1t was so. If 1t is
any satisfaction to you to know how thor
oughly you succeeded, how entirely and
wholly you gained my love, in order to
throw it away, know II now from my lips.
loved you with my whole heart. I went
to that ball with the intention of asking
you to be my wife. 1 heard the news but
even though the evidence seemed unques-
Aonable, II was not till l heard him call
you Amy that believed. I had a sharp
with myself, Mrs. Gaisford, and
tried hard to cheat you out of the triumph
you had so thoroughly gained. hoped
that you might think that / was as heart
less flirt as yourself. Did l succeed ?"
There was slight gesture of assent.
"Then I acted well,' he went on bitterly.
"But give you the triumph now. 1t is
little delayed but not the less complete. l
loved you with all my heart and soul; you
have wrecked my happiness and spoilt my
life. You have crushed out all my motive
for exertion. You have destroyed my
faith in woman. l will not spare myself
even in one syllable, Mrs. Galsford; you
shall have your due. / was so mad that
even when you had done all this to me,
when you had so wrecked my life, could
not hate you. love you now as wildly
and as passionately as ever; shall love
you so till die. Are you satisfied now ?"
YES" she said softly; and then, with
out another word, she turned away from
the lake on which she had looked the
while he had been speaking and joined the
others.
In minute she spoke gently to her sis
ter, and then taking her husbands arm,
she said:
"Let us go in now, Robert, II is getting
damp"
Rupert Holmes followed with Miss Turn
er. He did not speak, he could not have
spoken for worlds. He knew thpt his COM
panion once or twice spoke to him, but he
did not catch the meaning of her words.
Presently he started, for Robert Gaisford
burst into loud hearty laugh. What could
he be laughing at2 His wife could never
be telling the story to him? So on he walk
ed with dull pain to the door of the hotel.
Then there was pause.
"Are you coming in YETI" Mr.. Gaisford
asked.
No, he should take another turn or two.
"Then we must say good-by, Mr..
Holiness" Miss Turner said, "as your boat
starts, you said, at o'clock. Good-by. l
hope you will think better about India"
Mrs. Gaisford did not speak she gave
him her hand, and 80 they stood for mo-
ment face to face. A wild, raging desire to
take her in his arms and kiss her, even
with her husband standing by, seized him;
and she must have seen it, for dropping his
hand hastily, she turned and ran up the
steps into the hotel, followed by her sister.
Rupert Holmes stood motionless looking
after her, and was only reused by touch
on the shoulder, to the remembrance that
Mr.. Gaisford was still beside him.
"Shall we smoke a cigar together ?" he
asked.
"No, no." Rupert said, putting his hand
up to his forehead. "Please leave me a.
lone; am i'll; want to be alone. Good
by"
"In moment" Mr.. Gaisford said, 'but
l particularly want to speak to you. In
fact, promised that l would. Let us sit
down for minute or two on the WALL"
Mechanically Rupert followed him across
the road, and watched him while he lit a
cigar, wondering with a vague wonder
what new blow was to befall him now"
"I find," Mr.. Gaislord went on between
the pufis of his cigar, "that mistake has
somehow arisen--a most ridiculous--ha,
ha, most ridiculous mistake. or course,
as you are starting for India tomorrow and
may be away a longish time, it doesn't, 80