The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-05-18

little bar parior. 4 great variety OF
whips hung against the wall, and over
the mantle-piece was photograph Oi
fine chestnut mare. Under it was
written "Being Mr.. Hunters "a
vorite mare, who died in her. four
teenth year" A short way on WIS a
photograph of Mrs. Hunter, in full
holiday costume. A large Bible and
photograph album lay upon the IA
ble.
Seton mechanically opened the al
bum. Here was tinted photograph
of young girl with profuse gold
ringletss q large, round face, and
meaningless blue eyes. Under it was
written presented to Miss Hun
Ter by her affectionate friend, Isabella
Grant, Poor Isabella how many
honest country hearts, wonder, had
she caused to ache while the hair was
gold and the buxom figure still shape
lyl
For want OF something tetter to 10
Seton began to write letter but be
made slow with it. For minutes to-
gether he sat holding the pen listless-
IL in his hand, leaning his arm wear
lily upon the table, listening, as we all
listen when alone, to what sounds
may be going on near Us, from q feel
ing which is not curiosity, but more
overpoweriDg.
Suddenly what must have been a
very light vehicle dashed swiftly
down the road and drew up with great
precision st the door of the screen
Dragon" while the voice OF a new
conner became audible. Seton, how
ever, could only catch a few diseon-
nected words, such as ''Caught in the
rain delicate-shelter-C -Chiselhurst-
a closed carriage"
Then the door opened, the landlord
presented himself upon the threshold,
and said, In a very pointed manner |:
| "If you please, sir, q young lady,
driving over to Sevenoaks in a light,
open trap, has been caught in the
rain, and ber servant wants to know
il can give her a sitting-roOn1 while
closed carriage"
have ?' Tejoined Seton. "Oh ask
her by all means. However, am
sorry the room smells so of smOke,"-
he added, knocking the ashes from
his pipe.
"Don't yea mention it, sir, and
thank you very much" replied the
landlord, retiring.
In another moment the door opened
again, and the unexpected intruder
entered-a lady, tall and very grace
ful, having pale MadoLns-like face.
and gold hair shining like an aureole
round small classical head.
Seton's face had grown white to the
lips, and his voice quivered percspti-
bly,, as, extending his hand, he said
"This is very unexpected meet
ing"
Every unexpected" echoed the la
dy, removing her wet mantle, and sit
ting down on tie worn leather sofa.
the recognition had been mutual, but
women, as rule, are more self-com-
posed than men.
"Let me recommend this chair"
said Seton, laying bis hand upon the
one from which he had just risen.
"NO, thank you, L prefer sitting |
away from the fire.n
81 am sorry the room should smell /
so of tobacco observed Seton, after
pause, "but you see did not expect /
the pleasure OF visitor"
She smiled a rather forced smile by |
way of answer, and Seton folded elab-
Orately and put into an envelope a
sheet Of blank paper.
"Ihe country is very beautiful |
around here,p he observed, writing
his own name, with great care, upon
the envelope.
ave have only been back from the
Continent about six weeks" she OBJ
served, after pause. Mamma has
taken a house near Chiselhurst. L
was driven over to Sevenoaks this
morning, and / was caught in the
rain, and induced to ask for shelter
here"
"And how is Mrs. Clarefield ?'
TheMaa hMaHt@a RHtefa i 7bSaHHghe suits f thank f sSss5 yTgn
low contralto voice, which had rins
of infinite pathos, "Are you stopping
here ?"
Hardly" said Seton, with an
assumption of gayety in his tone
"but I'll tell you all about it. My
friends kindly took it into their heads
that 1 was sticking too closely to
work-that wanted fresh air and
exercise-so they bound me over, on
my word Of honor, to walk from
London to Hastings in week. ac-
quiesee in everything now, SO, of
course, acquiesced in this, and this
is my first day of hard labor and i'm
prisonment."
"But you used-"began the lady,
then she colored little, and seemed
unwilling to finish her sentence
'iyou used to be so fond of walking"
"But man changes q good deal IN
three years." he replied, wesrily.
Then came q long silence, broken
at last by the pop of an ale cork, at
which they started as il an explosion
had taken place.
"Oh you grow used to it in tine,"
observed Seton.
1t seemed impossible to imagine
these two persons, more formal to
each other IN manner than the most
distant acquaintance, could ever
have been passionate and devoted /
lovers. What thoughts had they, 1
wonder, as they sat together, and yet
so far apart, of the old days wherein
love led them, and all was well ? It
would Wesry you, dear reader, and to
no purpose, were / to set down here
the dresry commOnplaces with which
these two tried so beguile the time
for over an hour. At length, worn
out by the arCucus effort of trying to
entertain each other while their
thoughts were SO far away, they took
refuge in silence, and the wind roared,
and the rain lashed the window, and |
the dusk came on prematurely, and
Seton, looking out on the cheerless
prospect, shivered as with the cold.
Then that other person in the room
rose very quietly and stirred the fire
into blaze, and resumed her seat on /
the sofa. 50.
''No, you shouldn't really" said
Seton, not tuning. round, however,
though with look of great pain up
on his face. 1t is wonderful what /
suffering some small, commonplace
word of action may cause us. What
vistas Of impossible joys, again, may
they not open up to us
"I suppose the carriage will soon be
bach" said Alice presently, and
speaking with effort, land our new
coachman drives so fast, t0o.n
"Yes, and your term of imprison-
ment will soon be up," rejoined |
Seton, resting his arms upon the |
msntelpiece, and examining with |
critical interest the photograph of Mr., |
Hunters defunct mare.
"How the time passes" said Alice,
in fow voice, as if speaking to her
self. Then, with sudden energy, 81
can mot tell when we shalt meet |
again. Before we part, answer me |
one question. You are looking worn |
and Yeary-are you happy ?"
Now. he stood before her, and
through the dusk and the firelight his |
eyes flashed on her, as he said, IN a
low harsh voice-"From your lips |
this question is an insult.n
''Of which you need not fear the
repetitiOn," she rejoined promptly, |
with cutting formality.
mo, il can't end like this" he
went on. "Do you know, ever since |
you have been here, / have bitten my |
lips through and through to keep
them from speaking of the past. This |
meeting was not on your seeking, and |
it seems 70 me unmanly and bastard
ly to take advantage Of this opportu-
nifty"
"We are sometimes so Mistaken
she said hurriedly, but her words
hordlrr anlsH1.