The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-09-12
OUT IN THE STORM.

She stood with an open letter III he,
hand, trembling and ashcn pale, and a
last had to clutch at the nearest chair [,
Keep herself from falling.
'lt is all over!" she cried. after
while, putting her hand TO her forehead
with II dazed look; 'all over all over
And yet, oh, how loved him!"
The match between Lydia Trcnlhan
and Leonard Drake had been a runa
way one. Her family was richer thai
his, and ambitious that she shoul,
make great alliance, for she wa
beautiful and accomplished, and hat
such charming manner that everybod,
raved about her. When, therefore, sht
fell in love with Leonard Drake, who
had but a comparatively small compe
tcncc, and no business knowledge
whatever, her father angrily badc hcl
TO dismiss such lover forever from hei
thoughts. But with Lydia, as witt
most. romantic girls, this stern decree
acted only as an additional incentive
She thought her father unjust, and
went Oh loving Drake more than ever
Finally she eloped. From that day hel
parents looked on her as on the dead,
"She has made her bed and let her
lie in it," said her father, savagely.
There had been only one cloud OH
the happiness of the wife. She had
come to her husband penniless when he
he had right to expect fortune, and
she feared that some day he might re-
grct his choice. All at once, like a
thnnderbolt out of clear sky, came the
crushing blow which DESTROYED her
happiness in one hour.
In his bachelor days, and before he
met Lydia Trentham, Leonard brakes
name had been associated with beau
tiful girl, who afterwards married a
MIR. Dorchester, banker. People said
that she had never loved him, but that
her heart had been given to Leonard
Drake; that Leonard had really loved
her, and that Miss Bently had only TAX
Ell the rich banker "because," as she
said, "Leonard and herself were too
poor to marry"
Lydia, at the time, hearing these
things, had not been without jealousy
but the entire devotion of Leonard had,
in the end, satisfied her; and for years
she had even forgotten the existence of
Mrs. Dorchester.
Suddenly Mrs. Dorchester had ap-
pearcd at the summer resort where tile
brakes were residing temporarily.
Here she had renewed her acquaintance
with Leonard. Lydia remembered
well how embarrassed both had seemed
AZ the unexpected meeting. Mrs. Dor
chester was a widow now; notes be-
gan to pass between her and Lydia's
husband; and twice the wife had de-
tccied them walking together in the
dusk of the evening.
For weeks she had struggled against
conviction, hoping towards the last
against hope, until this day, when she
had found torn and crumpled letter
hidden between the pages of book
the first words of which drove her al
most insane. She remembered now
that she had surprised her husband that
morning reading letter which, to her
astonishment, he had shuflled into an
open volume before him, but she had
not noticed what book ir was, and il
was by accident only she had discovered
il.
1t was but the part of letter, how
ever, that she found. The paper had
evidently been torn in several pieces,
and only a portion had been thrust into
the book, as if, ESQ she reasoned now
her husbands agitation had deprived
him for the moment of his self-control
| Under any other circumstances paper
belonging to Leonard would have beer
sacred to her, but when she saw thu
first significant words, "We must keeI
the secret" she read Mrs. Dorchester
signature at the end.
Much was lost, all was more or les
incoherent, but enough remained te
convince the tortured wife that every
thing was over for her in the way o
happiness in this world.
She remained there for nearly hal
an hour, dazed,. crushed, not KNOWN;
rs yet what 10 do. The door opened a
last and old Dorcas came in. Old Dor
cas- had been Lydia's nurse and had fol
lowed her after her marriage, the onl,
one, poor or rich, that had stuck to he
fallen fortunes. She started back OF
seeing the ashy face of her mistress.
"What is it?" said Lydia, rousin,
herself.
IA note from Mr.. Drake" was In
reply. "But, deary me! are yon i'll
ma'amY
mo, am quite WELL" answered th
poor wife with great effort. "Ah,
see that Mr.. Drake writes he is going {,
join party to go up to Dover not [,
return till night, If | will excuse hi
coming back 20 dinner"
"Yes," Dorcas said, vaguely.
"The man who brought the not
l fc fne Noll l.. A..
TO Mr.. Drake "Go, by all means.
haven't time or would write"
Dorcas started off, but her mistress
voice again made her pause.
"When You have sent him away com
to my room-I want you," said Lydia
There was little delay, but whe
Dorcas entered the room her misires
was busy with travelling bag.
"Dorcas," she said, "you have bee
with me all my life-do you want {
remain with me stillr
The voice was so cold, the face 8
pale that Dorcas dared make no scene
81 will follow you 10 the world
cnd," she replied, feelingly.
''Then get ready. l am going /
Boston-on from there as fast as / car
Tell nobody. Get your things out c
the house as secretly as possible"
"Going? Where? What is the ma
ter? groaned Dorcas.
"If you can't be quiet and obey witt
out a question, you must stay behind,
Lydia answered, in the same hard, M
natural voice. "Be quick and choose
have no time TO waste"
She sat down and wrote letter I
her husband, inclosed the torn page
she had found, and poured out the ma
jealousy of the past weeks that had th
day eliminated.
II have done now," she wrote. "Pes
pie were right; yon loved her, not me