The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-05-08
Beautiful Mrs. Murcheson "

hODi
Mr.. Robert Mortimer flushed hotly,
and his agreeable countonance for an in
slant expressed something not unlike
guilty embarrassment.
"Certainly not" quoth he, with the
least accent of annoyance in his voice.
81 conld never quarrel with Miss Grey,
who is quite too amiable for that sort of
unpleasant event, even if l were rude
enough to provoke (which | believe |
am not, Jeanette"
81 hope, Rob-" she observed anxious
", after a pause, ''that this Mrs. Muir
cheson has not infatuated you as she
has all the rest of them"
(Which means that you are not
pleased with the lady" he retorted
quickly; 'may ask what your objec-
lions arel"
"My objections are instructive" she
returned slowly; land | would not wish
to utter them to another. But cannot
help distressing any woman who unfeel-
ingly comes between those who have
been something more than friends for
wears. When Mrs Murcheson came here
she found you devoted to frankie, and
knew that you we've considered as the
bethrothed of the dear girl by all of us,
and vet she coolly invited your atten
tions by conduct unbecoming-if | may
use charitably mild adjective"
There, Jeanette, say no more, If
you please" he protested, much vexed.
81 have never been engaged to Miss
Grey. | admire her, and esteem her
very highly; for she is sweet and SEN
sible young lady, and worthy the best
man in the world. ! presume she has
understood my feelings toward her bet
ter than you seemed to have done.
81 ain ashamed of you, Rob" cried
Miss Mortimer, Indignantly. You
know very we'll that before the Circe
came here to bewitch you that you seri
ously meant to make frankie your wife.
She knows it too; and if you have not
seen how she suffers and how much she
still loves you, then you are indeed
binder than [ believe. You have treat
ed her badly wickedly, and deserve her
greatest contempt
"You are talking to your brother,
Jeanette he demonstrated with a shad-
ow of pain in his handsome eyes"
Forgive NE, Rob- she pleaded, pen
itently; u do no not wish to pain or
wrong you, dear, but [ know that very
few men can understand the agony and
humiliation suffered by a woman treated
as you have treated frankie Grey. 1t
was Just another such heartless creature
as this Mrs. Murcheson that spoiled my
life
you ought not TO say that, jean
nette," demonstrated the gentleman.
"You never saw the shameless person
who made your trouble. Besides, you
are unreasonably prejudiced against
Mrs. Murcheson, whom you scarcely
saw"
She ignored his protest, and resumed
as if she had not heard it.
Il was well-beloved, Rob, by a gentle
man whose superior was never born.
Our weddingday was appointed; our
house was bought and furnished; my
bridal garments We're ready. Do you
remember, Rob, that day when he was
so happy planning the pleasures Of the
future we were to share together That
same day he met the cruel woman who
enticed his affections from me. And
yet l have alwas felt that in spite OF all
that happened he loved me best. She
allured, cajoled and blinded him He
married her with insane haste, and we
have both heard what happened after.
She had another living husband whom
she had ruined in fortune and then CON
signed to a mad-hous My poor Alfred
did not learn this until two years after,
and then il was too late to save himself
from ruin, for she had all eady secured
the portion of his fortune she had not
spent, and had then deserted him"
"You have suffered much, my darling,
Jeanette said her brother, kindly,
shut that should not make you unjust to
others. You will love Mrs. Murcheson
dearly think when you come TO know
her better"
The lady shook her head sadly.
81 cannot-I could not" she persist
ed. 81 could never even respect her,