Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-06

game or OTHER JARVIS never finished that
sentence, for at this point the door was flung
open, and Mrs. Pierrepoint came forth TO the
outer air.
Whitechapel or not Whitecbapel," as
Jarvis said "the missus" had certainly
shown no carelessness with respect TO toilet
that afternoon. She had cast off the heavy
Grape dress, bonnet and mantle, to which
she had so rigidly adhered during the first
twelve months Of her widowhood, and wore
some soft, transparent, web.like material,
with dark line ripping down it, which lost
itself every now and then in the folds. Her
hat was soft and feathery Of some graceful,
indefinite shape; in the front of her dress
were two heavy, half-opened roses of deep
creamy color.
She stepped into the carriage, and re-
peated her orders of the morning to the OBJ
sequious John, "Number 9, st. Gibbs
Buildings, near the Bethnal Green Mus
cum"
The carriage rolled from the door; Mrs.
Pierrepoint lay back with wide eyes and
parted lips, through which came the short,
quick breath. She could not think her
head seemed in confused whirl, half-deli-
cious, half-terril lie. To-day she was to reap
the reward of long months of self-denial
and selfrepression. There would be
| strugge-she was prepared for that, for
Frank was terribly proud; but of ultimate
victory she felt sure. Her whole being
seemed in sweet fever, swayed by "prodi-
gal inward joy" such as she had not ex-
perienced since the old rectory days; Joy
enhanced perhaps by its very want of a sure
| foundation on which to rest.
Frank a curate in Whitechapel 1t
seemed impossible, Frank, with his ultra
l..
shrinking from anything harsh, or discord-
soft, the harmonious, the beautiful.
At last they emerged from the more
crowded thoroughfares into a closely inter
lacing network of small streets to the
right, round by the left, to the right again !;
then the carriage stopped before dingy
block of high, -windowed houses
Mrs. Pierrepoint felt her color coming and
going, and her heart beating faster and
faster she got out and told the man to
drive ol then she knocked steadily at a
crazy door with a great chalk 9 marked
on it. A little pause, which seemed an age
the sound of scufil, within, followed by
the heavy tramps of advancing footsteps,
| and in another moment Minnie found her.
self face to face with a WORKOUT, sullen-
looking woman, who stood in silent wonder
before her.
The Rev. Mr.. Quornham lives here,
believe 7" said Mrs. Pierrepoint, in her most
conciliatory tones
The womans naturally sullen expression
gathered defniteness; there were suspicion
and hostile questioning in her glance as she
said shortly, Yes"
al wish to see him." Minnie went on,
with continued effort at extreme suavity
of manner.
The woman put her hands ON her hips,
and looked uncompromisingly at the dainty
figure before her. "Don't know if you
can see i'm, I'm sure, S gently busy bout this
time"
Z" But | wish to see him very particularly
on very urgent business, in fact" said
Minnie, controlling her irritation, but
speaking half note higher than before.
as not had is tea yet-'e never makes
much of dinner, so give i'm s tea early"
The woman spoke dehantly, yet with Ger
tain undertone of protectiveness and grim
tenderness which the other distinctly felt.
"But will you please tell Mr.. Quornham
on Mrs. Pierrepoint's face, softer bright.
ness in her eye--every one it seemed loved
Frank, even this hard, WORKOUT creature.
The woman closed the door; then, with
out word, led the way up the dark, narrow
stairs, which creaked aud shook at every
step. On the second story she stopped be-
fore door and knocked.
No answer "'e's not in there. IN tell
i'm you've come" painted the sullen jani
tress, at the same time showing the visitor
into the room, and slamming the door upon
her.
Minnie was not sorry for the respite. Now
that the moment had come for which con
sciously or unconsciously she had shaped
the latter part Of her life, she felt vague
fear, a terrible anxiety, though deep dowr
in her heart lay the certainty of success
diffusing a strange happiness through al
her doubts.
Footsteps sounded outside, then the handle
of the door turned her heart beat fastel
and faster only by mighty effort did sh,
raise her eyes to the tall figure advancing
toward her.
Some people said, speaking of him no
wholly admiringly, that Frank Quornhan
was like lily and the smile was not al
together illchosen. Something in the line
, of the tall, slight figure, in the curve of tn,
exquisitely graceful neck supporting tn
fine, fair head with its pale face and long
delicate features, might have suggested tn,
most graceful of all flowers but there tn
resemblance ceased there was no flower
like weakness or mere sweetness in tn
} mans strong grave face, with its well-con
J trolled lips and deep-set eyes.
He came slowly towards Mrs. Pierrepoint
who rose and stood calm and pale befor'
, him. A faint almost imperceptibe husl
/ sprang for an instant to his cheek, but Sigh
5 and fieeting as it was, she saw It, aud CAV,
r it her own Interpretation.
"Mrs. Pierrepoint," he said, bowinl
} gravely, "this is an unexpected pleasure.
+. Minnie's thought was, allow dreadful,
/ pale and thin he is lookingp her word
were
r "You see it is a case of Mohammed an,
5 the mountain. You did not come and Sc
. me, so have come 10 see you" She spok
Q lightly and with strict impersonality, care
Z fully steering clear of the familiar Frank
I and the formal 9" Mr.. Quornham."
4 Frank was puzzled. "Pray sit down." h
r said, indicating chair, and speaking wit
e marked Formally.
Q Minnie obeyed, feeling somehow a lttl
( chill and frightened; she had told hersel
/ over and over again that such would be he
+ reception-her fear had no solid foundation
: was only the recurrence Of certain feeln
+ Of something like awe which she had Away
, had for Frank, even in the days when sh
= had tyrannized over him.
: Z" ! did not know where you lived, till III
9 other day, when the dean told me-" sh
/ said; lit must bs great change aftt
/ Trinity"
= "Yes, indeed. College is the little bit G
; poetry which comes into 80 many otherwis
Il prosaio lives. 1t is something TO store u
/ In ones memory"
d 81 can quite think it; one must need
great many pleasant memories in Whit
;, chapel"
"'rhough even Whitechapel is not witt
n out its charms, when one comes to kno
" them"
al think it would take me long time /
n find them out" said Minnie, with littl
p" laugh. She was wondering how she coul
o give the conversation less impersoni
turn, for she felt that very soon the tumul
p uous inner emotions must burst through III
II outer crust of composure.
" There was little pause. Mr.. Quon
u han leaned back in his chair, rather we
u rily; Mrs. Pierrepoint tapped the groun
n impatiently with her foot. She had meat
n to be cautious, to lead up to the denou
d ment very slowly aud carefully, feeling hs
lie ground at every step; but she had misca
culated her own strength-she could be,
Up the silence. the coliness, no logger 81
10 must set at rest the wild desires and terro
d raging in her bosom. For a moment 81
k buried her face in her hands then, elias