Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-09
The Double Lesson.

Have you told me the whole truth, now,
Lillian. about the gentleman | saw you talk
ing with upon the bridge P-the whole truth,
remember"
eyes, indeed, indeed, Reginald" she ex-
claimed, looking at him pteously, with her
for-get-me-not eyes swimming in tears, and
her little childish hands clasped in supplica-
tion.
al wish could believe you, but don'tl'
groaned Reginald Trevor, starting up and
beginning to pace the floor angrily, while his
fragile little wife sobbed aloud in her ex-
citement and terror. {" If you did not meet
that man by appointment, what made you
pretend to have headache, to get rid of
coming down to tea; and what made you,
when we were all seated at the table, go
stealing out the back way instead of the
front, and walk straight there and nowhere
else And why did you look so fright
ened when you saw me. Tell me that, will
you ?"
al thought the air would do me good,
and didn't want to disturb you. Indeed,
indeed, it is true, Reggie, dear"
"And what made your polite acquaint-
ance turn and go off as though he had been
shot out of gun, the moment he saw me
coming2 No, no, Lily, it won't do. Your
very terror now contradicts your story. Will
you tell me the truth, or shall | wiring it out
of that man 2"
Lily rose to her feet trembling, her tender
face waxen white, but strangely calm.
"If you will let me, will go back to my
aunt, Reginald. That is the best place for
me now"
Reginald Trevor's stern, handsome face
grew shade paler, and his hand clenched
and unclenched nervously. If he could only
believe her Ibis little snow-drop that he
had sheltered in his bosom, and whose purity
and truth he would have sworn to.
"Will you tell me that mans name,
Lily ?" he asked more gentle.
"No, Reginald, was the firm reply. You
have doubted me. will not put it in your
power to question another concerning me-"
al will fiud him, nevertheless. l should
know his sneaking, handsome face among a
thousand" cried Reginald passionately, as
Lily pale, but stately as queen, swept past
him to the door.
She was back again very shortly, dressed
for going out and looking like snowy wa
ter lily, in her soft white furs, with her dove
eyes and coloress face. She paused beside
the door.
"Have you any objection to my going to
my aunt's ?" she asked.
Reginald strobe across the room, with his
back to the door. He did not answer. She
crossed the apartment and just touched his
arm with her gloved hand.
"IIave you any objection to my going to
my aunt's 2" she asked.
"Will you tell me that mans name ?"
"a faint tremor crept round Lily's lips,
but she looked him steadily in the face, and
answered
"No."
"The sooner you go to your aunt's, then,
and the longer you stay, the better shall be
pleased" he said, with cold bitterness.
With deep, inward sigh, the wife turned
swiftly away, nor paused till she knocked a.
the door of handsome residence few
streets off.
A sprightly little lady, whose resemblance
to Lily Trevor marked her at once for that
aunt who had almost since her babyhood
supplied a mothers place to the orphan, rose
eagerly from under the glow of the chandel-
ier at sight of her.
"Why, Lily was her dismayed articula-
tion.
"Dear auntie, don't question me, please,
I've quarreed with Reginald, that is all"
Lily said, Historically.
"But, lily"
"Aunt Myra, it can't be helped now, and
| dare say was just as much to blame as he
was. Let it settle itself, won't you.'
Aunt Myra looked as though she doubted
the chances of such au event but she said
no more. She knew something of Lily's
firmness.
The matter, indeed, did not seem inclined
to settle itself in hurry. Lily waited in
vain for some sign of her husband. She
sent for her trunk in the course of the next
day, and it came without a word.
A week passed and then Lily grew paler
day by day, and Reginald more desoate.
Neither gave one sign to the other. As
Reginald was returning from the club one
evening, he found himself between two men,
who were talking in low but sufficiently dis
tinct tones. 1t was some moments before
he took enough note of their conversation
to discover that they were talking of him.
"Disgraceful 7" said one. 81 should
think so and haven't single doubt, my
self, that Trevor Is the one to blame. He
was always a naughty, jealous, tyrannical
fellow. Lily Ramsay was great deal too
many for him."
good qualities-a trhe too proud, perhaps,
and inclined to be Jealous, we used to think,
but good fellow"
"O"iah oNooi ~ tho bootheoo VI any
fellow that could quarrel this way with a
girl like Lily Ramsay within six months
after he married her When man takes
woman to love, cherish, and protect, he
don't do it, to my notion, by making his
house so hot that she is very glad to stay
out of it,"
Reginald Trevor quickened his pace and
passed the two gentlemen unrecognized. lie
had heard enough to irritate him excessively.
There might not be one particle of justifca-
tion for these men speaking as they did of
him; but as he paced angrily homeward,
the words kept recurring to him. Naughty,
jealous, tyrannical !" was that Lily's opinion
OF him, he wondered
lie walked round by Mrs Ramsay's house,
keeping upon the opposite side of the way,
and regarding the mansion stealthily as he
passed, though 1t was too dark for any one
to see him. At the corner he even hesitated
as a slender shadow crossed the blind, which
might be Lily's. Then murmuring, "No;
| told her the longer she stayed the better |
should be pleased, and so l shall, till she
comes TO her Senses" lie hurried gloomily
| home.
But his fate was not in his own hands.
That night his house was entered by burg.
lars and though he succeeded in routing
them, he was severely injured by blow
upon the head from some heavy instrument
in the hands of one that for three days his
life was considered exceedingly doubtful.
The news came upon Lily without warn.
ing. She was bending over some work, but
not sewing the stitches, for tears She put
hAr xxnrl alt IA.