New-York tribune., 1880-06-27

The sentence was never finished; but perhaps
Mr. Courtney effected his intention in his somewhat
protracted parting kiss.
".
Mr.. Theophilus Gibbins had been much .preoccu-
pied of late An unwOnted nervousness, foreign to
his phlegmatic temperament, had embarrassed his
movements, causing him to start at the sound OF
bell. and turn away on the unexpected appearance nee
questioned his own soul, and discovered therein
the image of Mona Newnham.
.Theophilus was the only son Of wealthy and
piOus parents. He had been nursed as it were in
the Odor OF sanctity; he had lmbibed moral truths
from his earliest years. The Gibbins household
ligious standpoint, circumstance that may have
ent o reactionary zest to Cynthia's later fry
olity of mnd. She had been low;church, high
church, broad-church, and atheistcal in turn, but
nothing serious said much to Miss Gibbins, Mt any
rate for any length of time. Just now people were
"specnlative" in thought and MEDIEVAL in The
matter of clothing, and Cynthia as the rest.
Theophilus was of another make. ,
Years back he had been IA slow, awkward. good
hearted boy. lie grasped an idea with difficulty
and dgestod it slowly. But once having sucked
ont tho heart of a question 1t became portion Of
\ us With nc one OF his S haSds sUHa or feet He
at tho same time, of that passive part of mankind
that suck only the rattle so to speak, presented to
their hand and Mr.. Gibbins's rattle. as we have
already seen. had been shaken only from the Sc,
rous standpoint. The vicar had in his way reached
the age OF thirty-four in single unblessedness
when he began TO conceive that Mona was the one
woman who ever could or ever would suit him as o
wife. Mrs. Newman had been informed OF his
aspirations aud had been duly elatcd at future
hOnors. IL yet remained, il is true. to speak to
Mona, but considering her mothers wishes and
dcarth of rivals it might be reasonably expected
she would listen to his suit. The vlcaragc had been
unusually quiet all that Winter. Cynthia had been
absent visiting various friends. and Mr. Courtney.
who was half under promise to trun down at
Christmas. found himself unable to leave town.
He had written to the vicar to account for his nom
appearance. After thanking The0philus for his
help thanks to which he had got the berth i'll the
Colonial Office ho went on to say that the severe
illness of his father prevented hun getting away.
regards reg to Miss Newnham tcif her am in des-
pair Mt not being able to assist at the mothers
meetings; hut pray say shall be do @n the very
deep interest | take in them" Mr.. Gibbins had
not been ovcroycd at this message. lie found it
ppap unO9comnS to ShGcr Any bgSI bgIuns terefoys tSg
thrown the letter IN tho fire. marvclling tho whilo
nt the curious friyoity and ndellcacy of even gem
tcmanly men.
1t must not be supposed that jealousy had any
thing t. say To tho divines resentment: The
Thought of n rival did not cross his mind Had not
the worthy aLan taken three years to fall IN love
consider his fecl.ngsl 1t was not given him to
know what, with some, people fortnight can
shown no sign of life. For Oh rejection no telt
like other men, when it is too latel it would be 9
shame 10 compromise Mona Newnam. no had
gone too far and yet not fur enough. lie had sue
cumbcd TO his passions. At distance reason
reason reasscrtcd herself. Secret and romantic at
like did not enter into this young gentleman 8 plan
of life. lie resolved If he saw or wrote to Mona
this he could not do; for although he had satisfied
his father as to the Colonial Ohice. sic kness now
prevented him from receiving his reward. For TINS
and the higher reward ho must now walt WIN
what patience he might.
In this way tho Winter passed away, the longest
Winter Mona had ever known. AT first she had
atood at tho little gate at the end of the garden
She had looked up the long white ROAD ana tne
trees turned red and brown then tho elnls' the
first to shed their leaves stood NIL fcathery against
the purple blue behind But she did not note these
changes. She was waiting tor hgure-a hgHre
~ be does NOT come he will write" she said.
But the postman proved no lucker than that long
white way had been Perhaps the Wlhttr 5 hhlgmts hgo
were the worst, when the snow lay roma the mouse
Then she would roam from room to room. In inc
kitchen, freshly scrubbed, tho maid would click
her knittngncedles, the fire burning brightly, inc
cat gently purrlng in the glow. There wero the
saucrp ms shining in row. the crlckets chrplng
round tho blaze, tho children sleeping oYerheaH erha
the widow casting mp accounts. lick, teK, LICK,
went the big kitchen clock. ,
she snid
There was the old childhoods home in its sleep::
ness, its order its drowsncss How can bear It
How long will 1t lust Tick, TICK, went tue
kitchen clock; its monotony said to the ena. 49,.
But the SDrlng time had come now, Inc Autumn
After all Mona asked herself, what have to
complain off Tic never asked me to he hs wlie
Why Should be Disappointed now Perhaps he
got rather tired OF Cynthia up NJ the Vlcarage naI
wns ALL and wanted little cheerful society n nIler
his work. Wel, never grudged him mime Iilrh
she would 20 over word Tor word all their niue
scraps of talk his look and tone. and all the things
+ onght to have enjoyed it much more, for now
It will never come back again., and she thougnt
doeluy Of hlr. Gbbinss attentions sos as hsp cp
meaningless, NO empty, before that Autumn time
Int that time too was dead now, leaving an aching
min Mt the heart. If 1 cOuld only do something
exciting 20 away to the end Of tho world or marry
somebody, or drown myself, should get rid OF TINS
pnin; and he might hear Of me, perhaps relnemDer
tho old time The garden walls seemed 10 crush
''' IA Mona rnminated. one of these exciting and
sli thtly ncongruous alternatives was about 10 De
ofered hpr A crunchIng of tho gravel (she was aG
the end of the garenl betrayed the tempter IN tne
person of Mr.. Thcophilus GlbDns VINO was 8uISSAy Ss
apprOacling her along the garden walk. fernapS
he WINS not dangerous temptation 10 the outer
world-a world unbasscd by an earnest SOUL II ac-
companied by sOuching gait ana awkwaTq leet.
But i'm these Hntoward attributes 1t is possible lay
Mona Newnhams snare The outward ioTln ue-
ceived only she told herself. Grace was wlth those
who loved and rode away. The glrl was leahn9
aganst an apple-tree, its faint PINK glowing In inc
warm Spring sunshine Overhead the birds were
singing the sky showed blue between the tangled
net of trees There was mild humidity in the air,
the sounds and scents of Spring time were awaKen-
ing from their long Winter sleep. An unusual aI
Mr. Gbbns. The woman in Mona knew that Ih neI
time had come But even now nc dld not cross ,. Ine
long wet grass straight to where she stood, but a
preached her crab-wlse by the more olrcunsspeCc CO
and salubrlous gravel path. She did not smlle OF
move, but simply waited WIN her hthus ,nsPPS cnsPSd
together her slight body leaning on the knotteu
Neither half an hour nor a proposal Of marriage
had altered Miss Newnhams attitude;
Miss Mona, gNsped [he 4nyonthtnl loyer 10 hor
silence YOU give me then leave to hope ~.
duh apathy had taken possession Of her as the the
vicar h'Gf brfn Sf his So haRS carrd
like & IgTS 80 gng the @ cSaseess unrest
Of fe ast few months there seemed this opening
OF a new life something of numbing peace. ~
would delight her mother, and apparently a worthy
man. Life after all was a joyless thing-what, dld
it. ali signfyf Perhaps IN mere duty lay hfeS
SYon I've me leave to hope. and he attempted to
.Hopep What had che to do with hopef II was
n word that had become without meaning n those