The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-02-06
HIS RRTRIBUTION.
BY MARY REED CRowKLL,

HIo hEThlbUTlUN.
BY MARY REED CRowRLL
"Yes -wellr'
Mrs. Darcy looked up from her dain-
ty piece of lace work, from which, un-
til now, while Addie had been talking,
she had not ccndescended to remove
her attention.
And now, after the girls sweet, hall
deprccative, halftriumphant tones had
ceased, the lady's cold, blue eyes slowly
lifted, and met Adde'S beautiful wine
bronze oncs-the eyes Tracy Gray had
been swearing by those past three
months.
Then, after that sarcastic, Indifferent
brace of words, Mrs. Darcy smiled
smile that brought all the hot blood
in red tide to Addie Bell's face.
"And you really are so charmingly
innocent as to believe all that Mr.. Gray
has told you? You actually are so
beautifully truthful as to think Tracy
Gray means anything by his foolish fir
tation with you-the nurse maid to my
children? And he, worth hundreds OF
thousands of dollars, whom any lady in
the land would jump at for the asking
Addie, are you a fool, or--worsel"
All that wave of warm color sudden
ly receded, and the girl looked like a
marble statue, save for the troubled
woe in her eyes, that deepened into
proud shame that this woman dared SO
speak to her. Then, all tho dignity,
and womanliness, and outraged pride,
in her nature mingled in her quiet an
swer:
"When you know that Mr.. GRAY has
asked me, and have consented to be
his wife, and am only waiting until you
can fill my place before l fulfill my
promise perhaps you will sec the nee
essity of retracting yonr insulting
words" r.
Mrs. Darcy had listened, in blank
astonishment, that this person she had
hired-this creature whose time was
hers, who received her wages from her,
who had more than once been the re-
cipient of her bounty-that Addic Bell
dared thus turn and thus defend herself,
who had always been so quiet, so gen.
tie, so unobtrusive. Then flush swept
over her face, and she looked ragingly
at the girl.
"How dare You SO completely forget
yourself? l do not for a moment be-
lieve that Mr.. Gray ever asked you to
marry him-hush but do believe that
it is not your fault that he has not.
have seen your bold, outrageous f]irt-
ing with him. l have seen and under
stood, AS ! suppose you saw and under.
stood, the meaning of his underhand
intentions-such attentions and adyan-
ces as the world, and gay, fast men OF
the day pay to unprotected, silly, ro-
mantle girls, whose positions are infin-
itely far beneath their own. But since
it seems you did not understand, and
since Mr.. Gray's business is not mine
TO control, there is but one course left
to me, and doubtless very delightful
opportunity for you-to order you from
my house at once, with your Disgrace
aud obstinacy."
Addie was white to the very lips, a,
she listened; then she crested her heat
with sudden hauteur that commanded
even Mrs. D'Arcy's respect, for the mo
ment.
"You are very kindI Permit me t,
return my thanks for your exceedingl,
ladylike courtesy, and to suggest that
in the very near future, Mr.. Gray will
doubtless revenge the insult paid hi
wife,"
There was smile of perfect satisfac
ton on her face as she gathered togeth
er her little all, in her bedroom, an,
thinking, as she made her preparation
for immediate departure, how man,
and many time Tracy Gray had tol,
her how glad he was she was Just a
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