New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-31
CHAPTER XXXV--CONTINUED.
rrpou ADvAycr suPprs


not look at me. What have to offer her 2 he said
with groan.
formula. 'iOu may not be very much. but you're
better than nothing. No. the father said, shaking
his head regretfqly, we are none of US very much
TO look at but, Lord bless soul, think of Anne,
Anne, settling down a single woman an old
maidP he cried. with almost shrek of dismay.
The two men were both quite subdued broken down
by the thought. They could not help feeling in
their hearts that to be anybody's wife would be
But when they had gone on for abont half an
hour, and The moon had risen slvery over the roofs
of the cottages, showing against the sky the
familiar and beloved spire of their own village
church. Charley, who had said nothing all the time,
troubled bass, if his father hae spoken one min.
ute ago Instead of half an hour, Heathcote Mount
ford is far more likely to do something with her
DO You think so y cried the Rector, who had not
s been, any more than his SON. distracted from the
the long pause. She does not know him as she
That is Just the thing said tho Citrate with
SIGH She has known me all her life. and why
soaa she tS tGinE any more apGn me t am Just
ford is stranger. He is clever fellow, clevercr
than | am; and even II he were not said poor
what he says sounds better. for they have not heard
it often before And then he is older, and haso
been all about the world and besides-well the
Curate broke oil with harsh little laugh, that is
about all, sir He is he and am me-that's all
had listened to all this with very attentive ears,
pausing, as he took hold OF the upper bar of his
son, If this is really what you think, Charey--ycu
may have better means of iud2ing-we must push
solemnly, than to see anne old maid And
she's capable of doing that he added laying his
hand upon his sons in the seriousness of the
mind "''' VI '''ns ~ " "' ''"
Charley felt the old hand chill him like something
icy and cold. And he did moi go in with his father
but took pensive turn round the garden in the
moonlight. No, she would never walk with him
there, 1t was too prcsumptuous thought, Never
would Anne be the mistress within. never would it
moonlight in the sweet domestic saactity Of home
His heart stirred within him for moment then
breathed forth vast sigh as he it the evening
cigar, which his father did not like HIM to smoke in
Toned, person he was. The Citrate walked round and
round the grass-pats, sadly enjoying this gentle
aaagsence, When ne tossed the end away after
.Mountford might do it,, with another sigh. Ii was
taa GnaIs hnH %
she had known for a few months only. But so it
Vas; and 1T was noble OF him that he wished
This was the state of affairs between the Rectory
and the Dover house which, fortunately was on
could, without any searchings OF heart the part
Of the new Vicar there, permit the ATTENDANCE of
the ladies at the church which they loved. When
Willie was home at Christmas his feet wore dis
tnct line on the road. He was always there, which
his brother thought foolish weak. since nothing
could ever come OF 1t. Indeed, if anything did
aspera uS the SS,s 1T wa the mo
believe that Rose would have something to say TO
him. Rosei who was the rich one of the house
ana syfs %sIs R u ntr sister 1t set
sing That little thing up Charley felt it'll hot in
dignation; as If she were superior to Anne. But
then Willie was always more complaccnt and
minded brother. AS for Mr.. Ashley himself he
never intsrritted his anxious watch upon Anne
very person to do it. The Rector could not deny
that she had provocation If a woman had behaved
TO him like that, he himself, he felt, might have
turned his back upon the sex, and refused to permit
himself to become the father Of Charley and Willie
That was putting the case i'll practical point of
view: The Rector felt a cold dew burst olt upon
his forehead. when it cleaned across him with all
and Willie might never have been. He set out on
the spot TO bring this tremendous thought before
Anne, but stopped short and came back after mo-
ment depressed and toned down. How could he
point out to Anne the horrible chance that perhaps
two snch paragons yet unborn might owe their non
existence ut was difficult To il into words event
TO herr He could not say 1T and thus lost out OF
have been any difficulty in stating it ~ by far tic
best argument that had yet occurred to him. Bnt
though he rellhquished his argument he did get
over his anxiety. Anne an old maid! it was n
thought to move heaven and earth
In the meantime IleathcOte M.untiOrd felt as
warmly rs anyone could have desired the wonderful
frightening of the local horizon which followed
him also within the limits OF a walk, and The deco
ration and furnishing which went to a great ex-
tent after they had takcu possession tho family
Diyouacking pleasantly i'll the meantime accepting
inconvenience with composurc which only ladies
portuDity fer many n consultation ana discussion
lt was no obsequous purpose of pleasing her which
fn;to ficatnCOtc ALMOST invariably with Anne
when questions arose They were of similar
mould. born under the star to speak poetic
ally, with natural direction Of Their thoughts and
Iancies III The same channel and an agreement of
tastes perhaps slightly owing to the mysterious
aiiinities oil the powerful and wide sprcadinc family
character which they both shared. BY and by Il
came to be recognized that Anne and Hcathcote
were each Others natural allies One OF them
even, 10 Que could remember which playfully iden-
tined certain line of ideas our side When
the winter came on and country pleasures shrank
as they are apt to do, to women, within mich re-.
strictcd limits, the friendship between these two
elder members OF the family grow That they were
naturally on the same level. and indeed about tho
same age. nobody entertained any doubt aided nv
that curious foregone conclusion in the general
contenptuous insult to wolnanl that a girl of
twenty-one Is in reality quite the equal and con-
temporary so to speak, OF man of thirty five
Perhaps she assumption legitimate than
usual in the case OF these two for Anne ALWAYS
gill OF eager intelligence and ndiscrminate INTEL
!ectual appetite, had lived much OF her life among
DOCKS, ana was used TO unbounded intercourse with
the matured minds OF great writers, besides having
had the ripening touch of practical work and of
that strange bcwilderlng conflict with difficulties
disappointment by others but which is perhaps TO
NOBLE mind the most certain and unfailing OF all
maturing influences. Heathcote Mountford had
not lived so much longer in the world without hav
ing known what that experience was and i'm her
groupings darkly after the lost IDEAL lost paradise
which had seemed so certain and evident NJ her
first onset, Ammo began to feel that now and then
she encountered her kinsman's hand in the dark
ness with reassuring grasp This consciousness
came TO her slowly, she could scarcely tell how
and whether he himself was conscious of il at ali
she did not know. But let nobody think this was
IN the way OF loyemakiDg or oyertures to new
union. When girl like Anne, a young woman
fuli OF fresh hope and confidence and ali belief in
the good and true, meets ner outset into life
WI tn sucn disappointment as people call it, it is
mas lost her world as well. Her feet stumble upon
the dark mountains; the steadfast sky swins ro,nJ
es;na addu % OF 6ewilderng vapors and sick