Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-04-20

hef' anu you know the effect 1t had.
- Yes, but that was N the first hours
OF her distress. She will change
Then wait until she does so. Let
them both have their own wav: what
ever the result, 1t will be better than
any we could bring about by thtusting
our wishes upon them.
Colonel Cuthbert was not much re-
lieved by this interview, but his friend
was. - -
After ali it may not be necessary to
leave the place even temporarily" OBJ
served MIR. Calthorpe complacently as
he locked out at the window.
CHAPTER XVI
DIVIDED LIVES. -
The reply given to all INQUIRIES after
the health of Miss Cuthbert durinothe
next fortnight was rapidly re over
ing" at the end of three weeks she was
able to see intimate acquainfances, and,
except that she was pale and evidently
somewhat weak, no one would have
imagined that her illness had been more
than what she had called tritling in
disposition. The accident of the birth
day dinner party having taken place
Immediately before she had been
obliged to deny herself to visitors
caused the report ofher illness to spread
rapidly. and gossips added their own
speculations to the simple statement
that she was suffering from the effects
of a sudden chill. The absence OF
Maurice Calthorpe from the dinner
party had been observed at the time,
and his name was in mysterious ways
mixed up with an event which would
scarcely have attracted any attention
if the lady had not been an heiress and
beauty.
Among the regular inquirers was Sir
Frederick Powell.
At the end or a month Miss Cuthbert
received callers. Those who saw her
for the first time were considerably sur
prlsed to find her alking quite calmly,
and without the slightest symptoms of
there having been an, thing particular
the matter. She was apparently I'M
moved even when some good natured
ladies mentioned the Calthorpes, on the
preteXt of acquaipting her with the
strange news that the long-anticipated
ruin had come ut last. She displayed
nothing but the polite interest which
might be taken by any one in neigh
Dor misfortune.
"She never had a thought of Young
Calthorpe," was the general verdict
and Sir Frederick Powell was convinced
that 1t was the right one. He was
aware that his own assiduous attentions
ut this time were observed by the local
Argus, and he was proud that his name
should be associated in anys way with
that of Mabel Cuthbert.
A week later she returned n number
of visits. Out-of-doors and indoors she
appeared to have taken up the ordinary
routine of her life. Is if there had been
no interruption TO its even tenor. The
only alteration in the adjustment at
Hollyford was the appearance of a
stoutish. ruddv-faced woman called
LIS. OBryan, who was in public known
SIMPLY as MabePs personal attendant,
but who was in private Mother o. BRYAN,
the kind nurse and faithful friend. Mrs.
Harper was still the chaperon and the
general superintendent of the house af-
fairs; but, without anything being said
or any nplea>antnesS. Mabel dis
pensed with her companionship in pri-
waite rs much as possible. The good
lady, being quite unconscious of having
done anything to cause sofenSe, took
none; and enjoyed the extra liberty af-
forded her by the presence of Dame
O'Bryan.
The house reasserted its claim to rec.
ognition rs one of the most hospitable
in the county; numerous invitations
were re, eived by the Colonel and his
daughter, and few were declined. Al
first Mabel was perhaps not quite Sc
lively in society as she used to be; but
this being attributed to the weakness
resulting from illness, rendered her an
object OF more interest than care. As
strength returned. however, she became
again one of the pleasantest companions
a man could take in to dinner. She
would listen with flattering attention tc
the intellectual, aud to the stupid man
she would chatter of the things with
which he was best acquainted, thus
afording him opportunities of finding
occasionally something to say. OF the
two classes of men she seemed to pre-
fer the stupid ones. af
Presently it was known that house
had been taken in town, and was being
furnished in such style rs suggested
that the Colonel and Miss Cuthbert
thought Of spending there q consider
able part of the year. There was moth
ing in this to attract particular atten
ton. and nothing in the conduct OF
either father or daughter to indicate
that an important crisis was being
quietly passed over. In town and
country they were looked upon as re.
! markably happy people, and their de.
tn oil n, - A.
constant conpanionship. The current
of their lives seemed to fow on as
smoothly as if it had known no whirl.
pools.
Colonel Cuthbert and his daughter
had entered into a simple compact
namely, that there should be no ref
erence between them to Maurice or the
unhappy events associated with him.
4" SO be it, Mabel" said the father,
.tenderiy;1.'if my'silcnce can give you
any ease Of mind you shall have it. !"
She kissed him. and that was all.
The struggle had been a hard one,
bnt it was over now That letter from
Maurice had settled everything for her.
Mabel Cuthbert had extinguishei the
love which she now knew she had been
craving for, and she could not hope &c
rekindle it. sometimes Mabel thoughi
that the fire must have been a feeble
one to have been so easily, put out.
Sometimes she thought OF letting him
know directly that she was sorry fol
having uttered those undeserved re.
proaches-undeserved. although at the
time they were spoken the charges were
cruelty true to herself But she put
bot thoughts away: the enc was I'M
worthy Of her if she had any faith in
MIN: and the other was useless, rs he
did MT care for her now.
Mabel Cuthbert's course in he was