New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-16
Xxx.

She heard HOLSTER re-enter the house that night,
Mt very late hour, and pass TO his own apartments
II was only after dawn that she obtained niue
restless and broken sleep. by o o'clock abe rang
for her coffee, aud then, after forcing herself TO
swallow #. began TO dress. with her maids assist
apce Marie was perfect servant. As she performed
with capable exacutude one after another careful
duty the ease and char of being thus waited upon
annealed TO Claire with an ironical emphasis The
very softness and tasteful make of her garments
took a new and dreary meaning. She had forgotten
for weeks the dainty details OF her late life. ITS ec-
Rance of tone. smoOthDess OF movement ncetv OF
balance These features had grown customary and
,oconsncuous AS cambria will IN time gro familiar
TO the skin that has brushed against coarser tex
lures But now the light. to speak had altered;
IL was cloudy and stormful 1t brought out. in vivid
relief what before had been clad with the pleasant
haze of habit The very carpet beneath Claire's
tread took a reminding softness the numDerless
attractions and comforts OF her chamber thrust for
ward special claims to her heed even the elaborate
or simple utensils of her dressing had each its
distinct note of souvenir She must soon lose
| somuch of 1t ALL
AS by some automatic and involuntary process,
| memory slipped images and pictures before her
mental vision; she had noted them IN the still, dark
hours of the previous night, and they remained un-
banished now by the glow OF the wlntry morning
She saw herself child. c0wed and satirzed by her
| coarse and donneerIng mother; she witnessed the
episode of her gentle fathers firm and protective re-
volt; she lived again through the prosperous rise OF
the family fortunes; she watched herself brave ana
ouell the insoenoe of Ada Gerard and slowly but
surelygain rank and recognition among those adj
verse and disdainful schooiellows; sne endured
| anew the chagrin of subsequent decadence-the
commences and the disrelish of her public school
| career; the DISAPPOINTMENT and mOnotony OF her
Jersey City experience and then lastly, the labor
ions and deathly tedium of GreenpOnt. Here
the strange panorama would cease; the magic
lantern oisrenDlscence had no more lenses III
lis shadowy repository; the actual TOOK the place
of dream and startled her by aspect more unreal
| than though wrought merely of recollection,
| Had these recent weeks all been true Had she
climbed 80 high in fact and not IN fancy was tne
throne from which fate now gave hafsh throat OF
pushing her II throne not built of air, but material
tangible soidf The strangeness of her own history
afiec ed her IN purely objective way. She seemed
TO stand apart from IL and regard 1t as though IL
were some lapse OF singular country Tor when sue
had gained the sight-seeTs best yantage-poht lts
activities were so sheer its valleys were 80 abrupt
| 1t took such headlong pungcs and MADE such uheA
pected ascents ~. ALL, ,,..,o 80
| what engrossed her mIstress's mind, and Withdrew
in her wonted humility OF courtesy whch Clare no
longer needing her service, at last dismissed heT. -
| But before doing So Claire took pains TO learn
that HOLSTER had not yet descended Tor his break
fast which of late he had usually eaten alone ID inc
Il
| iacent boudolr where fresh treasures and memen-
toes addressed her through silent prophecy OF COM
Here was writing.tabe, well supplied with
various kinds of note-paper all bearing her Initials
in differing nertwsted devices. Not long ago sue
had questioned her husband on the subject Oh tho
HOLSTER crest she would have been glad enough
10 receive from him cew that might lead TO ITS
discovery but lie had expressed frank ana ehtre
ignorance regarding any such heraldic SYMBOL
Claire took a sheet OF note paper. and, IN hahd
| that was Just unsteady enough TO show her now
| strong an inward excitement was making stealthy
| attack upon her nervous power, began brief note
| In Stuart Goodwin. When finished the note twhicn
| bore no ceremonious prefix whatever, ana was
| unmarked by any date ran AS follows;
"The words which you chose TO address 10 me
| is, niobt nave permanenCly ended our acquaint
ance. AS a gentleman to q gentlewoman, you were
| impolite As man TO woman, you were la
| worsr. desire that you will not answer these ie"
| l;nas and that when we meet again, III such meet
,na should ever occur. you will expect from me ~
| more sign OF recognition than that which "ouio