New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-05


mo. no!' she SAID The words rang sharply.
X.
Not long afterward Claire found herself alone.
Thurston had gone. She felt her cheeks burn as
she sat and stared at the floor. His declaration had
strangely shocked her. at first for the entire man.
as it were had undergone transformation 80 abrupt
aud radical as TO wear n hue Of actual miracle: and
IT is only across q comfortable lapse Of centuries
that the human mind can regard such manifest ton
with anything like complaoency. Baalam could
not have been more bewildered aud disturbed when
the Ass spoke. Claire had never thought Of
Thurston as capable Of live sentiment toward any
woman. She had taken IL for granted that all this
part OF his nature was In dignied decay like his
hair and complexion She had drfted uneonsc ously.
somehow into into the conviction that his passions
II he had ever felt them, were now like the laven-
dered relics that we shut away IN chests. She had
warmed TO him with truly fiial ardor. and this
sudden ruin OF their mutual relations gave her
acute stings of regret.
But Thurston, who had managed TO depart from
her with good deal of nice reposs Of vi,ago and
demeanor also contriyed, with that skill born OF
wdo social experience to make their next meeting
by far less awkward than Claire herself had ner-
vousiy anticipated. Sophia and Mrs. Bergsmann
were both present on this occasion. lie looked at
Claire in so ordinary a way. and spoke with much
apparent ease and serenity, that her sef-possesson
was fed by HIS and her dread swiftly became thank
full relief
Through the days that followed. Claire and
Thurston gradually yet firmly resumed their past
agreeable converse. OF course matters could never
he the same between them lie stood toward her.
inevitably. in new light; cloak had fallen from
him she was not quite sure whether she liked hun
l..
who had asked her to be his wife: but in reality she
did like him much more and this was because.
being n woman, she constantly OWNED his admira-
ton beneath the intimate yet always guarded cour-
tesy OF his manner.
Their former chats we're resumed, steadily inter-
rogatiye on her side, complaisantly responsive on
his As winter softened into spring. the dssi patons
Of Sophia decreased. She had more evenings at
home, and not few OF her dsvotees would pay hcr
visits during the hours OF nine and eleven. IL fire.
quently happened that Thurston would entor the
dra wing-room at such times. He always
talked with Clare, who would often emerge
from back recesses on his arrival. Both Sophia
and her mother would occasionally deliver them
selves of comments upon tho evident preference OF
their legal adviser But Mrs Bergcmann was much
more ouispoksn than her daughter. Sophia could
not bring herself to believe that there was any
thing in H." rs her own phrase repeatedly went.
She Thought Beverley lnurHfOn JUST rs nict Hb no
could be y; but the slender and blooming beauty OF
ClaiIe made TO her young eyes anomalous contrast
with Thurston's fade though attractive appearance.
priv waite debate. "Claire wouldn't ever think of
marrying a man old enough 10 be her fatherp
"shs might do worse. now, sophia protested
Of talk and thought which marks 80 many matrons
when they discuss matrimonial subjects ION
Just leave Claire alone. Wait and SEQ what
she'll do. He's taken shine 10 her:
Recollect, she amt got cent, poor dear
GIRL. He'd make splendid husband
guess he'll propose soon. hope he MIL too. he,s
q real ellergant gentleman. just thiuk how we
trust him with rents and mortgages and things 1
declare don't scarcely know balf what he does
Psh s Wv" Ma lpsspSnded Sophia with vast
Tempt. Glare wouldn't look at hun that way. |
She's young, like me. She may BIO as poor s H.,
but she isn't going to sell herseif ike
Mrs Bergemann became obcdiently quiet. But |
she continued TO have her private opinions Mean-
while Claire and ihurston held their briet OF long
as chance favt red
Matters had rearranged themselves between them
IN the old basis There was change. and yet not
change Claire spoke with all her former iree-
lom. Thurston listened and replied with oil his
former concession.
certain admirer OF sophia's had Of late deserted
Ills father was the owner, of large
md popular emporium, on sixth Avenue ne
vas an only child, and supplied with HDe n
allowance. The mercantile success OF MS iatnor
lad been comparatively recent. He was now three
Ind-twenty; his early education had been one IonR
persistent neglect. After the money bad begun 10
low into the paternal Golfers Brady had gone
broad, had seen vice and little else In the various
european capitals. and finally, coming nome again
lad slipped, by q most natural and facIie processf
nto just that ill-bred, wealthy, low-toned SET OF
vhich poor. rich Sophia Bergemann was one Oh 'ns
eading spirits. I'll
Clare could hardly endure the attentions OF
'rady She was civil 10 him because or her IVY
osesses, whose perception in oil matters OF socia
oRTAA n1d hAn In nI1fr
allen In love with her. severely and eftnsvely. and
he soon had good cause to know It, he was very
oil and slim OF figure, with . face whose u,.or
snsry barber. His largo ears. jutting ron
bullet-shapsd head. gave TO- this neao,
little. distance away, the look ,0l