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

certain of this-unless you have had the wan on
rudeness 70 write her that you would 60, while
mean TO remaining away"
He rose as he spoke the last word. Brother and
str acsd rah 0hs a Tnsss s wss Tranquil ona
She recoIed little. "I-well, yes-I did intend
TO 60" she replied. below her BREATH and actually
stammering.
IF you desplse and dislike her sol
She threw back head; her self-possession had re-
turned, and with it stately indignation.
"You are lnsolent" she said.
Thurston broke into q bard laugh.
Yes" he exclaimed 81 am insolent to the great
lady because detect her the verge OF some petty
revenge! Oh. know YOU too well. my dear sister,
he went on with stern irony. You can't rebuff
me in that way. There IS something behind this
fine condescension. SYLVIA Lee and you have been
putting your heads together. Your revenge and
her jealousy will make rather dangerous alliance.
You are both going To the lunch. You are both en-
ploying new limo of tactics. What does 1T mean
i demand to know have a right to know"
He was very impressive yet his voice was hardly
raised above that of ordinary speech. She had
ALWAYS admired bis gravity and calm; he had been
for years her ideal and model gentleman she hated
excitement of any sort, and TO see 1t III him gave
her positive feeling OF awe.
beverley" she murmured half brokeny. IRE
member that if had any thought of punishment
toward the woman who trifed with you, and
your sister-because was fond OF
yOn-because
Of the hand. "You talk insanely," he said. She
neither tried with me nor humbled me. was
fool even to tell YOU how seDsby she acted. what
you call your fondDess is nothing but your miser-
able pride. see clearly that you have some detes-
table plan. DO YOU refuse to tell me what 1T y
me, who have the right to learn itp
Every trace of color had left her cheeks, and she
was biting her lips There was very llttle OF the
great lady remaining in her mien or vsage. now.
You have twice spoken of your rght,
she fatered. "On what s inch right based
How can you possibly possess 1T You are nothing
TO her. You are neither her husband nor -"
a am her lover, he broke in. al am her lover
reverent, devout. loyal and shall be while We both
livel She is TIE most charming woman have ever
mel. met her too late, or she would be my wife
now. 1t her fault that she refused me. She
IL not a bit to blame Good Heavens have the
monstrous arrogance TO assume that she should
have married an old fossil like myself because
was Of a little importance IN the worldf No, Cor
nelia that prepOserous assumption belongs to YOU
1t is just Ike you Aud you cali it love-sisterly
love- 1 call IL the very apex OF lntoerable PRIDE
But admit tor the moment that 1t is and not your
self whom yOu care for. Will you tell me. on that
account. what 1t Is you mean or meant to do !"
Before he had finished, Mrs. Van Horn had sunk
into a chair and covered her face with both hands
Her sobs presently sounded. violent and rapid. In
these brief seconds she was shedding more tears
than had left her cold eyes Tor many years past;
| mean 10 do nothng-nothlng!" she answered
with a gasp almost Ike that which leaves Us
when in straits for breath.
do yOu give me your sacred PROMISE" he SAID,
that this rs true 7"
The words appeared to horriiy her. She looked
at him with streaming eyes, while positive snud-
"Ob Beverley. what degradation this seems to
me Degradation OF yourself! You may call me rs
Iroud as you choose. H. Is no insult. 1t Is COM
pliment even. | am proud OF being proud. had
mover given mp hope that yon would marry some
woman Of good firth. good antecedents YOUR eguaI
ami mine- young enough, too to bear you children.
| am childless myself-how / would have loved
your children! Their own mother would not have
loved them more. Every penny OF my large for
tune should ha,e gone To them. This has been my
dream for years past, and now You shatter ~ by
telling me that au upstart a parvenu, nobody
from nowhere, holds you ensDared beyond escape J"
Thnrston was no; NJ all touched. This outOurst
uncharaoterlstlc and So unexpected dlq not Dear
for hun grain of psthos lie saw behind IL nothing
save IN implarable selfshness that chose TO mis-
name itself affection. The ambition OF Claire sad
dened him to contemplate; IL had so rich poten-
TALLY for It's background. lie was forever sseing
the true and wise woman that she might have beon
Even the nettles In her soil tourished with GER
tam beauty OF their own. proving It's fertile re-
sources If more wholesome growths had taken root
there But IN Cornelia Van Horns nature all was
barren and arid. The very Renulneooss OF her pres
ent grief was its condemnation. Her tears were AS
chilly To hun as the light Of her bravest diamonds ;
they had something OF the same hard sparkle; she
wept thrm only from her brain, as u were; her
heart did not know that she was shedding them.
The bitter epthcts winch you apply 10 my
snSgdrer" he said, with momentary curve OF the
Inns too anstere to be termed u smile, make me
the moro suspicious that you harbor against her de-
signs of practical spite / want yonr promise that
you will refrain from the least active inJury-that
you will never use the great social power you
possess either by speech deed. To her disadyan-
tage. Do you give mo this premise or DO yon re-
fuse il IL the latter everything IL at an end 10,
The monetary trusts you uaNo CouslBncu
to shall he ut once transferred to whatever
lawyer you NAV appoint as their recipient, and
from tonight henceforwsrd we meet as total
strangers" ,,,y II,
A quarrel between and me. Beverley" said
his sister trying to choke back her sobs, and rising
with a cubweb handkerchief pressed in huttered
alienation TO either humid eve. "A family
quarrell And have been 40 gnarded-so careful
that the world shonld hold MS and our name In per-
feet esteem On, it is horrible !"
- did not infer that it would DO pleasant" he
answered. "YOu yourself have power to avert or
bring il about. All remains with yourself
al must make you promise" she rotorted, IN
what would have been If louder peevlsh wall,
" inst az though had really offended sone-soine
gross. reyengefnl act! fonIyoa are ungehtie-
ont of your senses That creature has Dewltched
youl"
lie saw her eye fearful though 1t was, quail be-
fore his own narrowed and penetrating look. lie
felt his suspicion strengthen WITHIN MIN.
Il do impose the condition" he said, perhaps
more ermnodly than he had yet spoken
do exact the pror Use. Now decide Cornella. There
Is no hard threat on my part, remember. iou doht
ike the idea OF an open rupture Win me, you ooh
think il would be respectable; II would make
little mark on your ermins-a d<agt de Ia cardsse.
so to speak. But your beloved world would possl-
bly, side with you and against me you wonlu not
lose q supporter; you would still remain quite the
grand parsonage you are. Only ShouId never
darken your doors again that Is all Come ho"'
be good enough to decide"
She sank into her seat more; her eyes had
drooped themselves; the tears were standing on
her pale cheeks l did not know you had 1t IN ron
to he 81 cruel" she said, uttering the words with
apparent difficulty.
am afraid always knew that you had 1t Ill
you" he returned. "Come II you please.
Yonr answer" =.
"You-you mean my promise -
SYes. Your faithful and solemn prom
ise Wa need not 90 over its substance again.
If you break it after giving 1t | shall not re-
proach you; | shall simply act. You uh-
derstand now l have told you"
She was silent for some time. She mad GOT ner
handkerchief so twisted between her fingers that
they threatened 30 tear its iran fabric. ,
Without raising her eyes, and IN voice that was
very sombre but had lost all trace of remor she at
length murmured: 80, ~.
well. promise faithfully / will do nothing
say nothing My conduct shall DO aDsoiuteiy heu-
tral-null. Are you satlshedT
Entirely" he said. . ..,a. 81.
He at once left her. He reached the opera Just as
Il wa. ending Claire, IN the company ol Two IadIes