New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-19


staggering toward its verb. Bat he was vastly
polite. He told CLAIRE that bis wife had fallen in
love with her. little later. however ne spoke Of
his wife with a certain jolly disparagemeut.
skate is full of lot Of now things don't know
what Pm going to do with her really l don't.
She'll be regular free-thinker before know 1t.
And don't like free-t hinkers; think they're
sad lot. Now, don't your
Claire gave short. evssive answers to these and
number of similar appeals. Mr. Uiggs distressed
her: he not at all the sort Of person whom she
desired to meet She soon made herself so inten-
tionally dstraite that he rose and told her he was
going to smoke a cigar, which he would bring into
the sitting room after no had obtained it, provided
she did not object. She professed herself wholly
sympathetic with this arrangement, and tried not
to let her lip curl az she watched the unsteady
pace of It's proposor the long sitting room.
But he had scarcely retired before Mrs. Diggs
broke of her CONVEX with Hollister and exci2imed
to Claire
where on earth has dear Manhattan gone You
don't mean that he has left you How shameful OF
himw
81 believe hs has gone to get cigar CLAIRE said.
"Oh, cigar" retorted Mrs. Diggs. Yes, poor
Manhattan is an inveterste smoker" She now
looked as Hollister and Claire equally. with quick.
alternate movements Of the head. feel sure that
tobacco is beginning to injure him. though 1t is
really u very small kind of vice, don't you knowf
1t saves man from other worse ones Manhattan.
dear boy, smokes a good deal, and suppose
should be grateful It's only that hear such dread
full tales from my friends about Their husbands
drinking. 1 don't know what should do II dear
Manhattan drank. Pun 80 glad be doesn't. IL no did.
well / actually believe should get divorceW
Claire felt that her husbands eye, full OF merry
furtive twinkles. had fixed itself upon her all
through this unexpected speech. But she Kept ner
face from the least mirthful betrayal. Mr.. Diggs
a hoclr ~ hta ntn
Claire now wondered. as she watched her new
friend, and entered into conversation with her,
whether this unconsciousness OF her HUSBANDS con.
tinual excuses could BIZ real and not felgnod. Ii
was hard to suppose that 30 much shrewd observa-
ton and so cunning recognition CT human foiDles
and follies could 10y any chance consort with the
oh use lack Of perception which her late comments
had implied. And vet Claire somehow became con-
scIous that Mrs. Diggs had really meant II all The
anomaly WAS hard to credit; IL was one OF those
absurd contradictions with which human nature
often loves to hewlder and yet its element OF
preposterous sslfdelusIon held at least the merit OF
Claire mad reached distinct conclusion to this
effect, when Mrs. Van Horn entering the room.
paused and looked all about her. There were sey-
eral other groups scattered hero anu there but the
lady presently liked her gaze upon that small one
of which Mrs. Diggs was unit. And very soon
aferward she began to move III the direction OIL her
cousin =, "
Mrs Diggs was so seated that she could rlainly
note the approach. She halfrurned toward Claire,
and said in rapid undcrtone, seeming oply to speak
with the extreme edges of her lips:
"Cau actually trust my senses is 10 TACT OF
hallucinatiOnf Corpelia Is coming this way: i
told YOU she wanted to know you. but didn't
dream that she would condescend to seek anybody.
like this short of queen, or at the best duchess
| Mrs Diggs rose, little later. She took few
| steps toward her cousin, meeting her. HOLSTER
also rose Claire. naturally, did not: .,s NJ.
want to present Mrs. HOLSTER" said Mrs.
| Diggs after a few seconds OF low-toned converse
| with the newcomer. any cousin. Mrs. Van Horn"
she at once added, completing the introduction. 1t
/ Wag Than lnIre
| a think you know my BROTHER" said Mrs. V an
Horn e Clare wh TSu Ell were again seated
| "Oh, yes,' said Claire.
Her monosyllabes were quite Intentional. She
I had not liked the ladys Elanner. There had been
remote, superb chill about 1t. She was distinctly
conscious OF being descended TO- as though from az
invisible stair. The nearer view sthat she had
gained Of Beverley Thurston's sister made her sens
| ibb of new and original personality. Mrs. Vac
| Horn was SO blonde. s suneriine, rarely and
| oholcely feminine. Her warmth was so FAINT ana
her GOODNESS SO moderated. She was like rose that
had In some way blent itself with an icicle. the
shape of tho flower remaining. and its husa taxing
hue that had the tint OF life vet the paIor OF FROST
Claire determined not to speak again unle,s Mrs.
| Van Horn addressed her. This event soon oc-
Cured. Holllster aud Mrs Diggs had fallen into
conversation. Mrs. IAN Horn surveyed them, with
| ner nose little N the ar, and Der eyeds little
| dropped. She seemed on the point of interrupting
their talk and of ignoring CLAIRE, who had leaned
| back with nice semblanes of entire unconcern.
| la few moments however, this mode of treatment
underv ont change. .
|
fixing her light blue eyes full on Claros face 1t
was before you weTe, married. think"
| friends. missed him after he had gone.'
He went suddenly SAID Mrs. Van Horn
"yery suddenly" responded Claire with smile
as complainant as i vas in ss .,. ...a
| to be examining or two of her rings they were
not numerous, though eacn OF them had an odd in
| dividuslity of pr,ttness There seemed 10 be no
good reason why he should co." she soon said lift
Ing her eyes again. " He has been there so often"
Il mould think 1t would be hard to go too
| often" said ClaIe.
| You have been, thenF
mo. But l wish to go very much. Mot yet,
however" -,
| accuse her of staring IN any downright way. but
she had an impression that every least detail OF her
own dress person was receiving the most crit cal
| regard q suppose your husbands affairs detain
hun here, fol- the present"
Yes" returned Claire, but at the same time she
| shook her head negatively" 1T isn't that, how
ever. mean it would not be only that There is
somethng Tor me to soc: TO know, 10 40 mere. .h
| went on, giving bright smile. II am not yet
| ready tor Europe
Mrs. Van Horn laughed. But 1t was not laugh
| contained any irony, my brother thought you
very clever" she said. "He told me SO repeat
THAT was kind of him" Claire answered. She
| did not decide that Mrs. Van Horn patronizing
hor; she decided the contrary, that the sister OF
| Thurston was trying 70 make her disinclinatlon to
patronize most plainly apparent ut is pleasant
to hear that he thinks well of me- Claire went on.
| He is man whose good opinion shall always
highly value." 49,
| Mrs Van Horn leaned forward. She smiling.
now. but 1t struck Claire that her smile was at best
| "a chilly artiice. "You did not show much regard
| for his good opinion in instance" she said,
lowering her voice that Clare just caught it, and
! no more. II mean when he asked you to marry
| him. You see, know all about that He told me-
| It sent him to Europe"
evan while the color was getting up into her cheeks
| with no weak food, she realized that 1t had been
| meaut for a bombshe and made swiftresove that
| its explosion should not deal death to her self
command.
| promptly managed to say. Il have kept 1t secret
| from everybody. l thought he would do the