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

slave"
q Do theyin said Claire. colorinr under THE rapid
attack Of candor. "Well, il he ~ my slave-whicn
J. of course, deny-then am aot bis. They did not
tell you that, am sure. They did not even hint
aNo. You have escaped the least breath of scan
dal.n
q Be sure that have. And shall continue to
escape it. ! recolect that you once declared was
cold. and that my cUldness would prove a SAFE
guard. 1t is very protective to woman you
Quotc me in full or not at all" he corrected
protective to woman-while IT Lasts 4,
True" returned Claire. aAnd it ma, lasted ~
the way. from whom have You learned all these inn
not nv friend"
your cnemvi" he said, putting the
words as a distinGt question. Thin.
81 hope not. But am by no means SIRE. mus
far she has held herself aloof from She has not
openly opposed me, but she has behaved with tell
ing reserve. Everybody else has paid me tribute,
so 70 speak No. am wrong There is one other
woman--ber cousin. Mrs Lee"
"Of course you know why poor Sylvia would De
your foe. She is madly IN love with Goodwin; she
has been for years You must have cost her dire
pangs." 49,,
Clare chose to ignore this last statement. T."
think your sister dshkes me from pride" she sao.
I" / mean pride of family" Here she paused Tor
moment, and seemed almost bashfully reluctant To
proceed But her hesitation had IN 1t gentle. nm
assuming modesty; 1t sprang wholly from unwlIi.
lnpneSs 10 tOncn on "a SUBJECT WHICH sue huc" in"'
only the most delicate tact should deal with, II o
deal with it at all were not folly and Iashuess.
:" Your sister found out" she softly continued,
"that you had liked me enough to ask me To De
your wife. Heaven knows. Beverley Ihurston'
that did not tell herW ~ "
Thur-t looked very grave. 81 told
herr he said. cor rather, she drew it from me-,
was foolish To let her. Coruelia is so clever. Well
he suddenly went on. with an unusual show OF Oh
animation do yog mean that she accused you Oh
"She did not put it in the form of accusation;
She stated it; Wait; will tell Won more; VIII
tell when, where and how IL all happened"
Claire did So He listened with deep attention.
She narrated the whole episode of her weli-remen-
bered conversation With his sister in the dining
room a. the Coney Island hotel.
"Ab. what a woman that sister Of mine is y he
exclaimed IN his subdued way as Claire finished
Unjust talk with her. dine there tonight. |
will find out if this knowledge has been at the root
of her late behavior"
Claire laid her gloved hand lightly on his sleeve.
81 think IL best TO say nothing feel that you are
more dscreetv let matters rest where they are"
" Let matters rest where tley arotD he repeated.
the next words Mrs. Van fiorn-ihe great Mrs.Van
hS5ah Tso day asr ST she and
Mrs Lec Ya% hov Si mn idea how oustrous
imp ortant an event her attendance is TO be- IL IS
my browning glorv. After that | shall have no
more worlds to conquer She Is actually coming;
have 1t IN her own graceful handwriting. Frankly;
/ an quite serious. II you bad followed anairs.
YOU hadn't been of in Europe lornonths, YOU would
understand the momentOus nature OF your SISTERS
acceptance" ~,
Clare use as she ended her last sentence. The
conservatory was quite empty OF guests the waning
winter sunlight tod OF the hour Tor departure. IL
is time to go she now continue Remember;
whenever come 10 me yod will be welcome
shall be at the opera tonight Drop into my box II
you get away from your sisters dinner before teu'
aud feel like hearing some music
Iburston repiIed mat he wonid certainly do so.
But as il happeued he partially fai led 10 keep his
Van HoIu'a dinner attsu red by
several guests. lie wanted to talk with his sister.
and il was somewhat late before he found the de-
sired opportunity
"Did you enjoy It, Beverley !" said his sister.
ferring TO the dinner They in the front
drawing room together 1hurstOn had seated hun.
self near the Fireplace, IN big char OF eilded
basket-work, with soft plush cushions. He was
PLAYING with a small locket at his waisicoat, aDd
his look did not hit itself fromthe bauble ~ Mrs:
Van Horn spoke. She came near his char and
stood at mis- side for a moment She had been CIV
ing her servants few orders relative To the NOR
row. She looked very well that evening The color
OF her gown was "A sort of tea-rOso pink and she
wore a collar of large pearls abOu her throat and
ornaments of pearls IN her blond ur. Nhiie her
brother answering. she dropped IN char quite
near has own.
Z" thought it about unsuccessful as your dinners
always are" he said "Eyervthlng went OF to per
lection, of course. No, | forget; there was
one drawback. 4 serious one"
"Wha, was i 7"
"Sylvia Lee"
You never could endure Sylvia said Mrs Van
Horn IN her grand. cool, suavo wav
II think her abomIDable." replied
Tbnrstou Her affcctations irritate and depress
me- They appear to grow with age. too. She be-
bayed more like a cOntoriODist than ever, tonight.
But II Is not only the wreiched, sensational Dad
taste of her poses and costumes. IL IL convection
that she is as treacherOus as the serpent she re-
sembes And then nerTeligiOus attltu lnzlDg has
she got over that vet | suppose not"
Mrs. Van Horn. who would SHARPLY have resented
these biting comments If any lips but her brothers
had delivered them, now answered with only lalnt
touch of petulance. You Will never believe any
4 r G.rI,r IN hn
lust consider your opinions. But she IL more pas-
siOnatelv absorbed in charities and religious deyo-
ton than before 1t you could see some OF the
people whom she goes among and whom she has
constantly visiting her IN her own house, you
would be forced 10 grant that the shallow hypocrisy
with which you charge her Is most sincere and
Say notorious. too SHE'S Pharisee to the tips
Of her fingers / should like TO know
of ,e afsG shs 1 paade Ser
piety and her benevoencc just she does her new
est fantasies III dres'makinR she thinks them
picturesque, She would rather die than not be
picturesque and believe that when she does die
she will max. some ante norton arrangements about
an abnormal coffin. It's marvel 10 me that Stuart
Goodwin should have put up with her nonsense rs
long as he did, by tho way. how doss she stand
his deseTtIOn ]"
Z" Has he deserted her ~
"Oh. come. now. Cornclia yon know qliic well
that he has" Thurston was looking directly 4 his
sister for the first time since their inCervIew had
begun.
"You me IN for Mrs. Holliser Beverleyp
"Of course do"
" see that you have picked up some precious
bits OF gossip since You got back He was watch
ing her very CLOSELY, and perceived, knowing her
scarcely any one else knew her. that n severe an
noyaDce dwelt beneath those last words. She
slightly tossed her delicate head. " You arc so re-
lentless with poor Sylvia that natura y don't want
to feed the fuel of your dsapprobation. Well,
then. let me admit that Goodwin Is devoted to your
former friend"
"say my present friend, if You please, Cornea."
He little CLEAN. like that of lit steel, creep
into her pale-blue eyes. "Oh then you still call
her thatp
Most certainly. Should withdraw my friend
ship because she refused 10 marry me when l was
old enough To be her father On tie contrary.
am liberal enough To applaud her good sense"
Beverley" exclaimed his sister, tsnes of harsh
disgust, how can you show 80 little sei-respectT
He saw that she had grown pale with anger lie
-. L. 4 a l. aA.