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

present nigh Mace with any unselfsh feeling.
| Mrs. Diggs had touched the living and sensitive
| truth last night her thirst for luxury had grown
| vice. Soft rainent. obsequous attendance, place
of supreme social distinction all these had become
vitality, mperiously needful to her happiness;
| 1t was not the sort OF happiness which she be-
| lieved high or fine. She could most clearly con-
ceiye of another, less feryid less material less in;
| toxicating, fraught with spiritual incentive and
| an intellectual meaning But it was too late TO
dream of that. now. She had taken the bent she
must have power OF nothing. She regarded the
| q calamity simply horrible. Hollister must think
her cruel as DEATH that was inevitable. She did
self for having married him, with loyeless
| apathy. His reproachful words haunted her
but what could she do ,r H chser
| But he wanted these from an impulse OF when ner
heart had always been incapable Fate was avenE-
| things. Her marriage oath had been mockery
| Could she go back aud tell him thisf Could
20 Rm back No. aS best that She n Should no
The reception was great crush But they
| obeisance No one josted against her; they all APP
peared to give her little elbow room in the throng
| ly aeonized She smiled and spoke effectively as
usual she held her court among them ALL as OF late
she had invariably held it. But her heart was
sick; she was besieged by portentous dread ana
| she was pierced with that self-contempt whose
length of thrust is measured by consciousness of
how far the being we might have become surpasses
| the being that we are. While she stood the centre
| of A small. conrty group a gentleman softly pushed
his way into her NOTICE and held out ms nand She
took the hand, and looked well into the face OF him
| Who had extended it. The newcomer was Beverley
Thurston. As Clare looked she swiftly noted that
| his familiar face marked signs OF change lie
| had distinctly aged. The gray at his temples mad
| grown grayer; the crows'feet under his hazel eyes
were little moro apparent; perhaps, 700 DIS
| gravity of manner was more clearly suggested by q
| first glance. AT the same time she tet herself
| regarding HIM in new light and by the and OF
Eplified experience. She silently and feetly made
/ "A X,
| that he stood it WELL She had met no man since
they had parted who bespoke h,gh- oreeding anu
| 90 thought should find you here" he SAID, as
| their hands dropped apart.
| "Did YOU come that accountp she asked
| mot entirely, because bad great fears of not
| being able to do more than watch you IRON
| distance"
loud enough for all the others to hear you have
| excellent claim upon me-that OF old aequaln-
4 tance." -,
Her surrounders felt that there was either
| dismissal or desertion waiting for them
She managed 10 make 1t promptly plan plan
| TO Thurston; she showed II TO them win cool
| bodness which they would have resented with re-
solves of future neglect II INDUCED In by many an
| other woman presents for they were all men who
put a solid worth upou their courtesies, and mad
fastidious reluctance ever to be charged with SOW
But Claire had long ago learned that the security
| of her reign depended upon an occasional open
| proof of how she herself trusted Its power. She
| had guessed the peril of continuing monotonousy
| Clement To talk with Thurston now interested
her more than any other conversational project, II
| was not long before she had slipped her hand into
hts arm. and was saying as they moved through
| the crowd: =,
I'll YOU care to 90 into the conservatory. we shall
| fud il much peasanter there. think"
| The house was of those new and majestic
p s an cG
| mo an adjacent street 1t had an almost
imperial amplitude. aud was a build;
| ing in which no lordly or pleasurable detail
seemed TO have been overlooked. The conservatory,
whose spacious interior wooed through 'readtns OF
| glass its kndest warmth from the chursh winter
Sunshine was of refreshing temperature after the
heated rooms beyond while its masses OF leaning or
| blooming plants loaded the air with delightful
odOrs 49,
few people were strolling about the cool courts.
! as Claire and Thurston now entered them. The en-
tertainment of to-day was KIND OF honse-warm-
ing; the Vanvesors current metropolitan phrase,
were old people, but their present mansion was new
in decisive they had migrated hitber from
| residence Bond Street where they had dwelt
for forty wears or more. The push OF the younger
generation. left with inherited millions, had thus
architecturally asserted itself Few of their guests
knew the ways of their changed and paatlal home.
But Claire knew them; she had dined IN this I'm
| posing abode not less than fortnight ago. There
who had known the Vanvelsors for many
| decades; but Claire had been preferred TO
| hosts of these nice-lIneaged lentimsts. She was
| the fashion other people were paving homage 20
her; the younger Vanvelsors ked everything that
I'VE can ind seat, Claire said to her compan-
ion 1.-THE place not full, as you see we might SIT
yonder, in those two vacs1i chalr'-that is~f you
| Ii was not until they were both seated with
| glossy tropical leaves touching their heads, that
| Thurston answered.:
| "You say you are tired. That might mean little
| or great deal Which does 1t meanp
Claire responded with question: looking at him
| fxedly.
"DId il offend your he asked
"No and yes. YOu might not have reproached me
until YOU knew more of the real truth"
| Thursion stroked his gray nustache. l think
| knew all the truth" he said Il know IT now at
Your sister has told YOU" Claire retorted. with
speed ,,,.a ,o.,oo,ino h.ron
recent words yet leaving distinct impression that
he had half repeated them. "You forget that have
seen you reign gon your new new throne; ,o.o
almost a sneer"
"Yoa think might have done greater things"
al think you might have done better Things"
"YOu admit that have achieved successP
"a marvellous success 1t shows your extrordi-
| nary gifts. The town, IN a certain way, Is
| ringing with your name II an ordinary woman had
| eained your place she would have found in it a
| splendid qualification. She wOuld nave Decn am
| ply. perfectly satisfied" -
'i@You mean that am not satisfied. Pray allow
| it, Your tones and your look both show IL me-"
Thursion smiled, trsnslently and sadly. " mean
| that YOU are miserable" he said.
Claire bit her lip. and slightly dropped her head.
| q You have no cause TO tell me that" ;,
| true | saw 1t In your face when hrst looked at
| YOU. There Is q change. cant nonho III. put III
exists You are more beautiful than whom saw
you last. You have an air Of ease. dignity COM
mand But YOU express KIND OF superb WEAKNESS
and vet occasional flashes of excitement are in your
talk and demeanor. You see, have watched you
from distance; have my pinions;" MA.
Yes YOU have your opinions" said Clare. lifting
her head and directly regarding him. "That is
very PLAIN"
at all makes an exquisite picture" Tburston
cout,nued Il have seen the world, yOu know
/ have seen many beautiful women Your person.
ality as now encounter 1t. is an absolute astonlsh
,uent 10 me- don't know where, in t1cse few
months you acquired your repose. your serenity.
your magnI icsnce, your air. DO You remember
what told Won of the restless American type that