Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-04-04
plain herself,

at length. "YOu must have known that
you were laying up an endless store
of wretchedness for your husband and
yourself; and 1 can hardly believe that
you were Influenced only by the motives
that you mentioned when I was here
last.'
There was one motive which didn't
MENTION" said Mrs. Harrington. you
hardly know enough about me to be
amused by it; but have no doubt that
the re ,impnt would consider it an exqnls-
ite joke if were to assert that had mar
ried Bob Annesley because [ loved him.
And yet it isn't very odd that l should
| love him. He was crazy IN love with me
once; be was kind to me when no enc
else was kind; he treated me like lady;
while other men, who were 10y way of be-
ing my friends, were insulting me. more
or less directly, every day. Oh, know
what you are saying to yourself. You are
saying that if I bad really cared for him
at all, I should net have married him
against his will. But thought l might
reckon without without his will-he has
so little of it. This has always been Bob's
defect; and DON'T mind saying so. be-
cause it is the only defect that ] have ev-
or discovered in him. l believed that 1
could win him back, and that, when once
we we're married. he would forget his
fancy for Miss Cecil, as he has forgotten
other fancies before. Now that it Is too
late. 1 have found out that I was wrong.
If had known three weeks ago as much
as 1 know now, I would have died
thousand times rather than have married
him He hates me. and am rightly pun
ished for my blindness and obstinacy."
She had spoken quietly at first, then
with good deal of excitement; but now
her voice dropped to whisper. as she
crouched down over the fire. muttering.
Eyes, am punisbed-I am punished -
The Professor frowned. He disliked
melo drama. and had no great belief in
repentance which could be evidenced only
by words. "Perhaps money and lands
may afford you some consolation" he OBJ
served rather crdelly.
Mrs. Harrington did not notice the
sneer. "Why did you go away and leave
me alone with nv temptation ?'' she cried
suddenly. "You might have prevented
this.''
81 cannot fatter mvself" an swered the
Professor coldIv "that my influence would
have been sufficiently strong for that "
sit was stronger than YOU think liked
you; you had been kind to me-, and I was
ready TO listen to you. have not forgot
ten how YOU stood bv me- that dav when
Mrs. Cecil turned her hack upon me; w"
men IN nv position don't forget snc'
things. Bnt YOU went away just when
needed friend. and so I allowed myself
to be- daceived by nv vain hopes"
"If any words of mine could have caused
you to think twice before taking THIS ir-
revocable step" returned the Professor,
| IT can only regreG most sincerely that
business should have called me awav a.
so important a moment; but there is little
use in discussing what might have been.
The only thing for YOU and your husband
to do now is frankly to accept situation
fr"m which you cannot escape"
"Unless bv means of an over dose Of
chloral" suggested Mrs. Harrington.
with faint smile.
The Professor got up. "Mrs. Harring
ton" said he. 'yon may vet prove your
self an excellent wife and make vonr hus-
band happy; but YOU can hardly expect TO
do this easily or Immediately. And If ]
were you, would rot begin by making
speeches which are sillv If 'hev are insin-
cere, and wicked If they are not"
Thereupon he left the room without
further leave-taking, while she, still bend
ing over the fire, appeared unconscious
alike of his rebuke and of his exit. The
Professor, as be walked home, felt that he
bad been very severe, yet not unwarrant-
Iy so. "obe is foolish, theatrical woman"
be said to himself; land I strongly sus-
pect that all hat exaggerated penitence
was assumed for purpose. Of course her
chief object now will be to conc'late her
mot her-in.law, and she probably imagines
that my report of her may carry some
weight in that quarter. But she makes
mistake, because shan't report anything
about her-good, bad, or Indifferent. No
more meddling with other peoples bust
ness for me !"
vi.
The Professor would undoubtedly have
| felt confirmed in the harsh judgment
which he had passed upon Bob Annesley's
wife if he could have seen her at the meet
on the following morning Mrs. Harring-
ton was finished horse woman. and never
looked to so great advantage as IN the
saddle. Upon the present occasion she
rode a fidgety chestnut mare, the property
of Captain White. and The ease with
| which she managed her rather trouble
some mount won her great deal of ad-
miration from the local members of the
hunt. AS for the officers of the Twenty
seventh, they were too well accustomed to
Polly Harrington's dexteritv to pay her
any compliments on that score; but they
clustered round her as usual and smiled,
amiably at her smart sayings, and told her
that she was in rare form that morning
Bob lowered in the background, looking
woebegone.
The neighborhood of Lichbury does net
bear very high character among hunt
ing men. blank days being of by no means
rare occurrence thereabouts. but there is
always fox at Lingham Gorse. and it
was at Llngham Gorse that fox was
found on the particular morning with
witch we are concerned. The whole crowd
got away together, and kept together for
the first five minutes, going at racing
speed across the short turf of the downs