Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-09-12


maryland given to none. She shrugged her
shoulders in answer TO Lady Waverley's ex-
postulations. Even in the marriage vow
you have to own you take man for better
or worse, and with the worse alternative
before my eyes l cannot turn my back on
single -blessedness. Let me be. my silly old
May might be happy as an old maid, but
miserable with an unsatisfactory husband"
II wish that tiresome Captain Vivian had
kept out of the way"
Just what he has done" An involuntary
sigh escaped her six months in England,
and we have never met wanted to see him
TO ask after the Rowlandsons."
"Why didn't you write him note and tell
him so 2"
ask him to come up from Cornwall, or
down from Scotland, to tell me il Mrs. Row
landson's last baby had cut its teeth !"
AT least II would have broken the ice"
'lf there is any ice, l should be the last
woman on earth to break it. You ought to
know that by this time"
Don't freeze me in order that l mayu't
forget it," laughing softly. put on your
prettiest gown tonight"
"Whyi' covert eagerness in her tawny
eyes
Because Guy doesn't like to go out with
dowdy women"
ohhH IdhllJ NuOuBul-
She paused, her level brows drawn togeth-
er, as she felt an inconvenient blush in the
act of convicting her.
THAT Captain Vivian would be there 2" with
a mischevous smile.
1T would make no difference to me il he
were, with great decision.
"Of course not 30 shouldn't have thought
Of mentioning it,"
In order to please Sir Guy, Mabel Lorraine
seemed to have taken immense pains with her
toilet that evening, and when she entered Mrs
Forrester's crowded rooms more than one pair
of eyes followed her movements with fervent
admiration. Her eager glance soon told her
that her old friend was there, and her heart
beat tumultuously when, for the first time sf-
ter many years, she found her hand in his
In her struggle for outward composure she
fell into the extreme of apparent coldness
Her long lashes dropped nervousy on the vel
vet of her cheeks, and her lips parted in a
chilly smile. Unable to judge by anything
but outward sight, Vivian drew back, disgust.
ed and disappointed.
Let me introduce you to my cousin" she
said hurriedly, and before she had mentioned
her name Mrs Forester hustled up and AK
ed her to take place in the second row which
Major Wentworth had been keeping for her
all the evening. Wishing the amateur theat-
ricals at the bottom Of the sea, Mabel obedi-
emily followed her hostess, and found herself,
to all intents and purposes, a prisoner, with
the faithful Charlie by her side, bent on max
ing all the running now that he had distanced
all his rivals by the craftiness Of his maneu-
vres.
Frank Vivian, savage as the typical bear
with wound in his ear, dropped down into
the seat beside Lady Waverley, determined to
show his faithless love that, although she had
chosen to go off with another, he was by no
means left lamenting." When she smiled
on him he fled TO Lands End now that she
didn't smile on him, with the true perversity
OF man, he felt aggrieved and resolved to call
at Chesterfield Gardens on the first opportu-
nifty. With no less than three objects in
view-to stab Mabel to the heart, to allay Sir
Guy fancied jealousy, and TO secure an in
vitation to the baronet's house-he entered
into desperate Irritation with the pretty girl
whom he supposed to be Lady Waverley g
cousin.
He was 80 good to look at that she could
not help raising her eyes to his face with a
bewitching smile. He was Mabels particular
friend, 80 of course il was only kind of her to
be civil. She wanted TO get him on her visit
ing list for Mabel's sake, 30 it would not do
TO begin with snub. All these reasons com
bined to make Lady Wsverley as charming as
possible.
An arrsnt but harmless coquette, she was
accustomed TO hsttery as the natural sauce to
conversation but Captain Vivian, with the
fair, frank face that seemed to mean no harm,
went further than any other man on so brief
an acquaintance, except Sir Guy and he had
meant to carry of the prize from the begin
ming A thrill of pleasurable excitement
darted through her heart as she listened to
his musical voice gradually sinking till little
a whisper; as she looked into the earnest
eyes which seemed to express in their fervent
glance all that the audacious tongue left un-
said as she felt that she was flirting really
hirting-but only for Mabel's sake
you have never been to Chesterfield Gar
dens to see your old friends" and she threw
a laughing glance toward that ill-used maid.
en-, who knew very well what was passing be-
hind her back.
IAN old friendship after the interval of
years is apt to grow nusty. l prefer going
in for the new"
VERY rude to my cousin" with shrug of
her white shoulders.
"Is not the fault yours If you make any
other answer impossible9"
mabel is the dearest woman under the
sun, she replied with sudden irrelevanoy.
II agree with you" was the quiet answer;
"a capricious woman is dear at any price,"
"You do her gross injustice. II you don't
believe me, ask Sir Guy"
A look of amusement shone from his eyes.
Hardly you are told not to trust your
dearest friend about horse"
How does that apPly2" raising her eye.
brows.
Perfectly. man is bound to tell any
amount of lies about his wife. They are NOV
ing towards the upper-room-before anyone
II, al asV l,N -
his arm in the most enpresse manner, because
Mabeps eyes CHANGED TO be turned in his di-
rection.
Right under Sir Guys eyes he led his wife
out of the room, bending over her and asking
for flower from her before they we're quite
out of sight. His last chance OF being asked
to Chesterfield Gardens was ruined before he
reached the bottom of the staircase, even
while he was priding himself on his diploma
cy and attempting to throw his handful of
foolish dust into the baronets eyes.
81 thought of asking Captain Vivian to dine
with us on Friday, said Lady WaVerley, sweet
ly, toward the end of the evening. 81 want
to be civil to him for MRbels sake"
mabel be hanged !" growled Sir Guy, in a
pet. 'If he puts his foot inside my doorway,
by CAD I'll stop at home to kick him out I"
After this the subject was dropped.
The two lovers were as hopelessly sepArat-
ed by an unfortunate mistake as the palm tree
and the pine of Heines verse. Finding that
his presence was not desired in Chesterfield
Gardens, Vivian made up his mind to leave
London. Although he had been so foolish as
to angle for an invitation, in his calmer mo-
ments he was forced to acknowledge that it
was better refused than given. The mere
sight of Mabels loVeliness was enough to in
cite him to any madness, and one word of
kindness might have tempted him to try If
the fire in his own breath could not have melt
ed the icy barrier between them. And then
the end must have been sorrow, and might
have been dishonor.
Before starting for Paris II was necessary
for him to visit the family solicitor Mr.. Pen
defgast, at Lincoln's Inn. Val Forester, who
happened 70 be with him ut the club when he
announced his intention, with dreAry yAwn,
said
"Take the brougham. only came out in
II to-day because OF this horrid fog, and II will
be charity TO give the horse some exercise
instead of keeping 1t at the door"
Seeing the wisdom OF this suggestion, Wv