Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-11-11
WHAT WAS HER STORY,
TAll The Year Round. ]

[All The Year Round.l
Mrs. Campion was giving one of he
pleasant little Friday dinners, and Juliu
Kerr, the eminent surgeon, with Llnburn
the writer, were on their way together t.
Kolokythia Lodge.
The story of both these men would b.
worth telling, as would under certain as
poets, the story Of every man. Kerr hat
seen more of the tragedy of life than fall
to most of us. Linburn's experieces il
Paris and in London would have furnished
the materials for dozen romances, and hat
he been content to write of men and wo
men as he had really known them, instead
of indulging in the absurd creations of hi
brain, he might have made a less ephemer
al name in literature, and would certainl.
have saved his reviewers columns of scath
ing criticism.
But to might Kerr and Linburn were to b.
spectators, not actors. They were going t.
eat Mr.. Campion's dinner, study Mr.. Cam
pion's wife, and compare notes together af
terward.
Such, at least, was Linburn's intention
He was writing new book, and meant tt
utilize Mrs. Campion as heroine. Not
of course, Mrs. Campion as she really
ed in the light of his own mystic imagina
tion, which was very different mat
ter.
''Deal leniently with Mrs. Campion,
Linburn was saying. as the two young mel
drove out West. 81 know she has he
faults, but her friendship is precious to me
She is one of the few ladies l know WHIT
dares to let her spirit beat in unison will
mine.'
Kerr was SO well accustomed to Linburn' !
peculiar phraseology that it no longe
struck him as ridiculous. He understood
1.-The drift of the above speech to be tina
Linburn was duG petis SONS" for the lady
and that in return she probably allowed
him to read her his novels in manu-
script.
''Why should deal severely with her?'
said Kerr. 81 60 prepared to admire eve y
thing see and hear. Besides, after accept
the gift of a dinner, / consider it ungraciou
to criticise the giver."
''Ah! but particularly want your opin
ion of her, answered Linburn. ITO nj
she is as profoundly interesting as stud.
by an impressionist but then / know
am too emotional. 1 want to know hov
she strikes you as a man of the world"
Linburn S assumption of innocence wa
amusing. He had been artist and actor be
fore he took to literature, and might be sup
posed to possess quite as much knowledg
of the world as other people; but he cult
waited mental effectatiOn with the same as
siduity he bestowed on his extremely weedy
moustache, and with infinitely greater sue
cess.
g! am we'll aware that my opinion will
not have the slightest weight with you,
/ sh,1t T ff
see this siren who, the very antithesis of al
you professedly admire, has yet managed
to subjugate you so completely"
SIT is just because you will view he
from snch different standpoint that shal
prize yonr OPINION" SAID LinDurn. GA
first fear she may impress yo1 unfavor
ably. There is certain brusquerie abou
her, arising from her very womanliness
which she lifts as shield between hersel
and an obtrusive world. 1t is necessary tt
break down this barrier before you car
taste all the tender passion Of her spirit
She is a lady of exquisite suscepti
bility.''
Kerr laughed at this because he knew {
little of Mis-. Campion from other sources
Her exquisite sceptibility" was said tt
be nothing more than a histrionic power O
Stimulating warmth of affection she wa
incapable of feeling. 1t was this qualit,
which rendered her interesting to men, ant
which had enrolled the tickle Linburl
among the number of her slaves.
'There is an impalpable charm abou
her." continued Linburn gravely; &C;
simmer of fragrance, a melody, which
am powerless to describe. Like the bloom
on the peach, like the dust on the but
terfy's wing, in attempting to apply to i
the coarse test of words, you lose it for
, ever"
, "a delicate attribute, indeed p sale
Kerr, laughing, 'and | cannot sufficient.
admire your GOODNESS in asking me to dag
nose it for you. Where the Iotus-lover
fails, what can you expect from wretohe'
Philistine like myself?''
Ever since Linburn had published Glove
of the Lotus" book which had draw
down on its unblushing authors head
torrent of ridcule and abuse, he had beel
: in great favor with Mrs. Campion. II
| dined at Kolokythia Lodge whenever
chose, and was allowed to bring any frien'
he pleased, provided, of course, the sai'
friend was man of some mark, ant
prepared TO worship Mrs. Campion.
was on these terms that he had propose,
introducing Kerr, and, although he wa
sure that the young surgeon would pleas
his hostess, he had some slight misgiving
as to whether his hostess was the sort O
woman to please Kerr.
''By the by, has not Mrs. Campion
daughter?' asked Kerr presently, with
view to diverting the stream of Linburn'
eloquence.
eyes, she has several daughters" sale
Linburn ''but not one has inherited the
mothers subtle charm. Its uniquenes!
intensifies it. To multiply it would be t(
divide it. Precious as the aloe, it blossoms
once only in century,
Here he thought it picturesque to breathe
a gentle sigh, although he did not feel al
all melancholy, but, on the contrary, pleas
ed with the neatness of the phrase he had
just turned. He determined to write il
down when he got home, and put it into the
new book. Kerr was suddenly struck with
The absurdity of his companions language
and laughed again.
''Do talk sensibly," he said, sand see il
we are going right. 1t strikes me we shal
reach Acton if we go on much futrher.'
st is all right" said Linburn, descend
ing to matter of fact I'VE are just coming
to Kolokythia Lodge, little further on, OIL
the left. 1t is agonizing to inhabit place
with such name, but she bears it nobly.-
|
the misfortune to be born in Greek gulf
or island, or some other thing, and thinks
it poetical to commemorate the fact on his
door-posts. l will, however, do him the
justice to say it is the only touch of poetry
in his character
All day the eally December weather hat
threatened snow, and as the two young mer
! got out OF their cab large flakes were
circling slowly in the air, as if undecided
whether they would descend to earth or re
turn for another week or two to the skies
Cabby. blowing on his fingers, foretold
heavy fall before morning, and his fare
agreed that it was likely, and then hurried
into the house, the door of which was hell
Hospitality open to receive them,
On entering the drawing room, Kerr ex
, perienced the first confused and disagreed
BILE sensation of a sudden change from col,
j and darkness to light and warmth. Th
3 room seemed full of people, and Kerr kney
3 Immediately that he and Linburn were late
A dull murmur of relief went round as tn
= assembled guests at length saw a prospec
s OF breaking their fast. Kerr was annoyed
but not SO Linburn. Linburn always con