Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-11-06

whether you could ever break your heart
into the traces"
Without letting her finish, he said:
Possibly might break my heart out of
the traces" And he looked at her in
such way that she could hardly doubt
his wish to convey the idea that she
would be the cause of the catastrophe.
ooh, you know what l meant, she
said, quite lightly and laughing.
Brenton was perhaps more earnest and
engaging than he knew as he re olied:
"The question is, do you know what |
meau2"
Lily was equal to the situation still.
81 don't believe you know yourself"
said she, cheerfully.
"Ah, WE'LL if you have so little faith
in my knowledge as that he began.
Just .then they were interrupted by Ju
liam Reed, who approached, casting a
glance of solicitude at Brenton, and at
once set out to talk eminently sane COM
monplaces, by way of an example.
In the ensuing weeks Brenton was
more assiduous than ever. He came to
see Lily Paret as often as he reasonably
could. He danced with her, sent her
flowers, made himself her servant. He
did all the basking in the sunlight Of
her presence which is expected from a
young man who is ir love. And all the
time old Miss Sarah thought he seemed
to grow stronger, brighter, handsomer.
"Lily is his very life!'' she exclaimed,
rhapsodically, in the privacy of her lone
ly house, to the Paret diamonds, which
were the only confdants she had.
Matters went on thus for two months.
Then Brenton suddenly disappeared. He
was seen no more in club or cafe, draw
ing-room or ballroom. Everybody was
asking: "What can have become of him ~
'Old Miss Sarah could not make it out
Lily's mother inquired of Julian Reed
whether Brenton was i'll. 'Im afraid
he is" said Reed; and he reproached
himself for not having told somebody
about Arthur's insanity.
"You're afraid he is?" retorted Mrs.
Paret, Indignantly. 'It seems to me
you ought to find out"
Poor Reed excused himself feebly, and
went off to look for Brenton. But it
happened that the very next day Mrs.
Paret, who seldom walked, was on foot
lltdl uCI OWu HOuSO, anu lllCG hlJlul
Brenton, himself looking exceedingly
; we'll
"Why, what has become of you?" she
inquired.
Nothing, '}said Arthur. "1've gone
back to my work, as usual"
, FWhat do you means"
"rl tell you, )" he said. 81 had con-
fined myself too closely. My doctor
said must throw everything over and
take recreation. He prescribed society.
| l accepted his advice. I've had a splendid
time, and now I'm all fresh again for my
} studies"
"Ohn Mrs. Paret returned, somewhat
chillingly "T'm glad TO hoar you have
such wise doctor 1t was heroic treat
[ ment but you've survived the dose; SO
t it has turned out well-for YOU"
"My dear Mrs. Paretp Brenton ex-
claimed "'Don't call it dose. l as,
sure you it has been a charming expert
ence."
"Thanks," said Mrs. Paret, and left
him.
Brenton feared that something had
gone wrong. His own sensations, more
over, confirmed the fear. He was not
comfortable. Somehow, in spite of his
refreshed state, electricity did not seem
quite so attractive as formerly.
In short time Lily Paret's renewed
interest in social affairs also relaxed.
With her light brown hair, her delicate
coloring, her graceful, quiet, listening
manner, she was as charming as ever;
but, beyond question, she grew paler
and more inert day by day. The doctor
was summoned the same discerning
person who had counseled Brenton).
'NTiss Paret," he announced, ,'needs a
change-not of scene or air, but of oc'
J cupation. If she could drop society and
become engrossed in some intellectual
pursuit. | should expect it to do hel
) great good. But that is hard thing tC
manage"
Lily, however, did not think it hard
She dropped society forthwith for q
time. Having had good college train
ing, she was able to start off fairly wei
on the prescribed line.
And what branch of study do you
think she chose? Curiously enough
electricity. In her ardent, feminine way
she clung to it all winter. So that wher
Brenton, beginning to feel run dowr
again, tried the old remedy and plunged
into the "stream of gayety," he did mo-
find her there, and promptly plunged
out again. The old remedy was nC
longer efficacious.
Lily, in her new occupation, which
was considered by her circle to be unduly
eccentric, improved a little as to health
: and cheerfulness; but as for Brenton, he
9 felt his powers declining steadily.
Late in May he attended a meeting q
! little way out of town, which was tC
witness some new and rather remarkable
I experiments; and, to his surprise, hi
found Lily there, too. The tests were tC
be made on a somewhat exposed hill, anC
9 the weather being unusually warm, tht
l uncommon phenomenon OF May thun
D der-storm was suddenly developed
: This interrupted the business for which
the party had assembled, and they al
. hastily sought shelter.
3 ''What has induced you to go into thi
study" Brenton asked Lily, with whom
. he stood apart from the rest in quie
D nook.
81 might ask what has induced you9'
3 she said. ''You were tired of society
: Isuppose?"
n mo. No-that is-never of you
$ Miss Paret. l am tired only of my
SELF"
o "And you have kept away from us Sc
/ long because you thought we might ge
s to have the same feeling about you2'
:. Lily inquired, with arch serenity.
IS Brenton felt some kind of curren
IT rushing through his heart with NOR
II electro motive volts than he had eve
j. p,aoourad ttTf darad to haliayo - 1,