Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-31
Continued from yesferday.J
ENGAGED IN HASTE.
CHAPTER II.
rHE SECRET or HER UNHAPPINEss.

II was O'Clock when Slr Alian leIt
his guest, and the colonel had an hour In
which to dress for dinner In leisurely
way that gave him full scope for medita-
ton. Naturally it was OF his friend ana
his friends wife that he thought.
@She is very handsome he told himself,
sand she is a good woman. would stake
my life that she is as true as steel. But
she is not happy. There is the rub There
Is mystery. l don't wonder the county
people talk. A woman in Lady DarnePs
position-with such husband as Allan
and such Jersey COWS" his glance wan
dering involuntarily to the fawn-colored,
black -muzzled herd in the pastures yon-
der-"a woman in Lady Darnel's position
ought TO be happy; and If she Is not, well,
II she Is not, there is reason.
He recalled that calm, finely cut face, its
proud repose. its look of serious thought.
No. and again no, it was not the counter
ance of happy woman. Allan might
rejoice in his destiny, might deem himself
blessed among men; but there was secret
canker gnawing the heart Of Allan's wife.
AStuart,r muttered the colonel presently
aWidow Of Captain STUART What Stuart,
I wonder'"
And then he began to recall the men OF
that name whom he had known in the
service. They were numerous; but he
could remember none of them likely to
have left beautiful widow. And why
had not her husbands regiment been
mentioned in the advertisement? There
must be some screw loose said the col
onel.
He found the three ladies and his old
chum in the drawing-room when he went
down; no one else.
81 would not have anybody asked for to-
night, Weldon" said Sir Allan; afor I
knew that you and would want to talk;
and it's hard lines for other men to sit by
while couple Of Anglo Indian fogys go
over their old stories together.
Dinner was announced almost imme-
diately. The colonel took Lady Darnel to
the dining room, and sat between her and
Grace, while Miss Darnel occupied the
other side of the snug oval table in soil
tude. Sir Allan and his daughter were in
high spirits, full Of old "reminiscences,
hunting and horses, Grace's ponies and
Grace's dogs, which seemed to be legion;
the old men and women who had died
since the colonel went back to India;
the changes in the village, the new school
house.
Talking Of schools how is it you have
not told me anything about Paris and
your experiences there?" said the colonel
at must have been a tremendous change
from Darnel to the Bots de Boulogne.p
Grace blushed furiously, and was silent
for moment or two.
"Did you like Passy and your French
schoolmistresst" asked the colonel
Il detested being sent there" replied
Grace, flashing an angry glance at her
aunt, whom she had never forgiven for
that act of interference, which had in
somewise changed the girls destiny land
| saw no reason why | should be sent to
school at my age. But l got to like the
place pretty well afterward Madame
Sartori is silly old woman; but she did
not ill-treat us, or interfere with us much
Her house was Liberty hall And was
sent there to be drilled and trained as if it
had been a reformatory That was a
capital joke"
She laughed bitter little laugh, and
her voice had hard tone which Col.
Stukely did not like. Was this his sweet
igenious Oracle, the girl who was the soul
of simplicity and truth? He felt that there
was change-an evil change-wrough
by that accursed Partisan school. He had
always hated Paris; he had always hated
girls schools
an my time, Madame Sartori was quite
the most perfect person in her ways with
girls" said Dora Darnel.
"Ah, but your time was so very long
ago, Aunt Dora" answered Grace There
has been time for Madame Sartori to out
live all her gifts since then"
"Gracie!" exclaimed her father, with a
reproachful look; you are not talking like
my daughter"
II beg your pardon, father" the girl
answered, hastily. but always feel mad
when people talk to me about that horrid
villa at Passy-wth its stucco gentility-
and its sham of all kinds"
Then | am the offender" said the
colonel, for it was | who started the
subject. shall be wiser in future"
Lady Darnel came to the rescue, and
turned the conversation into q new channel
by questioning the colonel about his last
campaign; whereupon the talk became
animated again, and went on pleasantly
till the ladies withdrew, and the two old
friends were sitting opposite each other
alone in the lamplight
Light your cheroot, Weldon. | suppose
you stick to Col Newcomers old weed
Or will you have one of my cigarettes?"
inquired Sir Allan, offering his exquisitely
embroidered case, the sort of thing with
which a man like Allan Darnel is provided
to safety by his womankind.
"And now, dear old fellow, tell me
frankly, how no you like herr"
THANK God. | can afford to be frank.
To see Lady Darnel, for the first time
even is to like and admire her She is
beautiful. she is charming, she is all that
Il El. -cny, II 4 e..
only
"Only what, Weldon, You have dis
covered drawback
Not to Lady Darnel's merits. But 1t
struck me that her health and spirits are
not quite so good as you and your friends
would wish"
"You are right. No, my poor Glare Is
not in robust health. There is something
a depression-a nervous excitability
sometimes. l doubt If Darnel Manor
agrees with her. We have lived here too
exclusively, perhaps, since our marriage.
have been thinking seriously of taking
her to Italy for the winter. No, her spirits
are too variable for good health, or for ease
Of mind. But there are reasons-cruel
memories of the past which in measure
account for this. l have not yet told you
the story of my marriage, Weldon
"You told me very little; only that your
marriage was love match, and that you
were supremely happy That was enough
to satisfy your friend"
"But should have told you a great deal
more if it had not been for my aversion to
letter-writing. 1t was a longish story to
write, and painful one; so thought it
would be easier to tell you about it when
you and l were smoking cigarettes face to