The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-10-18

| mo one can accuse you, at al
events, purred Ellen.
Its only parcel of swaggering i'm
pudeDt young puppies who do, as far a
know" said Vivian angrily. "How
ever, il ciS ch anyone saying anything
before my wife, will let him know
pretty soon what think Of him."
May does not mean any harm, an
sure. She likes to be amused, aud Il
have some one to make-I mean to pay
attention to her. Srms women are like
that. IL seems strange should have
thought a woman who had devoted
husband and two darling children" lei
len hated children) "ought to be quite
satisfied with them, and to want moth
ing else."
Mr.. Vivian was very irritable at lunch
snappish to the servants, short TO Whyte
and May; and when IL was over he
went off to the smoking-room, expect
ing the other man to lin him, hut Cap
tain Whyte followed Lis hostess into
the morning-room.
Then Ellen had to do what she most
hated-to make herself useful. Fain
would she have remained in Captain
Whyte's society, Listening to his gay
talk, and feasting her eyes, when unub-
served, on his good-lnoklng face; but
her great object was tO remain in her
cousins house, and to this end she was
bound to do what was likely to be most
agreeable TO the latter.
Frankly and Ethel were playing about
in the room, romping with Wbyte and
each other, and preventing all conversa-
ton: so presently Ellen. sorely against
her will, offered to take them into the
garden. The children disliked her, hut
the thought OF a raid on the kitchen
garden impelled them irresistibly. and
they consented to accompany her. She
took care to lead them round past the
window Of the smoking-ropm, that their
father might draw the pleasing infer
ence that his wife and her guest were
tete-a-tete.
On the following day Captain White
was to leave and Mr.. Vivian proposed
going up to town for few days The
pair who excited SO much jealousy and
i'll feeling in the breastS of the other
pair apparently spent a d,lightful after
noon in each others sOciety-they
4trolIed in the woods, and afterwards
rowed on the river that ran through the
grounds. Ellen watched them with bit
ter envy in her heart. How abe hated
this woman, who had money and hus-
band, and yet wanted to attract 9th r
men. instead OF giving her a chance!
She felt certain that if May did not so
jealousy keep Captain Whyte to her
self, he would be only too delighted to
be with her She thirsted for revenge.
She would give worlds to see her cousin
disgraced and turned out of her home
She only hoped now that May would
behave in a manner to goad her hus-
band to exasperatiDn. Her amiable de-
sire was not sratified; for May, feeling
some compunction at having 80 evident
ly vexed her lord, devoted herself to
20 him at dinner, and was 80 CHEEKY and
atfectionate that his gloom relaxed and
he became himself under her bright in
huence.
On Monday the two men left the Manor
House. The following morning Mrs
Vivian was sitting at her writing table.
penning some letters which she wished
to send by the early post. Ellen, pass.
ing behind her cousins chair, saw two
directed envelopes-one to Mr.. Vivian,
the other to Captain Whyte. The reac-
er may do what Ellen loDged to but
could notebook deliberately over Mays
shoulder, and follow her pen as she in
dites her Iett4r to Captain Whyte:
My DEAR CHARLIE Il miss you
dreadfulIy. II is horrid to be without
| man in the house; so Jiresone Frank
going off, too What a pleasant after.
noon we had on Sunday! but, my dear
boy, really must lecture you. You are
not TO pretend to make love tu me, be-
cause. you know, though like fun and
enjoy little Irritation | am moi that
sort OF woman. And you know, really
and truly, tat you are not bit in love
with me, and that you say the same
thing to every woman or girl you meet
and Frank would not like it-indecd, he
would be very angry il he knew.
and tel me all the news and what
C; lines people have been commit ing.
Yours, MAY
II WAS not letter that n virtuuus Ro.
mau matrOn could have approved; still,
there was no more actual harm in il
than there was in May herself. Frank,
however, might have thought d fTerent-
| Is. As for her letter to rim, we need
not chronicle tit was kind, wifrly
and affcctionUte.
Post time WAS at hand, and Just a.
she finished her second letter loud yell
was heard outside.
May, who was a devoted mother,
scrambled the letters into the envelopes.
and dashed out OF the room to ace what
was the matter.
The devil inspired Ellen with a happy
thought. She rushed to the writing ia
BILE, and, in the twinkling Of an eye,
changed the enclosures from their en-
velopes, which were not yet gummed,
then calmly W lked out of tho room af.
Ter her cousin.
| Mater Frankly had tumblpd down
stdirs, and was yelling more from fright
than pain. May covered him with kiss
es, and carrying him into the diving
room. gave him somc jam, whercupon
his tears ceased to flow. When she re.
turned to the morning room, the butter
was waiting with the pos'-bsg Nav
hastily gumned uD the pnveloper, and
it was with keen delight that Ellen saw
them safely deposited in the bag. Pre-.
emily she left the room to fetch hpI
work. May was still writing letters for
ia later post. A naxen head pceped
from beneath the sofa.
Mummy" Said little voice softly.
MAY gave a slight shrek. You bad
child! how you frightened mel" she
cried, "How often have told you moi
TO hide IN that way! Come out direct
ly! Look at your hair" Thus adjuIed
a pretty little girl crawled out.
Mummy she said coax ngly, 'I
have something to tell 90"
II don't Ike tales. What is IT." re-
piled her mother somewhat inconsist
emily.
Miss Ethel came and leaned fondl,
against her mother with IN eager ex
preston in her eyes. when Frank,
cried, and 90 went OUT, Cousin EileI
: ran. o, so fast, to 'oor desk md tonk tn
letters out Of the oDgylopes and pu
them in the wrong ones"
What" cried May, not half under
( standing. ....-..
Then. as Z hcl repeated her story wit
: emphasis, the color rushed over May
: neck and face. and she hid her burnin
D cheeks in her hands. @
Mummy darling, why is 100 so redY
8 asked Ethel with concern. And wa
9 she not naughty womanT'
"Run away, darling" said Moy, fee
: ing that she must be left alone to r,
). fleet A horrible consciousness struc
q her that she had not quite acted III
n part Of the virtuOus matron, and tha
there would be dreadful sceDe wit
: Frank, though, for the life OF her sh
n could not remember what she had sal
It in the hastily peDned letter to Charlie.
But she grasped one thing: her cousi
> had meant to do her an ill-;urn, and sh
remembered how often she had hear
=, atoriaa of har r,aI;c, .,,;,ho,,t ..,a,.I..