Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-26
A MANS MISTAKE.
.Oh deari Lam so tired ~

$50 tired. my darling7 Well, never mindi It's
al over now and you VIII never have 10 go through
&c again. you known
The speakers were the sole occupants of a first
class carriage, in which they were rapidly whirl-
ing along toward London from the north. one
decidedly pretty girl OF some nineteen or
twenty years Not even the fatigue OF which she
complained could deprive her face OF its plauant
vivacity, and the very protest OF WEAKNESS was
uttered with vigor. telling OF considerable force
stll IN reserve In the slender frame
Her companion was man on the borders Of
middle age. There was a certain out-of-door ex
preston or his brOnZed and bearded countenance
and general suggestion OF field sports IN his
largely-ouit ilgure, which stamped him at once as
country gentleman Perhaps kindness and hon
esty were more legibly written on his counIenance
than any great amount OF Intellectual power one
could not picture him pOndertng very deeply for
instance, over the Mystery OF Life > or becominr
the shining light OF a Browning society Yet hts
vas a lace which Few women could have been
trusted 10 criticise impartially. AT all times 1t
was good and pleasant countenance: and now
That IL was radiant with the light OF love- the
a. they followed every movement OF the daintily-
arrayed figure by his side, no woman at any rate
You'll nave hesltated 10 pronounce Mr.. Colling-
A mischievous smile broke over his companions
lace at ais emphatic assertion OF the mai nature
OI the ceremony that day accomplished
Indeed, JACK? So you have quite made up your
mind that in the event OF your quitting this NOR
tai scene before me, am to play the part OF
HindOo widow for the rest OF my days? What
pity you DID not insert a clause In those tremend-
onsly long, dry settlements arranging suffice In
The shadow OF a shade passed over her hus-
bands face at her light rejoinder She saw IL at
once ana placed her hand on his, in haste 70 heal
the little wound.
'YOu didn't think meant It, Jack. dearf You
Know that n you were 10 b. taken from me"
The eager protest got no further; IL was cut
short IN a sudden but not alarming manner.
The two had been married that morning In the
village church where whole generations OF Mr..
COllingwOods fOrefatners lay sleeping. In one re-
spect IL had been singular wedding; the bride
had neither parent nor relation To give her into
her husbands care. nor even the poorest apology
Tor a home from which 70 make her debut in her
new nfe- She was Just e solitary waif cast upon
the worlds wide Shore and gathered up by Jack
tOllingwOOd into his big simple heart, there to be
guarded thenceiortn with the tender reverence
Kathleen Raymond had been the bosom friend
OF Mr. COllingvoOds young step-sister IN Han
OVerian "penSiOnnat de denOiSeiles-" The mother
less daughter OF impecunious Irish officer, her
fathers sudden death mad left the young girl sim
the .'pensionnat," where she had known Mabel
COlhngwoOd no other prospect Ia before her but
10 Join the great crowd OF Lonely women who are
lighting for their own living.
But before beginning the much-dreaded search
for employment she had been persuaded by her
more fortunate friend 10 take long holiday among
TIE hills and dales OF Westshire The orphan girl
received warm welcome 10 the hOspitable old
mother, and there the bright weeks OF that sum-
mer slipped gently by In happy idlenesS
And then a most wonderful and yet exceedingly
brother, the squire OF Annersley the eligible bach
elor OF the countryside. the cynOsure OF every
matchmaker in the neigoorhOOd fell swiftly IRE
ITievably, head-Over-earS In love with the little
penniess waif whom the fates had cast up at his
Threshold.
There was no one living who had the right to
say him nay IN the matter, when once kaLheens
shy consent had been won, and the preparations
Tor the marriage were fastened on as rapidly as
possible
To Mr.. CoIlingwood himself It was a never
ending source OF wonder that this consent should
have In *
honest eyes Kathleen stood so far exalted above
al ordinary human girls, so far removed from the
overwhelmed him with terror, IL almost seemed 10
him that he was taking an undue advantage OF
her ineXperience IN linking her bright girhood TO
his own more mature existence.
IL i needless 10 say this was not the view OF the
situation taken by the world In general, and In
particular by the squ1re's elder sister, who for
years had been at the head OF his bachelor house.
hold. When Jack, bushing and stammering like
Miss COliingwOOd, he was received with an air OF
lofty consideration, and to the long story OF hopes
doubts and delights. she replied only with a cool
.Why 'OT course?'" asked her brother, sharply.
Miss Raymond Is a clever girl, Jack, and when
The ball was actually laid at her feet il was not
likely she would fail to secure her advantage"
''>he Is not a whit more clever than good an
an emperor unless-unless she loved him as she
loves me-"
The squire said 1t bravely, but he biushed again
"There are few girls In Miss Raymond's position.
Jack who would fail TO love the possessor OF Go 600
ayear.
Mr.. Collingwood LEFT the room in speeches. In
dignatiOn.
Inc wedding was TO take place from the Dover
House, fOsste de mietGx. Even the trousseau indis-
pensaDe for the sources bride must be provided
WITH the squire's money. Jack managed the mat
ter through his stepmOther with careful deiicacy.
and Kathleen was 30 silent about the matter he
hoped That, amid the many exctements OF her
new position, she scarcely realized that the costly
toilets and dainty appurtenances which accumu-
lated so fast during the short engagement were
each and all her lovers gilt
.-she Is Ike a child for simplicity and unworldli-
ness. said The squire, In reply TO some caustic
remark OF his sisters, land she takes what Is pro-
Nided Tor her Just as unquestioningly as a child
does"
Miss Raymond quite understandable one bet
unsaid, JACK. IL would be 50 eSceedincIy awSMafd
10 thank you for your laSish generosity no doubt!
she has gagged the depth OF your purse and your
Mr.. CoilingwOod turned resolutely from his
writing and laced his sister.
ana shall drop these continued Insinuations
Ssainst the girl who viii soon be my wife. You
Understand me?'
Gentle as he usually was when the squire did
speak his mind" few ventured TO answer him
back, and Miss Collingwood subsidized into angry
The wedding was celebrated with all the eclat
which would have befitted the nuptials OF an
heiress, for thus the squire wiled IT, so bonf!res
biazed, bells clashed, banners decked the village
street. villagers feaSted, tenants danced ever
greens adorned the church. children strewed the
lirl who, only three short months before had
stood shiyering on the threshold OF a hard and
lonely life OF toll.
II was toward the close OF that eventful day.
that Kathleen COllingwood leant her throbblng
head back against the cushions Of the carriage
The involuntary complaint escaped her lips at
last: Il am 80 tired!"
Paris In August was unendurably hot and dusty,
SO the travellers hurried through its gay streets
without halt, scarcely pausing In their Journey
I'll Lucerne was reached. Here they rested
t1roGgn long sunny days, and Jack tasted the full
eAjUy VI MS new happiness. II was the very
ceisht OF his heart 10 surround his Katie with
every cOhcelNaole pleasure, ana he found her a
oeIlgntiul person To pet anu make much Of for she
was oIlslt, easily pleased, ana grateful for every
most timing attention
They sailed the lake by sunlight and by moon
Light climbed the Rig1 by half a dozen dYerent
rJutes, dered the storms OF Mount Plate visited
every shrine OF William Tell and explored every
corner Of the quaint old town before they babe
farewell 10 the Lake OF the Four Cantons and took
their way over 10 the Br0nig down TO Interiaken
When Kathleen stepped on 10 the balcony OF her
room IN the Dig lnterIakel hotel where Jack had
taken her. she turned pale vita excess OF delight
Before them the Jungfrau and her attendant
giants rose maJestically into their own calm re-
gOn OF silent beauty, their slhOuettes sharply de-
Ened against the background OF azure sky Closing
Ii the lovely LauterOrunnen valley with a mighty
Rampant OF peak and glacier. Kathleen watched
The sun set that night, and saw the famous scol-
CREATION" steal slowly over the dazzling snow
LeldS. changing their silver radiance 10 a tender
Icarly flush. Ike nothing else In nature
sLauI - ~ sba