Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-05-31

mrs Dcnuisn ana ner protcge went TO Eng
land, where the former, through her hus.
band, possessed a number Of connections,
and where Marians thoroughly un- English
beauty was vastly admired In September
they sailed for America. About year and
a half, therefore, had elapsed between Bax-
ters separation from Miss Everett and their
meeting in New York.
During this interval the young mans
wounds had had time to heal His sorrow,
although violent, had been short lived, and
when he finally recovered his equanimity he
was very glad to have purchased exemption
at the price Of simple heartache. Review
ing his impressions Of Miss Everett in a
calmer mood, he made up his mind that she
was very far from being the woman Of his
desire, and that she had not really been the
woman OF his choice. "Thank God.r he
said to himself, "it's over. She's irreclaima.
bly, light. She's hollow, trivial, vulgar,
There had been in his addresses something
hasty and feverish, something Fictitious and
unreal in his fancied passion. Half OF IL
had been the work Of the scenery, Of the
weather, OF mere juxtaposition and, above
al, OF the young girls picturesque beauty; to
say nothing Of the almost suggestive toler.
ance and Incidence Of poor Mrs Denbigh.
And finding himself very much interested in
Velasquez, at Madrid, be dismissed Miss Ev.
erett from his thoughts do not mean 10
offer his Judgment of Miss Everett as final,
but it was at least conscientious. The ample
justice, moreover, which, under the illusion
Of sentiment, he had rendered to her charms
and graces, gave him right, when free
from that illusion, to register his estimate
Of the arid spaces Of her nature Miss
Everett might easily have accused
him of injustice and brutality; but
this fact would still stand to plead in
his favor. that he cared with all his
strength for truth. Marian, on the contrary,
was quite Indifferent to it. Stephens angry
sentence on her conduct had awakened no
echo in her contracted soul.
The reader has now an adequate concep-
tion OF the feelings with which these two old
friends found themselves face to face. 1t is
needful to add, however, that the lapse of
time had very much diminished the force of
those feelings. A woman, 1t seems TO me,
ought to desire no easier company none less
embarrassed or embarrassing, than disen-
chanted lover; promising, Of course, that the
process Of disenchantment is thoroughly COM
plete, and that some time has elapsed since
Its completion.
Marian herself was perfectly at her easc
She had not retained her equanimity--hcr
pnluSopuy, one ullRnp aiinOst Gull lt-uurlnS
that painful last interview to go and lose it
now. She had no i'll feeling toward her old
lover. His last words had been-like all
words in Marian's estimation--a mere facon
parler. Miss Everett was in SO perfect
good humor during these last days Of her
maidenhood that there was nothing in the
past that she could not have forgiven.
She blushed little at the emphasis Of her
companions remark; but she was not dis
countenanced She summoned up her good
humor. "The truth is, Mr., Baxter" she said,
81 feel at the present moment on perfect good
terms with the world; see everything
en- rose, the past as well as the future"
81, too am on very good terms with the
world" said Baxter, "and my heart is quite
reconciled to what you call the past. But,
nevertheless, it's very disagreeable to me to
think about it."
"Ah them" said Miss Everett, with great
sweetness, I'm afraid you're not recon-
ciled"