The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23

years were too few, her heart vas too sore, her
/ jealousy was too intense, her passions had been
too early excited only to be left in solitude and
! oblivion, for her to be able to reach even in
mere comprehension the hight to which Au.
| brey pointed.
The days and the weeks passed on. and
winter came earlier TO Ladysrood than il came
| to the land where Guilderoy still found the
earth green and the skies and the seas smiling.
| Always beautiful in all seasons, yet the great
! house was austere and melancholy toward the
close of the year. in the short dark days and in
the long silent nights. Its immense woods
were leahesS, its gardens were cold and swept
| by bitter winds blowing from the high mOors
| beyond, on still days or nights, when the sea
| was stormy the sound of its breakers roaring
on the rocks three miles away was audible and
dreary as the very groan of nature herself.
The young lady Constance grew indignant
and rebelious beyond her power to conceal.
"Ifyou would only go to Ellington or Bal
| irons Z? she said fifty times a week; and one
| day she added insolently, why should stay
here to please you and my mother! What are
either OF you afraid of? This place is like a
nunnery-like prison. 1t is charming
enough in summer or autumn when it is full of
people, but now it would drive saint TO mad
| ness. Have you any lover that they are afraid
should come to you? Trust me If You have
and ! will help you. II you tell me nothing /
will elope with one of the grooms. 1t will be
| life at any rate, and it viii make mother sorry
| she ever sent me hereW
Gladys did not reply but few hours after
| she said to the girl IL am going to London to-
| morrow. / will take you to Ellington as | pass
| through your county"
The girl embraced her, and was beside her
self with Joy. But she could not resist covert
impertinence,
Aubrey is in London!' she said with rude
smile
81 suppose he is, since there is TO be win
| ter session." replied her hostess. 81 shall not
stay in London. | am going straight to
| Paris"
81 wish you would take me with you," said
Lady Constance. repentng that she had not
| made herself more agreeable, and hastily COM
| putting the toilettes, eiTeHneS, and pretty things
| 10 general which she might have got OUT Of
the mistress of Ladysrood if she had concealed
/ her own eRnui and acquired influence.
II am very sorry. but ! cannot do that for
you," said Gladys 81 will take you home,
where you have so much desired to be. That
is all / can do"
She was in that mood in which a woman will
rush on 90 her own torture or her own destruc-
| ton, and would not stay though host OF angels
/ and archangels stood in her way TO turn her
back from her self-chosen path.
She drove rapidly through London from one
/ station to another; at the latter she was met on
| the platform by Aubrey. He had received
| telegram from Ellington announcing her
| departure, and Lady Sunbury had had only
! time to add: Prevent her leaving England at
] all hazardsI"
The express was on the point of departure;
| he had no time 10 say word; he entered the
| carriage with her.
81 must speak to you" he said, hurriedly
! 81 can get back to the house by IL O'clock"
She did not reply; she was annoyed and
| offended. She resented this treatment OF her
as of some imprudent child whom all his family
| considered they had right to control.
Aubrey looked tired and sick.
Times in England were troubled, and politi
cal life stormy and thankless He did not re-
| lax his energies; but a weary sense grew on
| him more strongly every year that the combat
was useless, and that although still veiled un-
| der parliamentary formula and constitutional
| hctions the country was practically abandoned
| 70 mob rule.
And he looked at the woman whom he ad-
mitted to his own thoughts that he loved, and
/ he felt that he was powerless either to touch
her heart or to save her from misery.
She as very pale; even her lips were pale,
/ and her blue eyes looked almost black; but the
/ dark furs of her travelling hood and OF her long
| cloak enhanced the whiteReSs of her complex
ion and the brightness of her hair. She sat op-
| pOsitc to him in silence; she was deeply re-
sentful Of his presence there, and she did not
aid him by a single sentence.
| You are going to join GuilderoyT' he asked
abruptly at length.
"Have no right to do so? she asked coldly.
| Aubrey gave a gesture OF impatience.
| when women speak OF their rights their
JOYS are gOne." be thought and answered
| aiOuO. NO one cOulO dispute your rlgnl, my
| dear But il is not always wise to
right. That have said to you often before
now"
She was still silent.
'You had my letter the day left you at
LadysrOod" he asked.
ayes"
"And it made no impression on your"
''It was very noble, doubt But you are
not in my place. You can not judge"
"Can you judge clearly, do you think2 How
much do you that is true and how much
| distorted? How much that is wise. and how
much that is unwisel Feeling is dangerous
! guide. 1t leads us into fatal errors"
| Il have resisted mine long enough"
| "And you are tired of resistance That ! can
understand But il you are wise, my dear, and
unsel6sh, you will continue to resist What
| good can it do for you to see him in your pres
ent state OF violent irritation|
II wish to know the truth"
al would rather" she added more passion
| ately, know any truth-the worst truth-than
| live like a child, like an animal, like plant
told nothing, hearing nothing. uncOnsidered
! and disregarded. as month after month goes on.
] Ii | am not dear to him, am a burden to him;
there can be no medium between the two. Let
HIM say so to me honestly and / will trouble
| him no more"
"What would you do%'
81 can live very well on what my father left
me-"
"You mean that you will separate yourself
from UullutEOg!
"Will you tell me why should not?"
There are a thousand reasons. Chief of all
| there is the supreme reason that you belong to
| him, and that you care immensely for him,
though you now only listen to your anger"
Her face flushed.
st is an insult TO say that 10 me-"
"My dear child do not insult anyone IL is
| not my habit. 1t is the highest honor to her
that a woman should remain faithful qpaRd
nlene You seem TO me 10 be ashamed OF what
! is really the finest quality in your character.
/ Youth has often that sort Of BaaUUdiss hOnte
| before its best emotions"
"You admire GrisetdiS, as my father did"
81 do not ask you to be GrisetiiS. You are
| not beaten, outraged, or robbed of your chill
/ dren; that which you have to complain OF you
endeavOred to be more indugent and TO pass
/ over what would never been thrust on you if
you had not looked for it,"
The train rushed through the heavy gray
darkness; the lamp swinging above their
heads, and its yellow light shone on her face,
on which great anger gathered.
81 know you only care for his reputation
because he is branch of your own great
| house." she said. coldly. "It is no doubt
natural you should feel So IL is perhaps as
| natural that should feel otherwise
THAT Is untrue and unjust" said Aubrey,
! with the only sterness she had ever heard from
him II have been always your friend, often
! at great cost to myself, and have more than
once run all risks OF rupture with my cousin
for your sake in the endeavor TO persuade him