New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-17

l.
lydia could not help wondering why on earth
Addenbrooke should be so anxious 10 marry her.
She was standing at the window, her eyes me-
chanically following the familiar, insignificant
Figure of the Professor. as he podded down the
gravel walk to the gate and when he had passed
from view she sat down in the nearest chair and
continued her reflections. 1t was very strange
She had no love to give him, and had told him So
quite franky; he must know, as every one knew,
OF that miserable affair with Lawrence tlemlng
was he not Flemngs intimate friend, the last
person who had seen him before he went TO Africa
Moreover, her glass had take 10 rejecting a
woman who was sad and pale ana old before
her time; surely not the woman with whom q
man would be expected TO wish TO begin his life.
When we have become TO ourselves daily
burden IL is so hard 10 realize that our presence
can be desired Of others.
And vet she had been aware OF Addenbrooke'S
devotion from the days OF the good but obstinate
little boy, with o tHsto for chemical experiments,
10 those OF the modest young man, who lurked
unobtrusiyely In doorwnys Tor inc purpose OF say
ing goodnight TO her, and was always ut hand 10
All np vacancies. She had been aware OF IL, but
had given it little heed; now, in her loneliness,
her sorrow, the thought OF that devotion moved
her strangely
She had seen herself drifting on 10 middle age,
haggard, lovcless, uulovcd: the sorriest OF spec
tacles, the emotional woman whose emotions have
wrecked her. Addenbrooke and AddcnbrOoke's
love intcrpOsed themselves like IA shield between
her and her fate.
She had given him no answer but she knew by
The door opened, and Mrs. Grey, her mother.
came into the room.
She sat down in silence-a chill, comfortleSs
preSence-and regarded her daughter from the dis
lance
These two women lived together without profit
or pleasure TO either. Mrs. Grey was capable OF
making sacrifices hut she ackcd the priceless
gift OF homc-malling; while Lydia, on her part,
chafed beneath the restrictions Of n relationship
in which neither affinity nor affection bore part
$50 10 was 70 be Johnny Addenbrooke after
ALL reflected Mrs; Grey " Gower-st. professor
Of no particular distinction. Well, Lydia was
getting on and, IL girl means TO marry, she had
better manage to do so before she is hve-and-
twenty And there had been nothing IL seemed,
in that affair with young Fleming Mn. Grey WIS
disappointed II Is true that F1eming's father
kept n glove-Shop in Regent-st., whereas the Ad-
denbroolIes had been gcntefollJs for generations
but nobody minded that sort OF thing Ia these
days, Lawrence Fleming went everywhere, did
everything; his new book from Africa had made
him more OF lion than ever; hence he was more
10 be desired as a husband than poor Johnny, who
went nowhere TO speak OF, and did nothing but his
work.
Lydia rose slowly and went.ovcr TO the writing
table
As she took up her pen. the whimsical thought
struck her that, when the other children had
carried their pence 20 the sweetshop. Johnny had
always preferred 20 invest his capital In mysterious
compounds at the chemists. faint smile how
was finished, she laid her head moment on the
desk and shut her eyes. The old dream, from
which she was turning for ever, had rushed with
cruel yividness into her consciousness:
Bchut dch Cot. es war "a schOn gewesen;
Behut dch Gott es hat nIcht sollen soin.
She rose, stiff and cold, and went over 20. her
mother
Lydia was y graceful creature, tnll, slight
taintly;colored; some people thought her beautl-
Mamma she said, in her strnnge, pathetic
voice. Professor Addenbrooke has asked me 10
marry him, and have written TO say yes"