The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-02

| you have some bad news for me. Spare
me, and tell it quickly"
81 ought not to tell you at all. But you
have heard OF the Duchess Soria?"
/ "Never."
She gave himthe outlines Of the Duchess
Soria's past, so far as it had been connect
ed with. her brother; and Vernon heard
with impatience.
''It.was broken off before his marriage,
no doubt" he said. ''Why rake amongst
dead leaves"
Because leaves grow again
You mean"
''That Evelyn is more in love2sith this
woman than he ever was before,s ,sand that
she comes to Ladysrood tomorrow. Now
what | wish to know is, shall you or tell
| your daughter"
Vernon heard with infinite pain.
Il knew how it would be-" he muir
INJURED. 'BHt l confess it is sooner than |
even thought. Ny child is worth more
than that. Perhaps YOU mistake!'
Il never mistake, she replied with
hauveur; and if sacrifice the reputation
OF my brother to you, it is out OF sincere
regard for your daughter"
'.'W hat doyou want me TO do?'
Whatever you deem best. She must
| certainly not be left to remain in ignor-
ance, to receive Beatrice Soria-"
| Vernon sighed.
Dear madam. it is only ignorance-un-
less most wondrous and perfect patience
which enables any woman to endure her
married life at all.
''You mean, then, you would leave her
in ignorance?"
'fYes What good could knowledge of
| it be as you think %
''Good heavens Surely there is such
thing as self-respect?"
''Yes; my child will always have self
respect, Tor she will never, | am con-
vinced, do anything to lose the respect of
others. Self-respect does not consist in
making violent scenes, or ill-iudged re-
proaches, or discoveries which are forever
fatal to peace"
You take the insult to your daughter
strangely quietly"
II have known the world in my time,
my dear madam, and | read your brothers
character before he had been ten min
utes in my study; it is not a character
from which any woman can expect con-
stancy. l thought, however, that ne was
was a gentleman; If he is as insincere
and as INSCRIPTIONS as you describe he
is not one"
Not a gentleman
Lady Sunbury flushed crimson, and
rose in bitter anger,
Not if what you tell me is true"
Il did not tell YOU that he might be
abused, but argued with; and that your
daughter might be warned and coun-
seled"
John Vernon sighed wearilv.
Dear Lady Sunbury, you and 1 both
spent all our intelligence in warnings and
in counsels before this marriage took
II, - - 411--
place, would be worse than useless"
"My intentions are misunderstood,
said his old visitor coldly. "All my incin-
ations would, OF course, lie toward screen
ing and excusing my brother. But |
thank God that l have never allowed
mere inclination to be the guide of my
conduct. | believe in duty, though
know the world of our day ridicules and
despises me, and my sense OF duty made
me feel that Lcould not .tivw my sister
in-law ignorantly TO receive her most for
midable rival
Il thank you for your feeling for
Gladys" said Vernon, with emotion, "but
neither YOU nor 1 should do any good in
lifting the band off her eyes; it will fall
soon enough OF itself Besides-pardon
me-you cannot tell that GuilderOy's feel
ings have revived for this lady. He can
not have told you, presume ."
''l1e has not told me, certainly. But
have always taken means to be aware OF
my brothers actions, and ! know that all
relations are renewed between him and
the Duchess SOria."
Vernon covered his eyes from the sun
with one hand. The calm sweet light and
the gay song of the mavises in the ada
cent orchard hurt him.
cit is very sad, if true" he said at last.
But interference were worse than use
less 1t would only confirm your brother
in his infideiity, and inspire IN NV daugh-
ter a resentment which she could never
forget Dear madam, believe me, mar
riage is a difficult thing But, as law
stands we cannot undo one once con-
tracted without publicity. comment, inter-
rogation, every indignity which it is most
frightful for either proud OF delicate
nature to provoke. What then remains?
Only TO leave such peace as there Is in it
undisturbed as long as we can. l know
that YOU believe in the advantages of in
reference / do not When we are sure
to do any possible good by it, it is a dan
gerous meddling with fates not our own.
When we cannot even be sure OF so much
as that, we certainly cannot dare to at
tempt anything. Your brothers wish for
my daughters hand was, as YOU know,
that he had not the stability, nor she the
experience, to make happiness between
them possible; but since, unhappily, she
Is his wife, she shall not, promise, whilst
live, allow either passion or injury to
fling his name to the bowling calumnies
and cruelties of the world not whilst l
| live"
There was a great sadness in the three
last words, and he sighed as he said them.
when l am gone, be kind to her."
he added.
"Where are you going?'
"Where we must all 90"
Hilda Sunbury looked at him in sur
prise and wonder.
"Why should you speak so?" You are
as likely TO live as she or I. You are in
the full vigorand flower OF your intellect"
John Vernon smiled.
"Of my intellect, perhaps ;butunhappily,
living is a physical question, and when
the body succumbs the light OF the mind
goes out too. I have always thought it
the greatest argument for the immortality
Of the soul; for it is really ridiculous to
suppose that the hemlock could really
destroy such a mind as Socrates, or that
the genius which created Arid and Cali
ban can have been killed forever because
Warwickshire leeches in the Elizabethan
dax,c rvere fools Plato indepd-o