Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-01-18
CHAPTER VIII

AZ - = lEeu 10 very rev people, eltner
zne1 or women, to feel the sense of
perfect happiness which came TO Aus
ten Bevan during the first few weeks
Of his engagement. He had known so
little of the follies and pleasures of
youth that this new unlocked for hap
piness came like sudden burst of sun
shine into his life and transformed and
g10rIfied it.
His friends might disapprove; Mrs.
Calender might, and did, prophesy
evil things; but Austen, confident in
ais own and Tessa's perfect love, only
smiled in calm Indifference and in
credulity, and was supremely happy.
For three or four weeks this state of
perfect bliss lasted; then the first
clouds arose
For more than fortnight Tessa had
been anxiously looking for a letter
Hgam MIR. Cleveland. She had already
received one short note from him, in
Sxkieh, regretting that he had no def
mite news of Antony to tell her. he
zaszd spoken of an actress, then playing
I'm an obscure London theatre, who,
SKom his description, might prove to
ne Antony Bevan's wife.
He had promised to follow this trace
up and inform Tessa of its success or
failure; and she was now anxiously
expecting the letter. She grew more
anxious day by day; for Mrs. Bevan
Uzss extremely unwell. She had been
ra8re or less of an invalid for the past
I've years; but she now very rarely
2ekS her room, and it was evident, even
~ Tessa's inexperienced eyes, that
zach day her hold on life grew feebler.
The news would come too late if it
did not arrive very soon, Tessa
2h0ught sadly sometimes, as she
~atched the old lady's failing steps
zzd pale face; and so she looked anx-
10szsly each morning for the letter
sFhich was so long in coming.
There is letter for you, Tessa, .
AJzsten said one morning as Tessa en-
sered the breakfast-room.
So far she had generally contrived
90 be down stairs before the postman
rzne, so that she might receive and
read her letters undisturbed by any
questions concerning the writer's or
n0ntents. Mrs. Calender had always
seen inquisitive concerning her cor
respondence, and lately Austen had
developed a similar curiosity. Tessa
who had been very anxious that this
particular letter should not be seen by
She authorities conscious that
she hlushed and looked guilty as she
tloJk up the letter, and its bold writing
md crested envelope, which lay by
ner plate.
Austen glanced at the changing
Eace curiously. He waited few mo-
vzoents; then, finding that Tessa did
not as usual open her letter, but slip
ped it into the pocket of her dress, he
said gently, but with an indefnable
shade of GOODNESS and suspicion in his
,zoice-
THAT is Cleveland's crest, Tessal
What is he writing to you about?"
a-How can tell? haven't read it
get" Tessa answered coldly.
~.Are you not going to read it?n
-sBy-and-by. just at present the
salls of hunger are too pressing"
Eessa answered carelessly. "Give me
piece of that pie, please, and re-
member it was curiosity that dross
Eve out of Paradise"
She smiled brightly into his face;
But Austen had no answering smile.
Mrs. Callender's comments on the let
ar had already excited jealous doubts
m his mind; and Tessa's evasive an
4sEers and reluctance to read it seemed
70 confirm his suspicious. Fer the
Trst time since their engagement he
eft the table abruptly, and drove off
- business without his usual affection
1xe farewell.
Tessa heard the dog-cart drive from
.9e door, and felt sorry and amused.
SAe was too much delighted at the
aews which Cleveland's letter con-
aimed TO distress her mind over Aus
1sns's ill-temper.
II have good news this time" Cleye-
and wrote. "The actress mentioned
IA my last letter is Anthony Bevan's
wife called on her yesterday, and
aaw both her and Anthony. lie looks
tcry thin and ill. and 1 am afraid
Snles are bad with them. He is de-
lighted at the idea OF seeing his mother
md will come any time you like to fix.
i fancy he entertains very bitter feel
ngs toward Austen and his sister, for
ne says that, il it had not been for
hem, the quarrel would have been
made up long ago. 1 enclose his adj
dress. He will be in Pennington by
he time this letter reaches you. and
eEill stay there until it is convenient for