Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-01-13
RETRIBU ITO n.
BY THE DUCHESS. /"
CHAPTER XVI.


swaying ocean. Behind the lawn a back
ground of giant frs that blot out the sky
in that direction, and throw into brilliant
relief the white clad figures darting to
and fro upon the tennis ground.
Gerald Aiassareenc, having lost his
game filings his racket to the winds, and
throws himself prone at the feet of Ma
dine Roche.
Pretty place, eh:'' says he ''Sooth-
ing to the nerves after the town fever?''
Then looking at her and marking the eX-
IRENE repose of her bearing, that almost
borders upon 1assitude, he says gently,
'.Tired.''
NO
She brightens up with an effort and
smiles at him in her kindest fashion.
Her thoughts are tangled-her mind per-
turbed. Both are far from the busy
scene before her. 4 sense of despair, of
inability to move in the path that
stretched out 50 temptingly to her view,
las saddened her eyes and given
mouruful curve to her beautiful mouth.
Her days passed here with " 1urlce Duran
have been infinitely swcetel to her than
ever she had dreamed they light be. The
very nearncsS of their cOmpanioEshp had
had its charm. and though no word OF
love had come from his lips, st:n, eyes
can speak when words are forbidden; and
though honor renders one dumb, who can
prevent the sense of gladness that comes
with the touch of one beloved?
Sweet days! too sweet TO last-and
swift as sweet. \ whole fortnight has
gone by-twO weeks crowded with such
exquisite recollections as Will (unhap-
DiIy cling to her for all her life. And
now il is the 1Gth-to- morrow Will be the
night of the grand ball, given in honor OF
Cant. Boyle's birthday, who is expected TO
arrive about an hour before 1t opens,
and then Another cruelty bhsstn
week, perhaps, and after that return 20
town and-a hurried wedding! 1heh
exile from all that has made lie not only
endurable but perfect.
Sometimes a thought Of Paul AnnerIey
has crossed her mind, but, as a rule, she
has resoIutely PUT all remembrance OF
him far from her. She had told herself
that this one holiday at least should be
her own. Afterward let oblivion, let mis-
ery conc but just for these lew happy
DAYS she would let utter joy hold sway
she had heard nothing OF her future nus
band since her departure, and II at tunes
it had occurred TO her as strange that ne
lad not written to her from those Tor
eissn cities whittier his search of the rob
Der of the famous sapphires led him, the
sense of relief in not having to write 10
him swallowed up all such wonder.
How should I feel tired?'' she says
now, smiling at Gerald MaSsareene, VINO
has become quite a friend OF hers.
He has found in her an ally-a certain
Dartisan. who derides the notion OF MILL
cents ever cOnsenting to fulhu hef IoEe-
less engagement to Capt. Boyle WhIe
her heart is given to another. That other,
now stretched at the pretty partisan s
feet. is quite willing to accept hef read
ing of the situation. Though Ml1IcenI
herself has been somewhat dlfhcuIC 10
understand, little vague in her answers,
a trife willful, in degree-a markeu
degree-averse to being broughC 10 tLe
uoinu. still Mr. Massareene is inclined 10
believe in the creed of his pretty cOnfidante
when she declares herself ready to affirm
publicly her belief in the constancy OF MS
fair, if rather trying, love.
ssWeIl. I'm glad you are not, says ne
pleasantly, alluding to her assertion that
She knows no fatigue. Io-nlgh6
there will be an influx of guests, Or
dered. like the supper, for tomorrow
night, and it would not do to be in poor
form. You look pale, however"
care many coming?' Enough TO
make us put on our best bib and tucker
and our choicest manners. You Wln
have to make your very best bow to the
lord lieutenant of the county, and 10
smirk at Il youthful if very famous gen
rraI. The only thing to be careful about
that the morrow will bring the big
Nautch. and to reserve some smiles for
the hero of the hour"
He speaks with some bitterness.
Tomorrow night will bring Capt.
Bowie She looks at him softly out OF
her serene eyes. do not let that make
you unhappy. His presence means less
than nothing. Indeed, l believe 1t Will
l5yscSU pIuIJII-5UcSsG NoUorVr
share your creed"
What creeds'' asks Duran, WHO has
Joined them unseen.
A belief Miss Roche has in the I'M
conquerable power of love, replies Mas
sareene gayly, springing to his feet and
crossing the close turf to where he can
see AIiIlicent standing, for once, alone
And so you believe in loves omnipo-
tency,'' says Duran, gazing at Nadine
with calm searching eyes. 'You?"
There is surprise in your tone-and
doubt. Why should 1 not hold such
creed?' returns she steadily, though her
lips have grown very pale.
Il cannot answer that here. Will you
come with me to the Firwood? I shall
rot keep you long, and l must speak to
you Do not refuse me, Nadine. This is
probably the last hour we shall ever have
together. l leave the park the day after
Tomorrow"
She had shrunk little from him when
first he appealed to her, but as his plead
ing grew stronger, more impassioned, she
rose. With her eyes dOwnrast, and her
color faded to a pallOr that bespoke an
anguished heart, she moved beside him
TO the wood he had mentioned.
Presently they enter it, The eternal
greenness of il gtirs her blood once more
TO an admiration that rouseS her and
compels her return 70 the immediate
present. Ever since she had obeyed his
o,,H rise nd fO11 i'm
she had been in Il kind of waking dream
that had been too sweet to permit her
desire for its dissolution. Now, however,
that she is fnlly awake to her danger as
well as to her pain, it is too late to with
draw from a tete-a-tete, that she feels
must rive her soul.
Duran, stopping abruptly beneath the
spreading branches of huge Scotch fir,
lays his hand upon her arm thus arrest
ing her footsteps also.
If love be indeed all-powerful how is
it that 1 have failed?'' he asks in II low
tone NO love was ever stronger than
that l bear for you, and yet it has been
of no avail when matched against the
barrier that stands between you and me.
Has it been my fault, or is it that the
love should be equal ON both sides, and
that-yours-fallsb below the mark?''
She had been standing with lowered
lids and trembling hands, but now, as
though forced to it against her will, she
looks ut him. Her large, dark, mOurnful
eyes are full of a reproach-mute, but so
terrible that his heart grows warm within
him. Alas! how clearly in those melan-
chOly eyes is her pure love lying.
sit is true. then! have your love, !" he
says, always in a lew voice, but none the
less ecstatically; "and if so, my dearest,
why will you repulse me? All! have
pity on me, if you will not on yourself!
Think-think before you sacrifice rs
both to a mistaken sense of duty"
II have given my word, says Nadine
Tiny promise"
a wOrd-a promise-betteP broken,
See here. my love, 1 have lived many
years longer than you. Too many he
says after pause, that is filled with re-
greet for those past hours when he had |
not known her, and when another had |
borne his name-anOther unloYed and !
undesired. Il cannot bear to think what |
years lie between your birthday and |
mine; but still my very age gives me the |
right to speak Is it good that you |
should surrender all your happiness to |