Middletown transcript., 1891-02-05

loved was Sir William, of whom, if
the truth must be told, she had often
thought during her short married
life. But he had not yet reappeared.
Her heart began to be so much with
him now, that she contrived to convey
to him by indirect hints through his
friends that she would not be dis
pleased by a renewal of his former
attentions. Sir William, however,
inexperienced her gentle signalling,
and excellent, though mistaken
motives of delicacy, delayed to in
trude himself upon her for a long
time. Meanwhile Sir John, now
created baronet, was unremitting,
and she began to grow somewhat
piqued at the backwardness of him
she secretly desired to be forward.
"Neyer mind" her friends said
iestingly to her. (knowing of her
humorous remark, as everybody did,
that she would marry them all three
if they would have patience.) 'Never
| mind /; why hesitate upon the order
Of them? Take'em as they come"
This vexed her still more, and re-
GREETING deeply, as she had often
done, that such a careless speech
should ever have passed her lips, she
fairly broke down under Sir Johns
Importantly and accepted his hand.
They we're married on a fine spring
morning, about the very time at
which the unfortunate Sir William
discovered her preference for him,
and was beginning to hasten home
from a foreign court to declare his
unaltered devotion to her. On his
arrival in England he learned the sad
truth.
If Sir William suffered at her
precipitancy under what she had
deemed his neglect, the Lady,
Penelope herself suffered more. She
had not long been the wife of Sir
John Gale before he showed a DISPOSE
tion to retaliate upon her for the
trouble and delay she had put him to
in winning her. With increasing
frequency he would tell her that, as
far as he could perceive, she was an
article not worth such labor as he
had bestowed in obtaining it, and
such snubbings as be had taken from
his rivals on the same account, These
and other cruel things he repeated
till he made the lady weep sorely, and
weIl-nigh broke her spirit, though
she had formerly been such mettle-
dame. By degrees it became per-
eeptible to all her friends that her
life was very unhappy one and the
fate Of the fair woman seemed yet the
harder in that it was her own stately
| mansion, left to her sole use by her
first husband, which her second had
entered into and was enjoying, his
being but a mean and meagre thing.
But such is the fippaney of friends
that when she met them and secretly
confded her grief to their ears they
would say, cheerily: "Never mind ;
there's third to come yet" at which
maladroit remark she would show
much indignation and tell them they
should know better than to trife on
such a solemn theme. Yet that the
poor lady would have been only too
happy to be the wife of the third in
stead Of Sir John, whom she had
taken, was painfully obvious, and
much she was blamed for. her foolish
choice by some people. Sir William
however, had returned to foreign
cities on learning the news Of hel
marriage, and had never been heard
of since. -s,.ass
Two or three years Of. suffering were
passed by Lady Penelope as the de-
spised and chfdden wife of this man
Sir Sohn, amid regrets that she had SO
greatly mistaken him, and sighs fol
one whom she thought never to see
again till it CHANGED that her husband
fell sick of some slight ailment. One
day after this, when she was sitting in
his room looking from the window
upon the expanse in front, she beheld
approaching the house on foot form
she seemed to know we'll. Lady Pene-
lope withdrew silently from the sick
room and descended to the hall
whence, through the doorway, she saw
entering between the two round tow
ers which at that time fanked the
gateway Sir William Hervy, as shs
had surmised, but looking thin and
travel-worn. She advanced into the
court yard to meet him.
] was passing through Caster
BRIDGE" he said, with faltering defer
ence, and | walked out to ask after
your ladyship's health. 1 felt that
could do no less, and, of course, to
pay my respects to your good hus-
band, my heretofore acquaintance.
But @, Penelope, th'st look
sick and sorry
Il am heartsick, that's all, said she
They could see in each other ar
emotion which neither wished to ex-
press, and they stood thus long time
with tears in their eyes.
He does not treat ZEE we'll,
hear" said Sir William in a low voice
May God in Heaven forgive him
but it is asking a great deal"
Hush, hush p said she hastily.
Nay, but will speak of what
may honestly say" he answered. :"
am not under your roof, and my
tongue is free. Why didst not wal
for me Penelope, or send to me {
more overt letter? l would have
travelled night and day to come"
Too late, William you must not
ask it." said she, endeavoring to quiet
him as in old times. My husband
just now is unwell. He will grow
better in day or two, maybe. You
must call again and see him before
you leave Casterbridge."
As she said this their eyes met
Each was thinking of their lightsomt
words about taking them in turn