Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-03-24
bell.

" Hftt . tft fff'fNN'sf
All turned expectantly toward the
door, pausing in their several occnpa-
tions; even Warmers eyes were raised
from his book. although his attention
was involuntary and grudging The at
titude of the little circle attested the IN
auence which the coming man welded
over every member of il; an influence
which extended insensibly TO every one
with whom Nesbit ThOrnes association
was intimate. He was Mrs. Smiths
nephew, and much in the habit when
ever he was in New York Of making her
house his home-having none now OF his
own.
He was slender, dark man, with
magnificent dark eyes. which had
power of expression so enthralling a. TO
disarm or defy criticism Of the rest OF
his face Not one man in fifty could tell
whether Nesbit Thorne was handsome
or the reverse-and for women-ah, WE'LL
they knew best what they thought
In his air. his carriage. his expression,
was that which never fails 20 attractand
hold attention-force. vitality, individu-
atty. He was small, but tall men never
dwarfed him; plain, but the world-his
world-turned from handsnmer men with
Indifference. to heap consideration upon
him. To borrow the foreeful vernacular
of the street. there was something
in hiin." There WAS no possibility Of
viewing either him or his actions with
Indifference, Of merging him in and
numbering him with the crowd.
There are men whose lives are intag-
hos, cut by the chisel of destiny deep
into the sard Of their generations; every
line and curve aud faintest tracing preg
nant with interest. suggestion and emo
ton. Men who are laved and hated,
feared. adored and loatIsd with an in
tensity that their commonplace fellows
are incapable OF evoking They are load
stones which attract events. whirlpOols
which draw 10 themselves excitement,
emotion aud vast store Of sympathy.
Some years previous to the opening
of this story, Nesbit Thorne, then bril-
liant recent graduate of Harvard, lead
er in society aud man OF whom great
things We're predicted whose name was
in many mouths as that Of a man likely
TO achieve distinction in any path of life
he should select. made nasty. i'll adj
vised marriage with Miss Ethel Ross,
New York belle of surprising beauty
and acumen A woman whose sole
thought was pleasure, whose highest
conception OF the good OF life was con-
stantly varied menu of social excite
ment. and whose noblest reading of the
word duty was comprised in having a
well ordered house. sumptuous enter
tainments and irreproachable toilets. A
wife to satisfy any man who was I'M
emotional, unexacting and prepared to
give way to her in all things.
Nesbit Thorne, unfortunately, was
none of these things. and so his married
life had come to grief. The first few
months were smoothed and gilded by
his passionate enjoyment of her mere
physical perfection, his pleasure in the
admiration she excited. and in the envy
of other men. Life's river glided smooth
~, gayly in the sunshine; then ugly
snags began to appear. and reefs, fret
ting the surface of the water and hint
ing of sterner difficulties below; then
long stretch of tossing. troubled water,
growing more and more turbulent as it
proceeded, boiling and bnbbling into
angry whirlpools and sullen eddies. The
boat of married happiness was hard
among the breakers, tossed from side 10
side, the sport of every wind of passion;
contesting hands were on the tiller
ropes. The craft waved and jerked in
its course, a spectacle for men to weep
over and devils to rejoice in; ran aground
| ON quicksands. tore and tangled its cord
age. rent the planking, and at the end
of a cruise of as many months as it
should have lasted years, it lay hope
less wreck on the grim bar of separation.
The affair was managed gracefully
and with due Difference to the amenities.
There was gossip. of course-there al
ways is gossip-and public opinion was
many sided Rumors circled around
which played the whole gamut from in
fidelity to bankruptcy; these lived their
brief span and then gave place to other
rumors equally unfounded and therefore
equally enjoyable. The only fact au-
thenticated was the fact of separation,
and the most lasting conclusion arrived
at in regard to the matter was that it
had been managed very gracefully.
The divorce which seemed the natural
outcome of this state of affairs, and to
which every one looked as a matter of
course, was delayed in this instance.
People wondered little, and then re-
membered that the Thornes were Ro-
man Catholic family, and concluded
that the young man had religious scru-
pies. With Mrs. Thorne the matter was
plain enough; she had no reason as yet
sufficiently strong to make her desire
absolute release, and far greater COM
mand over Thorne's income by retaining
her position as his wife.