New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-31
KATHARINE NORTH.
XVI.
YOUNG MR.. LLANDAFF HAS HIS WAY
Cosurioht: 1892 BV The Tribune Iuoe,nnon


no reply. lie sat waiting what should come next.
The two were at their particular end of table
in the dining room of the hotel 1t was after 9
o'clock Katharine had not yet formed the habit
Of rising late and she had breakfasted more than
An hour ago Az this moment she sitting on
the rocks near the water She confidently be-
lieyed that she could never get tired OF sitting
there
She had not seen LANDAU since her return
She rather shrank from meeting him. lie must
think her a strange being to have been nearly
tragic the day before and TO have spoken thus
of having one more look at the ocean
She blushed at the recollection OF how she had
felt and seemed; and here she was back again
after a few hours Of absence.
Perhaps he would consider her mild kind Of
lunatic if he thought of her at all. lie had been
very kind.
At the breakfast table Miss Wyckham had not
vet appeared. LlandaG sat where he could, by
raising his eyes, see the door through which She
would come. He sat there watching for her.
though he did not seem to be thinking of any
thing but his coffee and the Boston daily he had
unfohed beside his plate lie dreaded to hear
the sound of her step along the hall and the
swish of her trailing breakfast gown. lie knew
precisely the difference between the sound of that
gown and the sound of all the other gowns which
were likely to be dragged across the floors. And
the click of her shoes-here he took a sip Of
coffee
He wa. a man who did not shirk in his own
mind the genuine answers to questions.
lie knew he shrank with painful sensitiveness
from meeting Miss Wyckham. And he knew that
this sensitiveness had sprung into more active
existence the day before on one Of the balconies
which overlooked the sea-
He faced the fact that he had not been able for
one waking moment to forget Miss Norths face
or voice.
At first, for little, he arranged q manful fight
against this tendency, which was even now more
than tendency.
He fought few hours Then the fight sud
denly became absolutely futile and senseess.
He was lying the sand in remote part Of
the Cohasset shore.
Il might as well fight with my own BREATH, "
he had said.
Having come to this conclusion, he pulled his
hat over his eyes and gave himself up 10 the
memories that came with an overwhelming rush
upon his soul
Perhaps it is quite plain now why he dreaded
to hear Miss Wyckham's step in the hall. And
why, being person of honorable instincts, he was
becoming acquainted with sense of singing self
contempt.
1t was a peculiarly detestable fate that had led
would be the proper wife for him, and that had
prompted him TO tell her If he had only con-
sdered the matter still longer before he had
spoken.
Owen" said Mrs. LANDAU again, having ap-
parently forgotten that she had just pronounced
his name, I'm thinking of leaving here immedi-
ately."
But it is earlier than you usually 90 to the
mountains
"One can't always keep on doing what one
usually does, was the reply.
True; particularly if one is woman
Dome be disagreeable.
LANDAU was silent He again began to listen
intently for the approach of Miss Wyckham-
And now he had faint hope that perhaps she
would not come to breakfast at all. But he must
stay; he knew she would expect him to be there.
And if Mrs. Llandoff went away her niece
would accompany her.
This sentence suddenly stood out in his con-
sciousness with a kind of ferocious distinctness.
Il don't know that l am obliged to go TO the
mountains merely because l leave the South
Shore" calmly went on Mrs. LANDAU, who had
not vet really looked at her stepson. l want 10
take Kate somewhere. She has been troubled of
late about affairs at home. want to get her out
Of the way. l suppose you, of course Will stay
here. since Miss Wyckham remains longer"
The two were practically alone at this end of
the table. and Mrs Llandaff could speak thus if
she CHOSE. without fear of being overheard.
She now turned her glance upon the OPP
poeite her. His features were absolutely calm,
but when he lifted his eyes 20 met hers she said
again. and this time with startled qpickness
"Owenl"
He laughed.
Well You almost appear as if you saw signs
of incipient smallpox. l thought / was looking
quite fit when 1 contemplated myself in the glass
before leaving my room this morning"
Yes. to Others. But 1 know you very well,
Owen"
Il am almost willing that you should know
me. he said, with sudden warm earnestnees
which affected his listener more kcenly than She
could fully understand. Then he added instantly
and lightly:
But Pm not an interesting subject. Where
are you goingP"
II have several places in mind l think shall
toss up penny for a decision, for there Is really
no choice. Here is Miss Wyckham at last"
LANDAU bad heard her step with the keen
sense of love, or dread.
He reviled himself a hypocrite as he now
devotedy applied himself to seeing mat her wants
were supplied.
Il was beginning 70 think you had q head
ache and were not coming he SAID but hi'
glance swept over her face, and he couid not
force il TO linger instant.
Mrs Llsndaf had finished her breakfast out
she remained few moments to study her step
son while she appeared to look over the paper
he had given her.
She could not tell what had taken place In
that young mans mind; she only knew tha'
something had happened
Miss Wyckham's countenance and bearing were
serene and satisfied Her lover bad In his manner
a trife NOR OF lmpressiveness than usual