The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-04-12

w.
"lfnru Beverley, u von do you pttl Hu
to repent u"
most natures combativeness is at Low
ebb before breakfast: the system usual
,iy Graves something more sustaining
than excitement. Then, too, Miss Cor
nelia's habit was to come down late
Nothing less than an overwhelming neet
to free her mind would rouse her from
her slumbers before eight o'clock in th,
morning. Whenever she made the ex
ertion, some member Of the household
might confidently count on having yer,
bad quarter of an hour.
Mary's heart sank like lead when sh'
beheld her relative enter the dining
room and seat herself at the table.
Intentions? she repeated vaguely
Il don't think | understand you, Aun
Neelie." She was tying on Rams eat
ing apron, carefully moving aside hi
heavy curls to avoid fastening them will
the strings. and she did not raise hel
head or glance toward her aunt.
"Oh, yes you dor asserted Miss Cor.
nelia You understand perfectly. Yor
know as well as do that that man hai
been paying you all sorts of compromis
ing attentions, and that he is going t.
address you, if he hasn't already done
SO know nothing, of course. am
nobody. But that is what everybody
says"
Feeling very sure that storm Of I'M
usual violence was impending, Mary
quietly directed the servant to take the
little boys and their breakfast out to the
kitchen. Miss Cornelia's tongue was
unbridled when her temper was up, and
she did not care what she said or who
heard her.
AS soon as the door had closed behind
the children Mary turned to her aunt.
Who says the things you alluded to
just now?" she demanded.
Everybody. And they say. that you're
going to marry him, too, and ask me
abont it. It's perfectly disgraceful. 1t
makes me furious to think Of it; and I've
denied it until my tongue acleaves to the
roof Of my mouth. and nobody will be-
lieve me. They are not going to believe
me. either, as long as you allow him to
come here. The only way to put d stop
10 the outrageous gossip is to forbid him
the house at once"
The knowledge that we are the sub
ject Of comment and impertinent con-
lecture, that our affairs are being dis
cussed and canvassed, always comes
with kind of shock. That people
should gossip about us is revolving, even
when we ourselves are given to gossip
about others; when we are not, it be-
comes insulting in addition. Mary
talked SO little of her neighbors' affairs
that to discover that they talked great
deal of hers made her exceedingly angry.
Miss Cornelia's proposition to garrote
gossip and rob it of subject matter by
forbidding Ned Anthony the house
made no more impression than the fall
ing of cinder. Even if disposed to
perpetrate such injustice, what pretext
had she? He always behaved in her
house and in her presence in the most
gentlemanly manner of which he was
capable; he wished to please her and to
stand well with her, and to that end ex-
exerted himself according to his lights.
1t is not in the power of kings or kaisers
to do more. She knew very well that
he loved her, and that he would ask
her to be his wife. It is of no conse-
uEehce how she knew; such knowledge
is arrived at by women by process as
inscrutable and as difficult of explana,
ton as some theological dogmas. AL
the women in the neighborhood, ap
parently, were as wise as she was on the
subject.
One thing. however. they did MOI
know, and that was that Anthony hai
not spoken yet, and, with Mary's good
will, would never speak.
Miss Cornelia meanwhile, enhanced
with the possession of so sturdy griev
ance, and that most fascinating of al
forms Of grievance, a new shoot on ,
familiar stock. abandoned herself to it
full enjoyment. She had thing con
cealed about her which gave her SUPERB
ority and sense of mastery of her sub
ject. In her pocket was q; cartridg
which was to blow Mary's obstinac,
and impenetrability into a hundred NOR
tifying fragments.
THAT man ought never to have BEEF
allowed to set his foot across this thresh
old, she averred. ut is absolutely dis
graceful his. having presumed to visi
in my fathers house, and that he ha
been allowed to become actually init
mate here is thing that is too awful t
contemplate. have opposed it al
along, but when has my advice eve
been taken in this houseY An intens
pause, probably for contradiction Q
some other form of reply; none came.
Miss Cornelia proceeded: "He is
horrid, presuming, pushing creature
and / know he comes Of odious, con
mon. uneducated people; his whole beal
ing, as well as his offensive manner
i shows 1t; and he has no business Inixin
lTo BE coNTfNuEDl