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

a crisis Thorne had quletly ulsapPVaiSe
60 year. during which time people
III, lneU that lie was enjoying his re
oarerad freedom in distant and little ire
e,,antad nlaces. There were rumors OF
hin IN Tartary. ON the Niger, IN Siberia.
At the expiration of the year ne returned
n New York and resumed ms ola place
IN society as though nothing untoward
had occurred. He lived at his CLUB, and
-, man or wornim ever saw him set foot
within the precincts of his own mousse
occasionally he was seen TO stop the
mrs. in the park and caress and speak
70 his little son. His life was that Oh
single man. In the society they ooth
fre9nented he often encountered his wife
ana ALWAYS behaved to her with scrupu-
Ions nolifeuess. even with marked cour-
tesv If he ever missed his home or e1-
nerienced regret for his matrimonial
failure. he kept the feeling hidden and
presented TO the world an nnmoyed
front.
In default of nearer ties he made him
self AZ home in his aunt's house, ire
ouenting it as familiarly as he had done
in the DAYS before his marriage. In his
strong, almost passionate nature, there
was one great weakness; the love ana
admiration of women was necessity 10
him. He could no more help trying TO
make women love him than the king
fisher can help thrusting down his beak
when the bright speckled sldts OF ms
prey fash through the water. 1t was
from neither cruelty nor vanity, Tor
Thorne mad less of both traits than usu-
ally falls 10 the lot of men; II was rather
from the restlessness. the yearning OF
strong nature for that which IL needed,
but had not vet attained: the expert
mental searching of soul for its mate.
That sorrow might come TO Others IN
the search he scarcely needed; was he TO
blame that fair promises would bud and
lead him on and fail of frnition. To
himself he seemed rather 10 be pitied;
their loss was balanced by his own.
Thorne had never loved as he was capa-
BILE Of loving: as yet the ego was FREEDOM
inant.
AS he entered the room, after an alb
sence of weeks, with a smile and a pleas
ant word of greeting. the younger mem
bers Of the circle fell upon.him clamor-
ously. full of themselves and their indi-
vidual concerns. Even Warner, in whose
mind lurked a jealousy Of his cousins
influence, forgot it for the nonce and
was as eager 70 talk as the rest. Nesbit
found himself listening TO demand for
advice. an appeal for sympathy and a
paean Of graduation before he had made
his salutations or gotten himself into a
chair
Hold onF' he cried, putting mp his
hand in protest. Don't all talk at once.
can't follow. What's the matter, Nor
ma"
His eve turned to his favorite involun-
tary. and an almost imperceptibie bright
ening, lifting Of the clouds on that
young lady's horizon began TO take place.
She answered his look, and assisted by
the irrepressible PercivaD unfolded to
him the family plans. Thorne. with
good humored enthusiasm, threw him.
self into the scheme, pronounced it de-
ightful and proceeded TO indulge in all
manner of cheerful representations.
Percival was enchanted, and. establish
ing himself close beside the arm of his
cousins chair. commenced series of
vehement whispers, which lasted as long
as the visit. Normas brow cleared
more and more. and when Thorne de-
clared his intention of paying them a
long visit during the hunting season. she
allowed smile to wreathe her full
crimson lips, and snubbed poor little
Blanche numerically for still daring to
be lachrymose.
The talk grew momentarily merrier,
and the mother listened. smiling; her
eyes, with tender glow in them. fixed
ON Warmers face, The sick boy was in
raptures over the old house messed over
with history and tradition, which would
be his future home. Noting the eager
ness of his interest, her heart gave a
sudden bound, hope took her by the
hand and she dreamed dreams There
might come a reaction and improvement
At times the intuition of an invalid was
the voice of nature crying out for that
which she needed Warmers longing
for this change might be the precursor
of his cure. Who could read the future?
CHAPTER III.