New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31

[ ing @rlnence don't think men always know
+, this; that the expression of love often charms
women more than the proof of it. "
Miss Phillips hung her bride on the pommel
or her saddle that she might thoughtfuly smooth
back the wrinkles in her gauntlets
Another remark of George Sands comes to me
often when am with Rowena 1t is the definition
of an artist: one who feels life with frichful in
tensity' You know that is Rowcna But she is
so compounded with her New England birth and
her warm temperament-well, she is not in the
least melodramatic, and think the world credits
melodramatlc people with COOL deal of feeling"
Miss Philiipps continued to arrange her gloves.
Her companion continued silent. The horses were
going at a foot pace. The mountains far off were
vivid violet. The sunlight cnwrapped the plain
and the distant hills in an embrace of benefcent
love.
Rowena is going to he famous; that is, as
| famous as any one gets in these days. ! know the
signs. And hers will be no meretricious distnc.
ton, either. Keats, you will soon be known
the husband of Mrs Bradford. Perhaps you will
not like that"
The speaker glanced interrogativcly at the man
by her side. lie responded by a look which did
not tell her anything. She went on.
There is one thing you have always to re-
member Rowena did not jump into your arms
You deliberately invited your fate. I suppose
that man like you really thought that when she
was once your wife she would only play Mt paint
ing. 1t is surprising how little men know
Pity us murmured Bradford I'VE do as
we'll as we can"
Miss Phillips shook her head impatiently.
used TO make her out ! used to read her
heart. She was greatly moved because / left her.
L don't like to remember the tone in which she
said Don't go' But she would not come with
m bod hon Dc tl;p eI, &c
absolutely certain you would have been glad TO
see her here
"Certain!' explained Bradford with some
violence Then he shut his LIPS tightly.
Remember what George Sand says" said Miss
Phillips. Then she went on with kind of
bitter lightness. But | can almost think | am
getting to be a medding old woman. il did
seem if, should | really be face 70 face with
YOU. could make you undcrstand-that perhaps
should understand myself But you, like every
body else. must drce your own weird. DO YOU
think we might have n gaop now? And shall
| be great inconvenience to the Listers? | used
to know her very well. We used 10 make
periments in chemistry wien we were at school
together
Yes, We will have rallop. And you will rot
he any inconvenience 10 the Listers You don't
know what ranch hospitality is, | ina CINE
But just as they were setting of the boy with
the mailbag came saunterng up Bradford took
the bag and told the boy if he grew hungry he
might hurry, otherwise no one would care now
if he did not arrive until night, not at all
OF course, the boy, being human, though boy.
Immediately had a desire TO hasten. And he even
succeeded in keeping abreast OF Bradford and his
cousin so that only the most impersonal converse
ton was possible
But. after ALL both Miss Phillips and her
cousin felt that that sort of conversation might
he the best for them both. She had not found
Keats open to talk he had been that day
when he had sought her i'll London. But he had
come TO her then because the impulse was on
him. He must talk. Now evidently he was in "a
different mood. She had hoped and almost believed
that if she were with him she might make affairs
clearer. She glanced at him almost shyly. She |
fancicd his Drowned face was Steiner; that there |
was something hard about it; Just where she |
could not tell.
After al she only third person. Still |
she by no means casscd herself with the ordinary
third person. Was she not Vanessl Phillips
But this Consciousness was not always as en- |
hilarating as il might be- II was really absurd 10 |
sec two people going on as Keats and Rowcna |
we're going And now there would be SCORES |
of people running to Rowena. Mrs. Appleton |
Sears was only waiting for permission from
Rowcna to take her up and make lioness Of her. |
A great many thoughts went back and forth |
in this womans mind she cantcrcd over the |
plain. And she began TO talk with that half |
Indifferent manner that she sometimes adopted. |
When she was not on hobby, Miss Phillips |
WAS liable 10 be indifferent She insisted upon |
riding fast She believed that there were letters
in the bag for her cousin And though he showed |
not the least impotence, she believed he felt i'm
patient.
The time came. the greetings being over at the
ranch. when Bradford went 10 his room. He |
had half a dozen letters and bundle Of papers |
lie flung them down and stood looking at them.
He selected the envelopes hearing Rowcna's writ
ing. lie held them in his hand a moment, his |
face set and intent
At that instant lie telling himself that he
would 90 where he could not receive letters from |
her. 1t was ridiculous for him to keep in this |
way. lie would When his thoughts reached |
this point he laughed people sometimes laugh |
At themselves when alone.
As if | were the first man who cannot forget |
a womans face" he thought
Then he eisurely opened the envelope bearing |
the earlier postmark. lie had resolved that his
fingers should not hasten, whatever the pace his
blood night take
lie was kccnly aware that every time nc
ccivcd a letter from his wife he hopcd-what !
did he hope?
But if he were where he did not receive them, |
then would net this internal sensation Of hope be |
annihilated?
Now he spread open the pages ROwcna wrote |
very freely TO him always. There was with her |
when addressing him sensation Of safety. She |
could call it nothing else
Now She told Of finishing her picture. 1t was |
thus far her best. She mentioned her WEAKNESS
after it was done. She told with a gayety not |
without flavor Of bitterness how tried Sarah |
ton IN her labor She said she knew he could |
sympathizc with her sister Although he had |
never told her how wearing she was with her |
.Iotfn and rlSL IL Ln Ind |