Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-05-26


some one who shared the prejudices ana
was big enough and generous enough y
set them aside and judge OF the affair
from AN unbiased. impersonal STANDPOINT
When this idea presented itseH, ner
mind turned instantly TO Jim. Here was
= man from the old life, man reared as
they had been reared. man IN no way
connected with Thorne. Jim conld help
her. If he would. and somehow Blanche
felt assured that be would.
Jim had discovered their presence m
the hotel very speedily and had joined
The party, glad with an earnest gladness
"a see his old friends again; glad also 10
meet these new friends who had become
associated with the old ones. Blanche
had been attracted by him as women,
children and dumb animals always We're
attracted by hims he was strong, and yet
very gentle.
She determined to speak to him, to
make him understand the position. and
10 entreat him to exert his influence with
Berkeley. and through Berkeley with Po-
cahontas. to set this matter straight. She
did not know that she was about to do
cruel thing; was about to stretch a soul
on the rack and turn the screws. That
fine reserve which infolded the Masons
like a veil precluded gossiping about
themselves or their affairs. Blanche had
never heard of Jim as the lover Of Poca-
J hontas-or if she had, it had been in an
outside, intangible way that had made
no impression on her
Possessed by her idea and intent on
securing an opportunity for uninterrupt-
ed conversation, she asked Jim TO take a
walk with her. She had some calls to
make. she said, and they would walk
through the park. At this season the
park was very beautiful and she should
| like to show it TO him; New Workers
were very proud Of il. Blanche knew
that she was doing an unconventional
thing; but she had observed, rather won
deringly, the frank helpfulness with
which southerners would identify them
selves with one another's affairs, and she
felt sure that in speaking 10 Jim she ran
little risk Of rebuff Jim had known the
Masons always. was Of their blood; to
put his shoulder to their wheel would
seem 10 him the right and natural thing
10 do. Therefore Blanche made her re-
quest with confidence and Jim, who had
never in bis life questioned a woman's
right 10 his time and attention, went
with her willingly.
They sauntered about for a time and
Jim admired ali the beauties that We're
pointed out 10 him, and showing his
country training by pointing out IN his
turn subtler beauties which escaped her;
the delicate shading Of bark and leaf
bud. the blending Of the colors of the
soil. the way the shadows fell. the thou
sand and one things an artist or man
reared in the woods and fields is quick
10 see if he has eyes in his head. he
pointed ont to her nest pair of birds
were building, and called her attention
to tiny squirrel, with a plumelike tail,
jumping about among the branches over
head. He told her stories of the tropics,
too, and Of the strange, picturesque life
in the land OF the Montezumas, and made
himself pleasant in a CHEEKY, companions
able way that was very winning. He
was pleased with Blanche. and thought
that his old friend had done well for
himself in securing the love of the sweet
faced maiden at his side He liked talk
ing to her, and walking beside her in the
sunshine; he decided that 'Berke was a
deuced lucky fellow, and had fallen on
his feet. and he was glad of it.
After awhile they turned into an un-
frequented walk and Blanche seized her
opportunity She made Jim sit down
on a bench under an old elm tree and
seated herself beside him. Then, insen-
sibly aud deity, she turned the talk to
Virginia. She spoke of his old home,
and praised its beauty. and told him
how love for it had grown up in her
heart. although she was a stranger; she
spoke of the cordial, friendly people,
and of the kindness they had extended
to her family; of Warner, his Illness,
death and burial beside poor Temple
Mason. Then she glided on to Poca-
houlas. and spoke of her friend with en-
thusiasm, almost with reverence; then,
seeing that his interest was aroused, she
told him as simply and concisely as she
could the story of her cousins love fol
Pocahontas and the position in which
the affair now stood.
II know that she loves him." Blanche
said quietly, ''loves him as he loves her,
and that she is breaking her own heart
as well as his, by this hesitation. 1t
seems to me so wrong. What is q
scruple compared to the happiness of a
lifeg The child is dead, all connection
between Nesbit and that heartless
woman is severed forever. She is nc
more to him than she is to you, or to
Berkeley. think that Pocahontas
would give way but for Berkeley, foI
the influences of her old life | think
some one ought to speak to Berkeley, tc
make him see how wrong he is, how
hard. how almost cruel. | have spoken
but I'm of Nesbit's blood, on Nesbit's
side. and my words haven't the weight