Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-04-28

SeS"uSc VI the emu, Lnefe were still sew
eral years during which the personal Gus
tody of the boy was the mothers OF
right. 1t behooved him to look into thi.
matter more closely.
Yes. I'm sure of it." responded
Norma; sits town talk See what Kate
Vincent says about it,"
She handed him her letter folded down
at this paragraph: People have been
mildly excited, and the gossips' tongues
set wagging by rumor which fioated
down from the Adirondacks last sum
mer and has been gaining body and sub
stance ever since. You remember how
Cecil Cumberland philandered after a
certain lady of our acquaintance last
winter, and how unremitting were his
attentions Friendship, my dear. Harm
less friendship on pure platonic plat
form; you understand-honi soft qui
NAL y pense. Well, this autumn the plot
thickened; the platonism became less APP
parent; the friendship more pronounced.
Nothing painfully noticeable--oh, no;
the lady is too clever-still the gossips
began to take contract apd work ON it
IN slack seasons, and latttSy with dill
gence. 1t is openly predicted that
madam will seek divorce, and them
we shall see what we shall see. Cecil
looks radiantly worried and sulllily inn
portant. His family are ranged in a
solid phalanx of indignant opposition,
which of course clinches the matter
firmly. Eva Cumberland was here this
morning in white heat of passion over
1t, and | believe apoplexy or hydropho-
bia is imminent for the old lady. The
fact of Mrs. Thorne's being still mar
ried woman gives the affair queer look
to squeamish mortals. and the Cumber-
land women are the quintessence of con
sentative old fogyism; they might be
fresh from the South Carolina woods for
all the advancement they can boast. It's
wicked, and I'm ashamed of myself, but
whenever think of Ethel Thorne trying
conclusions with those straight laced
Cumberlands, I'm filled with unholy
mirth.
Then followed belated apologies for
this careless handling of family mat
ter. and copious explanations. Mrs. Vim
cent was a wordy woman, fond of writ
ing and apt to be diffuse when not
pressed for time.
Thorne returned the letter to his cous-
in, and announced his intention of re-
turning to New York Immediately.
"By using dispatch | can catch the
boat at Wintergreen this afternoon" he
said. II wish you'd tell your mother,
Norma, only your mother, please; it will
be time enough to acquaint the others
when the whole affair is out. And, Nor
ma, can trust you, know; keep the
matter quiet here as long as possible.
These people are strangers; they know
nothing. don't want to be in every
Dody's mouth-a nine days wonder here
rs well as in New York. 1t will be bad
enough there. Promise me to keep it
luiet, Norma.
Thorne had reasons for the request.
de had ascertained, beyond all doubt.
hat no hint of his story had as yet
cached Pocahontas. He was surprised
It first, for he thought all women gos-
iped, and the affair had never been
ecret. He did not conceive for a mo-
nent that the fact of his divorce would |
,e permanent stumbling block in the
way of his happiness, but he realized
omething of the conservatism of her
and the Old World influ- |
noes and prejudices amid which she had
,een reared. She would be shocked and !
tartled at first; she would have TO grow |
to the idea, then reconciled |
o it. He recognized at glance the !
immense advantage it would be to HIM |
o tell his story himself. and in his own
way to enlist her sympathy and to |
rouse her Indignation and her partisan
hip.
The explanation of the girls igno-
ance is simple and natural. The inter
curse between the two families was
ordial and frequent, but there were
eservations-tracts of territory which
rere never trenched on. There was
bout the Masons certain fine reserve
yhich discouraged promiscuous ant
ffusive condolences. Exhaustive in
estigation of their neighbors' affairs
ad never been their practice; it was a
roud family; conservative family.
The Smiths had seen no reason to give
ublicity to their own particular family
,andal. Other peoples skeletons were
Interesting, but the rafting of the bones
{ their own annoyed them. Then, too,
was such an old story, its interest as
ossip had passed, its piquancy had
These people knew none of
ne parties. 1t could be to them of no
ossible interest even as narrative.
here had been no definite determine
on on the part of the Smiths to say
othing of the affair. but nothing had
cen said. Thorne did not correspond
18th his wife, nor did any member of
is family, so there were no telltale
,tters to excite comment or curiosity at
ne village postoffice. How was Poca-
ontas to know: l..
With Thorne's good pleasure, her
would remain until he him.