Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-04-28
..Mrs. VINO, my dearg" questioned her
By II. G. MOLELLAND.

going to marry an Objectionable widow
"Wait a moment. mamma. Kate
writes so indistinctly. I'll be able to tell
you presently" there was a shade of re-
serve perceptible in Norma's voice.
But why do the family oppose itY'
persisted Mrs. Smith. A warning look
from her daughter admonished her 70
let the matter rest; that there We're facts
connected with Mr.. Cumberland's mar
mage, the investigation and discussion
of which had better be postponed. Mrs.
Smiths tongue burned with inquiries,
but she bravely held them back and
sought to produce diversion by idle
coniectures about Percival.
Norma parried the curiosity of the
others adroitly, and declining any more
breakfast betook herself and her letter to
the back parlor, where she drew deep
armchair to the fire and settled herself
comfortably to re-peruse that portion of
her friends epistle which related to Cecil
Cumberland's affairs.
Thome presently followed her and es-
tablished himself opposite. He was great
friends with Norma; once, in the DAYS
before his marriage, there had appeared
likelihood of their becoming more than
friends. All that had been forgotten by
the man; the woman's memory was more
tenacious. They were wonderfully good
friends still, these two; they never wor-
ried or Jared on each other.
Thorne, having no special desire to
read his own letters, lighted cigar,
stirred the fire TO a glorious blaze and
waxed conversational The theme he
selected for discussion was the topic in
troduced and interdicted at the break.
fast table few moments previously
the debatable engagement of their New
York acquaintance. On this subject he
chose to exhibit an unusual. and as
Norma felt unnecessary, degree of curl.
osity. He cross questioned the girl Wig
orously, and failing to elicit satisfactory
replies laughingly accused her of an at.
tempt to earn cheap notoriety by the
elaboration of a petty mystery.
ii wish you'd stop trying to put me
on the witness stand, Nesbit," she ex
claimed in vexation; "why don't you
read your own letters? One is from
Ethel, know. See what she says"
Thorne took his wife's missive from
his pocket, opened and glanced through |
il hurriedly then turned back to the |
first page and reread it more carefully, |
the expression of his face hardening into
cynicisln, slightly dashed with disgust.
The letter was penned in a large running
hand and covered eight pages of dainty
cream laid paper. 1t was rambling in
phraseology and lachrymose in tone, but
it indicated want and made that want
clear
1t was-divorcel
Mrs. Thorne gave no special reason
for desiring release from her marriage
vows. She dwelt at length on her
lonely and unprotected" condition, and
was very sorry for herself and consid
cred her case hard one, suggesting
blame to her husband in that he had
not taken the necessary steps for her re-
lease long before. She intimated that
he had been selfish and lacking in proper
consideration for her in leaving it to her
70 take the initial steps in the matter.
He should have arranged about the
divorce at the time of the separation. she
said, and so have spared her annoyance.
As he had not done so she hoped he
would show some consideration for her
now, and help her to arrange the disa-
greeable business as speedily and pri-
vately as possible. He really owed her
indulgence after all that had passed
The last words were heavily under
scored. L
Thorne, conscious that the present po
sition of matters between them, as well
as the past unhappiness, was quite as
much her fault as his, and the act OF
separation more so, he having been the
passive and consenting party, did not
consider it specially incumbent on him
10 make things easy for his wife. In his
irritation and disgust at her heartless
selfshneSs he half determined to make
them very much the reverse. He was
not surprised at his wifes communities
tion. He knew perfectly well that she
would seek divorce sooner or later, as
the liberality of the world in such mat
tiers made it natural that she should do. I
de also knew that it was the larger :
command of the income which he had
allowed her for his child's sake, COM
bined with the lack of strong personal
motive, which had prevented her from
getting divorce before. Her letter irri-
tated him, not because she desired to
break the shadowy bonds which still
held her, but because he had behaved
well to her, and she had taken it as her
right with careless ingratitude. What
he had done, he had done for his sons l
sake, but he was none the less provoked
that Ethel had failed of appreciation
and acknowledgement.
Read that" he said, and tossed the
letter into Norma's lap. While she was
doing so he broke the seal of the other
letter, which proved to be a communica-
ton from firm of solicitors in small {
town in Illinois, in whose hands Mrs.
Ihorne had placed her case. 1t was deli