Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-13
CHAPTER Y.

To think of things that are well out-worn:
A little space of time, ere time expires.
A little day, q little way o breath.
But how, darling? How can I help
vou?" saws Lady Carysfort distractedly. 1t
is terrible to her to see this girl, so dear to
her. in sucn sad straits "You mean to
leave him, Rhoda?"
eyes. yes. And at once. / shall not re-
turn to his house again. 1t would kill ME
to see him. Ohr'-with long, long shud-
der-'I would rather starve in garret than
have to live with him again.
"But what is to be done?" says Lady
Carvsfort helplesly, throwing wide her
hands
At this moment the door is opened, and
= charming head is to be seen. 1t is
Brenda's.
rNot in bed, Brenda?" says Lady Carys-
fort, with a little trown.
'No. Forgive me, auntie. knew
- was in trouble, and how could l 60
ped? 1 thought"-She steals up to Rhoda
and slips her hand into hers-"1 thought
that perhaps could help her"
'Oh. DO, " saws Lady CarysfOrt, impatient
". She waves the girl to the door, but
Rhoda catches Brenda and holds her.
LET her stay" saws she. "After all it
must be known and should like my own
people to have q true version of it. The
fact is. Brenda, that l cannot live any
longer with Sir Castor. He" flushing "has
made It impossible, and we are now think
ing, auntie and 1, OF how l am to get away
from him so effectually that he will not be
able to find me.
Yes. An excellent move" says Miss
u Gauton tWan +
r!'all think, too."
Perhaps, Rhoda-after all-it would be
ter for YOU to sue for a divorce" says
v Carvsfort, though with hesitation.
shall never do that" says Rhoda de-
.lv. Like most women she objects to
.itv. There is only one thing that
induces q woman to sue Tor divorce,
that is her love for ane her man. Now
-.noda is heart-whOle. THAT is out of the
question"
'Then why not leave him openly. 1t can
be done now it seems That last case-you
remember it-has decided that a woman
need not live with her husband unless she
wishes"
81 could do that-but could not endure
the comments of nv friends. And besides,
be would torment me in many ways and
make my life burden to me. No. ! want
to disappear altogether"
10 go abroad?
'Ye-es-No: don't much care where
am, so that he cannot fud me. The worst
OF it is" saws she with ruetul smile, "that
have not much money"
Darling child! Don't let that trouble
you. You know that L"
''I know that you would give me your
last penny" says Lady Werner smiling, yet
with rush OF tears TO her eyes. "But I
don't feel inclined to accept it. No. I
want to work. l want to be SO busy that I
shall never have to think"
''You to work, Rhoda?" cries Brenda,
who is herself confirmed idler"
"Yes. Hard, actual work. Work that
5iii~be worthy of payment That is the
only real work, and 1 want to 60 in for it!
IL had thought of getting an appointment
as a schoolmisJress in some village, where
quite little children would be my pupils"
She sighs softly. 1t had been a sorrow to
her that no little tiny tender nesting thing
had been given to her by heaven. 1t would
have filled the void in her empty heart.
But heaven had denied her that best gift.
"Ah. Ii you had had little one OF your
own" q" says Lady Carysfort mourntully, who
is indeed in great grief at this moment
1T I hadr' The beautiful Young face
saddens. "Well, have ceased to regret
that auntie. L think now it is better that
I should be as-as lonely as ami
''Oh, Rhodap' cries Lady Carysfort,
bursting into tears, that you-you should
have 10 talk like that. My pretty giri!'
''No, now, don't cry," says Rhoda, who
has grown very white again. She lays her
lovely arms round Lady Carysfort's neck,
and tondles and kisses her into equanimity
once more. Brenda, looking on, and being
a little person of considerable strength of
mind. tells herself that Lady Carystort
should be the consoler on this occasion and
Rboda the sufferer; instead OF its being
exactly vice versa.
ssBut what are you thinking of Rhoda?"
cries she. speaking briskly, as a corrective
TO Lady Carysfort's emotion. ITO be
'schoolmarm,' and to little, nasty, stupid,
dirty children? Oh. no; it would not do at
ALL There must be something better"
''But what is there?" asks Lady Carys-
fort. in despairing tone.
"WelL You should know, auntie.
81 should?"
'sYes. YOU. I don't know" anxiously,
fff it would sound horrid to Rhoda: but I'm
sure 1 should like it better than slapping
and scolding lot of dirty, little ehildren."
Il shouldn't slap them,' says Rhoda with
s'No You would give them toffee un-
limited, until their stomachs ached, and
then the clergyman of the parish would
dismiss YOU. But TINS otueE thfnS
''What is it 2" asks Lady Carysiort.
"Why, auntie, you should remember
hat it is. better than 1t came In this
'rning."
t sounds like fresh supply Of some
>" saws Lady Werner, whose naturally
spirits rise now and again to the sur
"Oysters Tor choice. But you can't
oysters in summer time, even with the
Intentions Go on, Brenda, what
.e in this morning? You should pene-
e the gloom. .,
why that letter from Lady Barker,
vs. Brenda, staring at her aunt, as If to
compel her to remember
s.Ahl truer' cries the latter, wakening
into srddan remembrance. "But q house.
keeper! Rhoda to be a housekeeper!"
Il would rat her be housekeeper than
teacher OF A b c." sa's Brenda And,
besides. this would be such hyper-excel-
lent sort OF housekeeping.
you say verv foolish things at times,
Brenda, says Lady Carysf ri, almost an.
prilv. Your cousin would not dream OF
such thing as YOU spea n,
''On the contrary" 81 Shoda, who has
been listening eagerly nouid dream
long and earnestly o. 'anee OF es-