Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-01-06
AFTER SILENT YEARS.

woman STILL though not quite In ner
first youth. She had masses OF richly
colored hair long hazel eyes and a
splendid figure which was always
graceful, whether in action or repose.
Il cannot tell you how delightful it
is to feel ones self at homo again
after nine years OF India" said Mrs.
Dalton. the elder OF the two women
bending toward her guest and to
see you sitting opposite looking just
as you used in the old days before
left England. have so often thought
about you and wished you could have
been my sister; and l have never
ceased to wonder why you sent poor
Reggie away and why. after ALL you
never married"
Il did not send your brother away;
indeed / did not" said the other lady
leaning forward and appearing much
astonished HE left us all quite sud-
denly eight years ago. and l have
never seen or heard from him since.
1t was schock to me. | can assure
you when | found no had gone to
India without even saying good bye. !"
But my dear Helen you know he
left only on your account-because he
thought you liked, or were engaged
To some other man"
Indeed. | did Lot know it. Your
brother never asked me to marry him
and have never been engaged to any
one; and here | am alone in the world.
an old maid OF 2S!" and Helen SIN led
a little sadly as she gazed into the
fire.
We'll. this is most incomprehensi-
BILE to mol" said Mary Dalton. REG.
gle came out TO us in India in terri
bly, Respondent and unhappy condi.
tion, but it was not till years after
wards that he told mo the cause"
'And the cause WASP"
That you liked another man.
therefore it was useless for him to
hang about waiting for you any
longer"
u cannot imagine whom he could
have meant / know of no one |
was engaged to no one and / remem-
Der all the circumstances OF our last
meeting as we'll as il it had happened
yesterday"
Il wish you would tell me all
about it Helen dear; we will have
our tea here. and there will be no
fear OF anyone disturbing Us till din.
ner time"
lit was the winter OF 81 just eight
years ago and we were staying with
large party in a country house
Il suppose in the lives OF mo st
women there comes a time when they
have the ball at their feet when all
men bow down to them when they
are made much of by every one and
all things seem to go well with them;
1t may be before their marriage. or it
may be after but as long as it lasts
their heads are turned. and they are
apt TO become thoughtless OF conse-
quences il not absolutely reckless
The period OF their triumph may be
short or long. to some women it may
last but for day. TO others IL may
extend over a season or "a year or
even many years Well that winter
when was just 90. / seemed to car
ry everything before me. l was sur
rounded by friends and admirers and
was in the widest spirits added to
which the weather was clear and
frosty. and that always has the effect
OF champagne on me. and was
consequently at the head and front OF
all the fun that was going on in the
houses where | stayed.
1t was when on visit to Walton
Tower that last met your brother
Mr.. Reggie Annesey. The first day
1t was arranged that we should all
join the shooters at lunch time and
found that Charlie Hudson-you re-
member him-who was engaged tC
that slckly-looking Mason girl was
TO drive the coach. had always
longed to drive four-in-hand. so
begged him to let me sit beside him
on the box seat 1t was a bitter cold
day. and Capt Hudson told Cissy
Mason she had far better sit behind.
with her back to the wind which she
did obeying meekly aud had TO face
the grooms who sat with their arms
folded staring at her. l enjoyed
driving immensely. though l die
nearly upset the coach over bank,
only Capt Hudson seized the rein:
and pulled the horses back on their
launches. What fun it was! anC
poor little Cissy Mason. when wo al
got down. was so cross she would
hardly speak to her intended; so hi
naturally stuck to me- and we made 4
splendid fire and served out hot sour
and hot chops and fried potatoes &c
the shooters. You know your brother
Reggie only cared for the sport anc
thought all our cooking 80 much
waste OF time so we saw very little
OF him; and Capt Hudson let me
drive home. and 4 did SO enjoy il
And. of course having been with me
so much all day we naturally had
heaps to talk about in the evening
and Cssy Mason was simply furious
and very nearly broke Off her engage
ment
Then the neSt day we had skat
ing on the lake. Mr.. Anneslev YOU
broiher skated very fairly. but ht
could not valse with me. aud was &c
fond OF flgure-skating that did no
care 10 go up or down all day hand
in hand with him. after found thai
Mr.. Grey another OF the guests could
skate most beautifully. SO / valsec
lit NJ. Hrov m 0ooI doai .o1 al !