The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-10-26
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
During the last few days serenity al.
most remarkable under the circum.
stances has settled down upon the iu-
habitants of Cedarcliffe 1t may be ex.
ternal merely, but such as it is it is
marked. John is grave and undemon-
strative. but not lugubrious. and there
is a gentleness in his demeanor that
seems strange in him, He drinks scarce
ly at all and appears to have lost his
taste even for smoking. He is hard hit,
I fear, but he is bearing it like a gentle
man. | think l can perceive that he
avoids being alone with Sinfre. And his
bearing toward her, when see them to-
gether, is friendly, but abstracted. He
has made up his mind that she is lost to
him, and the conviction has quelled his
stout spirit-whether temporarily or per-
manently time will show. am sorry
for him, but it is better so than if he had
married her. You might as well harness
an English dray horse under the same
yoke with the winged steed Pegasus
Henry. on the other hand, wears an as
pect of contented indifference which can
not but be assumed. His manner to Sin
fire has an undertone of easy gallantry
which is far from being offensive or even
pointed and would be natural enough as
the attitude of man of the world to-
ward pretty girl, but is extraordinary
in lover toward former mistress
whom he had abandoned and whom he
intends probably to ensnare again. What
inducement he can hold out to her to
condone his conduct and return to him
can only be conjectured Is it possible
that, knowing or suspecting the uncer-
tain tenure of Johns life, he counts upon
becoming himself the heir of Cedarcliffe?
1t is repulsive idea. and l mention it
as a solution of the riddle not likely.
but barely conceivable. Henry is so i'm
penetrable in his apparent frankness that
one cannot help being provoked to spec
ulations which less subtle character
would never suggest.
As for Sinfre, know not what to say
about her. If she were as unimportant
to me as once thought she was, might
imagine that she felt as she appears to
feel-happy, thoughtless and high spir-
tied But of course know better. She
is passing through crisis in her life.
She is on the brink of doing or forbear-
ing to do something momentous and ir-
revocable. Iwish could advise OF help
her. but it is impossible under the cir
cumstances either for her to ask or for
me to volunteer such help. When she
has decided, then my opportunity may
come, not till then.
She is more than ever q superb object
to contemplate. She is full Of excite
ment and restless energy, says brilliant
things and laughs often, but her laugh,
though musical as peal Of bells, has
no mirth in it. II Is defiant, mocking
and cold. Deeply as sympathize with
her cannot say understand her, nor
do understand myself What do I
wish to do?
Sometimes am sure that she cares for
me; at other times doubt it. But say
she does, am willing to take to myself
. woman of whom I know nothing but
that she has beauty and great soul-a
woman who it is probable Is sailing un-
der false colors and who has been
wronged, either morally or materially,
by another man2 As regards the Last,
however, cannot look at her and be-
ieve that she has ever lost what women
hold most dear. She is too proud, too
inaccessible for that. And yet must
confront that possibility too. Well. then,
II it were so, could excuse it?
have always held myself superior to
the conventionalities Of life. Even when
: ! outwar1ly conform to them it Is but to
avoid remark and reserving the freedom
of my own thought. It hal always been
my belief that civilization Is unjust to
women. Whatever is best in human ma
turs is theirs, and it is by taking advan
tage of those better qualities that mer
opprecs and degrade them. It will never
be well with the world until woman
rules it--not with the strong hand, bu1
with love. Love Il the basis Of her N
ture. and Il = BY giving al to love thu
Ghs falls; bu6. ware men trus lovern. ~
- never would. H \ by hse seuseositl