Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-08-06

side libraries, varied occasionally with
an odd Volume from the Partisan pnoll-
| cations of Calmann, Levy 81 Gle. FOR
nv part. so far from blaming her, aP-
plaud her good sense. An amusing nov
Ell is like the best kind of gossipSEIos-
sin is proper TO those whose days OF
youth and activity are over, and as we
see scarcely any company no other gos-
sin than that Of novels is accessible 70
the dowager Lady Mainwaring.
Well. then, when mother approached
me- with the manner which | have de-
scribed, l knew at once that we were
about TO discuss domestic matters, nor
was [ much at loss to divine what the
particular matter would probably be.
John aud Sinfre had gone out for rlde'
We were about to converse concerning
Sinfre and John. Mother seated her
self in the large Japanese armchair
the one made of split cane or bamboo.
She lust fills 1t comfortably. She Is
very much broader than she used to De,
and her once delicate complexion has
ACQUIRED a substantial and permanent
ruddiness. 1t sometimes seems as II
mother had not so much charged as
actually become possessed OF a different
body from that in which she spent her
youth. II it were not un5ecoming' TO
speculate about the skeleton or ones
barent. | shall be inclined to think that
her present osseous framework had
been designed for British hshwiIe.
Except for this physical expansion,
however, she remains al least as arlsto-
cratic as ever.
Rembrandt, or perhaps Rubens,
would have made a splendid portrait OF
her. Her eyebrows are set high In her
forehead: the spaces Immediately above
and below the eye are full, showing
fluent command Of words; her nose IS
moderate but unmistakeable aquiline;
her upper lip is thinner than the lower,
which is nodded on resolute chin; her
gray hair is covered with black lace
cap, the wide strings OF which TALL
down on either side her cheeks; her
summer costume is ordinarily OF some
substance which, will venture to call
black grenadlne, with lace embeilish-
ments and some glimpses of white
ruchinR at the throat and wrists; II
makes no attempt to mold Itself closely
on her form, and its antiquities are I'M
posing as well as prudent. Poor moth
er must suffer terribly from the heat,
but she never permits herself TO COM
plain OF 1t. She even fans herself spar
ingly, as II she were still determined TO
be the cool and slender creature OF 30
years ago. There is herosm in these
little things, none the less because 1t
gains no renown.
Our conversation led to no definite re-
suit. Mother wanted John TO marry,
and she shares the general infatuation
regarding our Cousin Sintre, and yet l
could perceive that her mind was not
entirely at ease. The forces Of tradi-
ton, OF convention. OF temperament,
were working 10 her against her special
and arbitrary affection for this strange
young woman. Reason prompted her to
distrust, or at least to wait and prove,
while instinct, or something like that,
urged blind acceptance. Between the
two my excellent parent was unwonted-
ly perplexed.
Lord Cedarcliffe is so impetuous and
so unused to restraint" she remarked.
She still calls him by the pet name he
used TO bear 10 the nursery when she is
specially moved about him. The repuo-
lie would be amused IL they knew how
many odd scraps Of feudalism and mon
archial tricks are to be picked up about
this house. perhaps he would not be
so set upon this II Slnfre seemed more
willing to meet his views. IT'S very odd,
don't YOU think, that she should hesi-
tate? She can't be sincere, and yeti
1T isn't so very odd" SAID ]. "She
has penetration, and she recognizes
Johns impetuositY as plainly n you and
do. Idon't dispute that shewishes to
marry him, but she wishes also to be
sure that he loves her outside Of his i'm
petuosity."
John is incapable of trivial attach
ment," returned mother impressively.
IF he were capable Of it, cousin SIN
fire is taking the best means TO make
him serious" 1 replied. Il don't doubt
It will come out all right in the end-on
the assumption, Of course, that their
marriage is the right thing"
Don't you think IT is the right
thing?" she asked quickly.
"Well, If you don't think so, l advise
you not 10 let them know il"
at is true we know comparatively
little about her" said mother after a
pause. There is really nothing ex-
cept my poor brothers letter and her
own account. But 1t would be absurd
to doubt either, should not think OF
such thing"
That is to say, she does think OF It,
but could not draw me into either en-
couraging her suspicious or opposing
them. As matter of fact, l don't
know that it makes much difference
whether Sinfre be really what she pur-
ports to be or not. She is a fine cres-
ture, capable Of being the mother Of a
noble race. All the rest is rather an
object OF curiosity than Of practical
Importance. But suppose it is Johns
fortune she is after and means when
she has get it to disappear? Well, that
would be Johns business. II he
couldn't keep her, he wouldn't deserve
her, for she has heart for the man
who hiss the stuff in him to win it.
But II she be an adventures how
came she In connection with my late
Uncle Edward? There is no doubt that
he had one daughter at least. Really
there is no reason for my misglving-
except that she does seem to be with
holding something, and that she is so
remarkably handsome. People don't ex-
pect to find women like her among their
own private relatives. But let her be-
come Mrs. John Mainwaring by all
means!
John came into my bedroom the next
morning while l was dressing. He is a
man whose body aud unconscious move
ments speak more plainly than his
tongue can, especially wnen be has any