The Washington times., 1894-09-02

and me. for another. I did not realize how
much she gave up when she finally consented
to let the child go. l sometimes wish that 1
had acted differently
Il am sure you acted for the best, f." said
Mrs Allison, rising. But. Miss Maria. when
l am listening 10 you l forget all about DR..
Allison waiting at home for me
This opened a path Of escape for Mrs.
Carroll, who was not slow TO avail herself
of it,
The two visitors went decorously, with a
polite hustle of cheerfulness; but they sighed
with relief when they were past the corner.
Il feel as il had just escaped out OF the
heart of a thunder-cloud, sighed Mrs.
Carroll. why do you suppose she told US
that story?
Mrs Allison had daring flights Of imag-
ination occasionally; she had one now. Il
suppose. really she ventured, Miss Keith
was letting Us see the disappointment Of her
life. Well Winnie is responsible for it; it is
as IL she were 70 say, You spoilt my chance OF
happiness, gave ii up for you; now l have
another chance; make amends by giving up
10 me now
"What do you mean?" inquired Mrs. Carroll,
not quite sincerely.
You know what mean; the town is talk
ing about the attentions ef that young Rufus
Armstrong to Maria Keith. He goes TO see
her two or three times a week and when
MIS-. De L OEeSL was III chicago ne WAS uTIN-
ing with her, and up there evenings almost
every night in the week. Why, you must
know the talk about it.
1T is nonsensicaI talk-she is thirty years
older than he.
THAT is what said to Doctor, but he said
there was never any guessing what yagaries
an old maid might not have, and that Arm
strong was just the handsome, soft-man-
nered kind of chap that women can't resist. "
IF Miss Keith can't resist him I should
think the young fellow could steel MS heart
against woman thirty years older than he. y
He is poor, maybe, and she is rich, and
she is still very handsome woman; don't
you remember that French woman-what's S
her name-Lenkers or something like that
who was raving beauty at sixty odd?'
II used to think it possible said Mrs.
Carroll not trying to enlighten Mrs. Allison
regarding Ninon de l. L'Enclos, Il used to
fancy that suddenly, when it seemed too late,
Miss Keith had found that she could love a
man; and it seemed pathethic and miserable
thing to me, at her age, with her honorable
position. and her sister bound up in her. l
hated to suspect it, but I did until to-day. To-
day am sure it is all stuff.
Il wish | could think so, too, sighed Mrs.
Allison. I'm sure I'm ready enough to be
convinced. How do you make it out2'
'Well, you heard her talking of her fftieth
birthday; you can't persuade me that O
woman dDOuI lO MAKE lOOl Ol ucISCil "
marrying man thirty years younger than she
is, is going to tlaunt her age in the face Of the
world. Caps too! Why, it's stuff and non
sense.'
| but 1 almost know that Winnie is dread
ing it. Didn't you notice how she looked?"
Mrs. De Forest is so jealous of her sister
she is capable of cooking up anything in her
mind
''Well, hope you are right" Mrs. Allison
reiterated. 1T is dreadful to think such
things, but Doctor says all the men at the
| Whist Club were believing it.
| While Miss Maria was thus discussed the
subject OF the discussion sat alone with her
| sister.
Virginia was bitterly coming the emotions
of the last month When did the monstrous
thought enter her mind that her sister could
so forget her dignity-"her honor" Virginia
| passionately called it, forgetting that mar
| riage is always presumably an honorable
estate-as to think of marrying that boy!
| Who was the first to suggest the poisonous
suspicion? And why had Maria told that
story to-day? Much of it was new to her
She had been so hurt in her pride, III her
jealous affection, i'll every fibre OF her heart
by the bare supposition of Maria's letter that,
| impulsively, she had taken the next train
South, and offered her sister the immovable
option of either giving up the little cracker
vagrant" or her.
Ihe sisters had one mlSeraDIe interview, IL
| which Virginia's hot heart had poured cut
lava-like reproaches and taunts, burning
more cruelty than she knew and then sh'
had fed back TO the dismal little inn OF the
place to the dismay OF Maria's Southern
friend, who almost wept at such perversior
of her hospitality. Then the next day came
Maria's submission. But not until the DO,
was gone had she relented enough to set foo
within the same house with her sister Wher
they did meet it was as if nothing had hap
pened, and sedulously Virginia tried to cove
her sisters disappointment with every ma
terial pleasure she could invent.
II gave up my whole life to her." was tn
younger sisters stormy cry to her own soul
81 never denied her but that one thing in m