The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-31
CHAPTER IL.

NhhI
Six weeks later Sister Cordelia sat in
the room in which she received her in
mates. wrote her letters, and transacted
her business generally. 1t was a pretty
room, and she looked the better for the
pleasing background. She was not alone;
Mrs. Braintree was with her. Mrs Brain
tree had been lunching with her dear
Cordelia; she sat in a deep cushioned
chair and ate candy. Really these
candies are delicious she said.
They're nice. but 1 do not care for
sweets"
NO. dearest Cordelia. your mind is
fixed on higher things"
Mr.. Rutherford in the drawing-room.
ma am announced the servant. Cor
della rose. Come, Alice, let us go down
stairs"
NO. dearest" said Mrs. Braintree gent
ly. No; you go. dear Cordelia 1 will re-
main here"
Why. Alice?"
Il would prefer It,"
Miss BrevOOrt looked surprised. II cam
not imagine why"
Dearest" said Mrs. Braintree. as one
who gives utterance to painful admis-
sion, "since you press for an answer. it
in short-it is painful 10 me to meet Mr..
Rutherford"
Alice. You surprise me! l had thought,
especially of late, that you and Mr..
Rutherford were very much together
Miss Brevoort colored slightly.
We were, dear; we shall not be so In
the future"
Cordoba looked nervous. IF you will
not come down." she said hesitatingly. Il
viii not see MIR. Rutherford; Aunt Mar
garet viii entertain him" She seated her
se,f. II wish you would explain, Alice"
mo. dear. | am perhaps oversensitiVe.
You might think little Of it,"
What is it?'
1t is simply told. am singular.y loyal
10 my sex. 1t is a folly, weakness, but
'Do not say that Loyalty a folly!
neverr'
Sweet Cordelia. you are 50 sympathetic.
It is thus. my dear girl. Mr.. Rutherford
has been excessively frlerd.y-ynost kind
most attentive to me. He was two years
in America, was he not?"
Yes"
Il am American. as you know In writ
ing to a very dear friend of mine. l men
toned Mr. Rutherford's name Ny friend
j. appears. met him in America. and wrote
me a sad tale of the result Of an idle fiirta-
ton Of his-nothing. Of course, in his eyes
But the girl believed that he cared for her.
and being very delicate, fretted so much
that she is actually dying of decline. Now,
of course, dearest, this is not Mr.. Ruther-
ford's fault; but l am over-sensitlve; dis
like to meet him. / can trust you, dear
girl; this is in strict confidence"
Cordelia was very pale. You are rot
over sensitive" she said; you are rightly
sensitive. Such conduct is base. selfish,
despicable-all that is detestable"
You viii not mention it to him?"
mo; but 1, like yourself. can never
again feel pleasure in Mr.. Rutherford
society" Miss BrevOort was agitated,
her breath came in little, quick pants.
1T is shameful" she said. Shameful;
and he is a hypocrite; he said re had
never mean he professed love for the
whole race
you will not mention it to him?"
Certainly not. liam disappointed
in him. that is ALL
Il must go, darling. knew you would
feel with me-"
Mrs. Braintree kissed her friend and
glded solely away. She went home put
on a lovely pale-green teagown. and
turned the pink-shaded lights low. Just
a precautiOn," she murmured. mo
violent scandal was necessary; she is so
very refined, sensitive, and highly strung
a dear girl, but in some things stupid. -
She rang the bell Lay two places at
table" said she. Il expect Mr.. Ruther-
sord to dinner
Miss BrevoOrt lay back in her low chair
and shut her eyes Presently a tear slid
from beneath The lashes; il was she'd for
a unit, and a unit whom she had rejected
But then she had hoped he might Ultimate
" evolve into the ideal man.