New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-28

herself far enough before she would have taken
all the trouble she did To jog on limping love
| affair
And why it should limp was the puzz.e.
There was no obstacle Not only did Nina IN
private profess herself sensible of Mr.. Redwood's
! worth and attractions but she had regained
those curious fluctuations Of mood those unac-
countah. changes of color. those banning
| mysterious turns of high and low spirits when
had once pcrpleXed and disturbed Penelope.
| Pcne0pe thought she understood them now
| Obviously her cousin would always be odd and
! capricOus when her heart was engaged. II was
| now engaged with Redwood, so much the better.
As for Redwood. he was "A slow man, DIS
| tractingly slow man. Probably he had not the
wit to perceive that in spite OF the Carnousue
! formaty and rcticencc he would be more than
welcome in the light Of suitor. and was con-
| tent To- bide his time and weave "A long. deco
rous wcarsome courtship.
"Oh. the blindness of some people. stormed
| the mprcura! Penelope. What earth is the
| man waiting for? He will wear us all out. Here
we wei into september and nothing done:
! We meet every day-0r almost every day; l
hound them on-they can do nothing for them
selves. / have all the work to do, no one else
stirs hand or foot: they sit there Ike 50 many
woody faced sheep. leaving IL all TO me to dodge
| and crcumvcnt and arrange; then at night Nina
| comes to my room fun Of smiles and gratitude.
and saying am so good 10 her. and that she Is
| SO happy / have saved this poor girl from "A
! horrd fate. look ~ IL i'm any way YOU please,
either she would have gone of with this Torquil
! face which, upon my word would sooner have
! been the shepherds wife. But | don't somehow
! feel satisfied. don't feel pleased with myself; !
don't Ike 70 see Nina come in smiling ana blush
ing II seems too soon-and she too heartless.
| Only month agO-nOt Il mOnth-she was
meeting Torquil in the glen: ne all in all; she
| was quit absorbed IN that dctestabc love affair
| and now, now she has the same sort Of feelings
! for edwood'
Then Penclope's ruminations would take new
| turn.
And where should be- II she had not the same
feelings for Redwood? In a nice mess. Red
wood | know. is thinking Of hcr: 1t Is Of no use
my-and anyway don't want him; no. don
don't want any one who does not care Tor me
before-I never did. never did want Redwood. !
! only liked nina little And that was wnen
thought he liked ma little. Now, all desire
is that he should become engaged To my cousin
quickly and that the whole matter should be
settled and every one understand the other.
1T Is such a comfort 10 IN" TO have YOU 10 con-
hde in. Penelope"
one day soon after this Nina came brightly in
and found Penelope alone in the room
40 one else ever AXIS M a question. or seems
T. think anything is going on. but you know all
about IT, dear Indeed can never forget that II
was YOU who first gave me- IA" hint that-that
Mr. Rcdwold-you know tenderly putting hcr
hand upon Pcnelopo's arm as sh" spoke.
Has he proposed TO YOU" The demand
sounded abrupt and Penelope moved as though
10 escape the proff,red carcss.
"Not exactly. He may. however any day
don't You think? lie Is all that Is KIND. we
had quite q long walk together this afternoon; !
came i'm 10 toll you about it We mot al the
pla rher's cottage. on the lower moor. where
had been visiting poor Nancy-she Is not to
peach ana MI Redwood was passing as
CHANGED t. come out
on. indeed The railying tone was rather
forced bur the narrator unhe"dnF' proceeded
lie ask~i if I were alone. and as was said
H. would escort n" homo. think. Penelope he
was pleased 90 find No alone"
"Rut what wcrc you doing there alone? You
ana Joanna were going oui together. Aisle
asked mo about You. AMI said you were going
ont with Joanna. You know. Nina. you prom
"wha, does IT matter. Penelope? He is not on
The. island YOU know. He LEFT directly YOU told
him And Il was on his account that ! had
10 promise"
Never mind. Get on It is all right. suppose.
bur why should you say YOU were going out with
Joanna whom YOU could So easily hav" told me
he truth"
Il hay, got into 4 way Of being afraid" said
Nina looking down.
You ned not be- afraid with me You thought
You Nigh, IAN in with Nh Redwood suppose.
"Y,s yes" The speakers breath came ana
well" dryly you know ! should not object
70 hat what then"
"oh nothing dear Penelope. r was a silly
Qualm. ! iii not want anybody 20 Know was
anxious TO be- alone and Joanna might have
wondered had asked her to leave mo.
she was not with YOU AT all. them IN some
* NJ. We went round the garden together
and Joanna said il was cold and went i'm. Then
| went on 10 the moor 10y myself
You appear - find the moor convenient
place" Penelope longed - say something cut
ing tauntlng. sarcastic. she knew not what.
Whv could not Nina be- content t. take Red
wood "a provided by her cousin? She. Penelope
had engaged 10 puryey this lover and felt her
self responsible for him She could nor hay"
such unm'thodica unrecoenized deviation from
ia. path she had laid down
Nina taking upon herself 10 conduct meeting
whereof Penelope was only told when II had D"en
successfully carried out. forsooth'
Prnoloprs blood boiled within her She felt
as If her authority had been set AT nought. and
her intervention were 10 longer needed
II must say you get on fast she observed
bitterly. You don't let III" grass grow under
your foot. Now. Nina with continued asperity.
'you must Just pleas" 10 understand this-there
f. 10 be- no undorhandc dness I'm this affair When
4 man Nk. Mr. Redwood is in tn" question
there can be- no need for deceiving and blind
folding | don't k' what you did to-day and
won't have it,
\ faint CLEAN stole into the others eyes Il
might have meant anything or nothing. Pencil
ope not looking her way, did not perceive IT,
Fl say I won't have IT," she repeated. I'm mas
tcrful accents. you might be- content with what
/ am doing for you-I am doing all can-and
not begin with your old tricks that have got YOU
into trouble enough already. Do. for Heavens
sake. be- honest now If YOU never were In your
III. befor." and she threw herself into fresh
attitude with gesture Of impailonce
II really cannot So" what | have done To de- /
sorvc this" said Nina. goadcd to sullenness. for
which. indeed. there was some excuse in the tone
of the other. penelope, YOU say such things |
And YOU might remember that hay" som" feel
ings"
caught herself up with a snort Of disdain. We'll.
we'll dare say you have. as You say some feel |
ingr'" she sncered. But. feelings or not. LET |
IL understand each other. You know that Mr.. !
Redwood my idea. You had got into a
scrape. and wanted to HELM YOU out Of 1t. Ac- |
cordngly invented Mr.. Redwood"
"lnVcntcdP'
You know what | mean" imperiously. IL !
found him out: put him into your head. and told |
YOU all about him. and how we'll II would do. and |
and everything You would never haye
thought Of IL for yourself. | am sure the trouble |
il has been To me-" and she sighed.
Trouble" Nina looked AT her cousin curl |
ously.
1T has been like great weight upon my |
mind: n person can't engage In an undertaking |
Of this kind without thinking and thinking. and |
Worrying over II. I am sure il has never been !