New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-01

his first warning had proved fallaciOus Inc
Stearns boys and Ned. as well as MISS CoutH ai'u
Mrs. Cohn. soon came 10 be almost as Ia''iiiaI
with thc lines she was herself the! ustu ~
quote iheni-Clarke Ewing had an inOrdln~e
f,ndness for the epigram-on all kinds ~ opp3r-
tune occasions Mrs. COINS room became the
srene of many a rehearsal In which Evelyn was
commended and criticised and lectured by the
amateur critics
Her reading Of the part before Mrs. Webb never
took MAC. For several days she neither saw
mar received word from the novelist; but Mrs.
Appleby announced with significant lnnccu'h
that Mrs webb had been confined TO her Deo IoI
several days; she had heard IT through MtS;
Stevenson's servants Az rule Mrs AppeDy
was sceptical about Mrs. Webbs invadism; she
had theory that lot Of these rich people WIZ. l
nothing else t. do. just made themselves SIGN pS
thinking of nothing else but themselves since
Mrs Webb's sudden advent at Appleby Terrace
however. she had fallen into the habit. whenever
that lady's name was mentioned, Of touching ana
nodding her head suggestlvely; she was almost
Gallo In the frequency and skill Of her gestures.
The day after Mrs Appleby's announcement;
Mr.. Webb called at the cottage. He apooglzed
for not having come or sent word before. Mrs.
Webb has been very Ill.," he said. We've been
quite alarmed; indeed. are still. Yes. rs the
effect If her exposure and excitement that after
noon. She's always going back TO it; 1t gems to
prey on her mind
Evelyn asked II the girls were stu with her
"No we sent them home several days ago. They
they made her nervous.
Indeed. thought she was very fond OF them.
"She is. But there times when she can't
bear any one around her-exccpt possibly my
self and even my presence disturbs her little.
Her case is very peculiar. She has always been
nervous" He looked hard at Mrs. Appebys
porcelain cabinet In the corner. He seemed to be
thinking Of something unpleasant something mat
caused him pain. Il suppose we ought to be
very patient with these nervous sufferers, he
added after what seemed to Evelyn long
silence.
Yes, they innict such-such suffering on them
selves"
Exactly My wife has tortured herself for
years. She has very strange fancies sometimes
such inconsistent ones. too. How inconsistent
people are I've often thought 1t would really be
quite impossible to put human being just as he
Is. into a novel. People would think the char
acter was unnatural and the critics would say it
hadn't been held together"
That Is true" Evelyn assented.
Now. Mrs. Webb is such a bundle Of incon-
sistencies. one day she likes this: next day she
hates it, Then she believes and disbelieves-al
most In a breath. II quite bewilders me- at
times He spoke In quick nervous manner
She wondered If he were leading up to something
ITS her illness. don't you think so?' she
asked
Yes, presume it is suppose all women
aren't SO"
I'm sure they're not" she laughed.
''She suffers very much from her inconsistent
cies he went on. as If 1t were a relief o. him 10
talk about his wife shes always regrettng
things that she's done She's little quick-tem-
pered, you know; her illness has made her So
And sometimes she says things she doesn't mean.
She's lost great many friends that way"
1 KNOW Sne tOil me.
"Ah. ala she tell you? She has been talking
about II a great deal lately. wishing that some
of her old friends could come back. Several q
them are dead now" He paused for moment
then he went on "Do you know she has an idea
that she has offended you and that you-you
think IN Of her"
"Oh. 10. no. cried Evelyn: she is quite mis-
taken
Il told her s.. felt sure Of 1t. That Is why
why spoke Of IT, / knew You wouldn't take
offence at a few hasty words said under excite
ment"
Il had forgotten them completely"
Thank you. I'll tell her that"
Evelyn could not understand the impulse but
something obliged her to say suddenly: Il should
Ike very much 70 g. - see her. % you think
she would care 10 see ne?"
Il she would She would be glad
I intended - ask you--but"-
When may | cOme-io-morrOw?
Yes. tomorrow would 30 very well-to-mor-
row afternoon. And have You received your
part?' he asked. as II ne were anxious 20 change
the subject Il have told her all about IT, She's
very much Interested She would Ike to hear n;
perhaps when she's better v0ul rad IL over for
her. Sh" rallies wonderfully. You know. Per
haps tomorrow she viii be- sitting up. We
never can tell
When he left. Evelyn went up q her room
His call had produced curious effect on her
Of coming evil that she tried T. shake of His
manner had been very unusual-a mixture Of
preuccupafiOn and nervousness. ne had not even
asked FOR Mrs Cohn. Mrs Webb's Illness she
f"lt sure. was far more serious than IL had been
and as She dressed for dinner she wondered Uha Z
might be In store for her the next day A. the
house On the hill.