Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-04-17
brief madness came ana the uenouenent
of &c


surely wherein man might take his
ease, for the building had formerly shell
tered peaceful. sisterhood. The bed
rooms were vaulted, the floors were Of
stone, and all the doors opened on to a
broad, cloisterlike gallery At the end
of this winding gallery was an immense
loggia, which looked on the piazza and
the Cathedral pilgrimage church
whittier On great festivals the faithful
were gathered together from all the sur
rounding villages
Perhaps it was the SOLDERING influences
of the gray old building, or the conven-
tual air Of the place, or the asceticism
which breathed from those cell-like bed
rooms, but certainly on that third even
ing OF our sojourn there the girls man.
ner had changed Betty's beautiful face
was sad and clouded, and Kittie's gay
ETY. had vanished. After dinner she
pleaded q. headache and went to her
room, and Betty looked troubled as she
left us, but did not offer to follow.
suggested stroll in the convent gar
den, whence came the click of the
bowls, for that old world game was al
ways in full swing after the day s work
was over. The garden, being large,
served as an open air club to the towns
people. Betty agreed, and we were soon
in the cool, high walled pleasance-a
quiet spot, where all we heard of the
players was the click of the ball and the
distant sound of laughter and talk.
The sun had set, and a cool breeze
was whispering among the broad leaves
of the fig trees. In the grass the drone
of the grasshopper made sleepy MUIR
mur. Betty was curiously silent, trif1e
embarrassed in manner, and somehow
this unwonted shyness and taciturnity
gave me confidence in myself. talked
to her about many things, as if were
entitled to her sympathy, told her of my
struggles, Of my ambitions, of my hopes
talked as a man rarely talks save to
the woman he loves and hopes to win
for his wife.
Somehow or other-made bold, !
think, by tender softening of her face
when I spoke about the hardness of the
struggle for fame when the struggle is
made single handed-I blurted out my
secret. | loved her, and life would be a
desert without her love.
Then in the gray twilight saw a
white, astonished face and two large
frightened eyes look at me almost in
horror.
''Mr Aslehurst," she painted, ''you
are surely mad 1t is not you love. 1t
is''- she stopped and bit her lips.
Good heavensl 1t was the old co1npli-
cation. read her unspoken thought in
a flash. She believed it was Kittie 1
loved; that it was for Kittie's sake that
l had dangled at their heels all this time.
was about to protest that it was she
Betty, and she only that | loved
when she resumed, in calm, self pos
sessed tone:
"You-mnst forget that you have ever
spoken so to me, Mr.. Aslehurst; that you
have ever thought of me-in that way
for | am married already. My hus-
band is coming to join us at Pontre
sina
l stared at her incredulously for q
moment.
but. Miss Blount"-
Il was Miss Blount once am Mrs.
Field now. Perhaps you know my hus-
band. He is barrister too. He could
not get away sooner, because he had
some important case to work up, +" she
went on rapidly st is all Kittie Mori-
son's 'sfault-this-th dreadful mistake.
Kittie was my greatest chum before |
married last year. She was very angry
with me for marrying, and she persuad
ed me, Just for the sake of old times.
when we used to come abroad together
for walking tours, to be Miss Blount
again. 1t was she who wrote the name
in the hotel book at Bormio, and when
you called me Miss Blount Kittie was
delighted and insisted on keeping up
the joke. u
''That was little rough on me, /
said in crestfallen way. The comioal
side of the situation was apparent to
me, and for the moment | forgot the
pangs of despised love.
I'VE did not mean any harm," she
murmured hulnbly. "We used to have
such splendid times together when we
toured about. Kittie and l. When /
heard you call me Miss Blount, | almost
forgot that had q husband in London.
"Poor Fieldl He would not be fat
tered.
"You know my husband?''
"Slightly. We meet pretty often in
hail." l answered dryly.
"Oh, Mr.. Aslehurst, what must you
think of me? But do love Edward,
and IL shall be SO happy to see him at
Pontresina. We are model couple, and
ever so contented. IL thought that
you admired Kittie Morrison. She is
such dear, good girl. She has always
been very independent and high spirit
ed, butt Again she stamped, and
read in Mrs. Fields beautiful face the
gist Of q little romance that had no
doubt been simmering in her brain ever
since our meeting in the rain swept pass
of Stelvio.
Alas, how easily things go wrongl
had fallen in love with the wife instead
of with the maid. thanks to Miss Kittie
Morison's little freak. Betty-I must
call her by the name have called her
always in my houghts-Betty had al
lowed the freak to be indulged. and l
was broken hearted man-for fully 36
hours. But l could not in mere civility
leave the two forlorn women to trudge
together to Pontresina, especially now
that l knew one of them was the wife
of brother barrister. By the time we
reached CUR Alpine Mecca we were the
best Of friends again. Field turned up
day or two later, and l staid on. for
we all found four pleasanter number
than three in our mountain expeditions,
and really, Kittie Morison-she has an
other name now-was and is p very
pretty girl, and she is certainly much
less independent than when first made
her acquaintance. Strand Magazine.
Lost the Prize.
nbo lo+a Io,,oao Crocc1ov q rOfad