Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-07-10

''But surely marriage without love
is the most dreadful lot of all. -
81 am not strong minded woman,
Helen" Monica said, holding out her
hands impotently, 'and I cannot argue.
I only know that matrinlony is the one
profession for which I am fitted, the
only channel into which my thoughts
have ever by education been turned.
Some man must support me, and l should
feel the obligation less keenly if that
man were my husband.
''But, Monica, it would never do l
know you better than you seem to know
yourself. You speak of 'toicration' when
you have it i'll you to love with depth
of passion of which not one woman in
ten thousand is capable y
''Do not know?" the younger wonl-
an said, raising her somber eyes swiftly.
''I know there is q scarcity for loving
in me that is tearing my heart to tat
ters. I know that could worship some
man well enough to walk barefooted
through world of snow with him, to
lie in the dust and let him trample upon
my neck, to give him all, all. But men
dom t want that sort Of love nowadays.
It is much better to tear the troublesome
heart out and be good lousekeeper to
Mr.. Hartley. He will be away from me
great deal during the days, in the
evenings after dinner while he sleeps in
his chair I can gaze across at his pros
porous purple face and think what for
tunate woman I am.
"It is useless my talking to you"
Mrs. Leyton said, with a shrug. .I
don't think I quite understand you,
Monica
ga telegram from Dick" Mrs. Ley
ton said little later. "Mr. Hartley
cannot come to dinner toni ght, and Dick
is bringing some one else-Mark Grover.
I am SO glad. have not seen Mark for
months. -
"Who is he?" Monica queried listless-
ly.
"Don't you know, or vas it before
you came to us? Why, Mark is the incest
fellow I know-a barristcr, q member
of parliament and Dick s greatest friend
He has been in South Africa since the
dissolution, and we have missed him
greatly, for he used to be cur most con-
slant visitor, and he is such good COM
pany. Oh, I'm awfully glad he's COM
ingP'
Evidently Monica said, with a
half laugh. 81 shall expect great things
of MI. Grover after this enthusiasm. -
"You are sure to like him." Helen
said emphatically. "And, oh, Monie!"
she ran on, almost dancing in her ex-
citement. 81 have it, now--such capi-
tai idea! You shall marry Mark. I am
SO glad thought of it. He is just the
kind Of man for yoh-handsome, intel
lectual, sympathetic. I am sure you will
fall head over ears in love with him di-
rectly. What possessed me to think Of
old Hartley for you with such splen-
did fellow as Mark to the fore!'
81 am sure I don't lnow," Miss
Newman said, laughing outright. II
wish I had faith enough in my charms
to believe your latest scheme feasible.
If she had no faith in her charms, she
was at some pains to heighten them that
evening before Mr.. Grover came. Helen
declared she had never seen her sister
look better than she did as she swept in
to the drawing room, with tie soft black
chiffon Of her dress bodice relieving the
creamy curves of her neck and arms and
the deep gold hair we'll waved about a
slightly flushed face.
81 know Mark will be enchanted"
Mrs. Leyton said. 81 am SO glad you
are not yet engaged to Mr.. Hartley"
Miss Newman smiled. Hope springs
eternal in the human breast, and she al
lowed herself to drift into thoughts of
slightly brighter future than Of late she
had dared to picture.
Mr.. Grover looked upon her with very
friendly eyes as they shook hands. At
one time OF another he had heard great
deal of Mrs. Leyton S sister, and he liked
those of the family he already knew
well enough to be favorably disposed to-
ward her. Monica was struck by his
face. 1t was not handsome exactly, but
it was keen and clever, with hazel eyes
that looked out ON life with the utmost
cheerfulness and friendly feeling. AS he
stood by the window chatting to her he
looked like a perpetual antidote to de-
spair, and the girl felt her spirits rising
Mrs. Leyton contrived that he and
Monica should spend much of the even
ing together, to the entire satisfaction
Of both parties, as it subsequently ap-
peared. Mr.. Grover was rather fond Of
hearing himself talk, and Miss New
man proved more satisfactory listener
than generally fell to his lot-in ST.
Stephen s, for example. He thought he
had never met girl of more excellent
ly discriminating qualities when in the
course of conversation it transpired that
she regarded him as one to whom the
empire would in future look for great
things She had followed his political
career with interest; she always made
point of reading every line of his speech
es. 1t was done so delicately that Mr..
Grover failed to perceive the art of it,
and, liking the valuation the girl set
upon him, did everything in his power
to confirm it Monica fancied she could
see an actual swelling Of his proportions
he poured recital of his doings into
her eager ear.
After dinner he made his way to her
with pleasure evident in his face that
set her blood dancing. She played while
he gave forth something of Tostl's to
the startled hit, snd then gold head
and bro1.r, fa cirsa -c-.Fr in the
n i { z .pG(tlllg-
ly pleasant g. i ng-one of the pleas
antest Mr.. Grover had ever spent, he
assured Monica at parting, with firm
pressure Ct extended fl.sers-one OF the
pleasantest Monica had ever spent, she
assured herself as she laid slightly te-
ver:sh cLcc,,,, against against her pillow.
They met often after this during the
June weather Every evening on which
he could possibly ear himself away from
the "house' tc.nd Mr. Grover at the
pretty suburban villa, and he took Mon
lea out great deal-to the tbeat0rs, to
Earl's Court, to Richmond and Kew
for long days on the river, where they
drifted on with the tide, watching the
green land laugh back to the golden sun,
the blue sky reflected in the ripping
water, looking sometimes into each 9TH
er's eyes as they smiled and talked.
It was all like lotus eaters dream
to Monica Newman. If there was any
crv in her heart in these days. it was