Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-04-19
time that Mrs. Cabling has lent herself


rinyham's tears ceased to flow, and her
confused thoughts began to become more
collected. Perhaps it was not true 1t
could lot be true. How improbable that
Ralph should forget himself 80 far;
Raj ph, who had always shown decidedly
aristocratic views and tastes
AS hope revived, her indignation rose
again; but now it was directed more
against the gossips who filled the draw
ing-rooms of her set with idle and Sian
derous tales than against her son. 1t
was not long until she had persuaded
herself that the rumOr was untrue. But
she was resolved to sift II to the bottom
and to ask Ralph hims II.
"Be kind enough, Hattie" she SAID 10
the girl, who was still kneeling by Eer
side, "to ring for the servant"
Hattie rose to obey. In the meantime
Mrs. Warringham brushed the last
traces of tears from her face, assumed
an upright position, and when the young
lady returned was again the naughty,
cod and dignifed woman she was in
ordinary life.
The footman noiselessiy appeared at
the door. He was a splendid specimen
of his kind-Engish from the top of his
head to the soIes of his feet, well trained,
without a muscle moving in his rlgld
face, without hair awry in his caro-
fully trimmed whiskers.
"Be pleased to sec whether Dr. War
ringham is at home, and tell him |
would like to see him." she said. Not
vibration of her voice indicated the
strong emotions under which she was
laboring.
The footman left the room as noise
lessly as he had entered. A few minutes
after Hattie Beckford also retired. She
had an incxpreSsble desire to be a'one-
to think in the privacy of her chamber
over the terrible blow that had fallen
on her. and to allow her tears to flow
freely whore no profane eye could OBJ
serve her pain
Mrs Warrngham remained alone.
The mask of cold unconcern she had
worn in the presence of the servant, and
for n moment unwllingly cast off be-
fore her niece could no longer be
sustained. Her tears had ceased to flow
but grief and anger traced deep lines
uron her features and almost COntOrted
them into the face of Medusa. He who
could have seen her in these minutes OF
lonesOmeness. as she reclined on the
cushions OF her chair, her eyes fixed
upon space, her fingers nervously play
ing with her watch chain, would have
been appalled, at the change that had
come over her.
Mrs. Warringham was nearly a. years
cid. but she still rcta ned great comeli'
ness of appearance and even a certain
vouthfulneSs of feature. Her dark
brown hair. crowning her head with Il
profusion that re ,dcd no artificial as
sistance, did not yet show the slightest
admixture of gray. There were no
wrinkles to ruffe the smoothness of her
skin, and her complexion, which had
never known the ravageS Of artificial
co metics, was as fresh as that of
anv maiden. Her figure lad the
fulIness of maturity, but without un-
necessary ,ms onpoint. With an in
describable, graceful, and aristocratic
dignity idealizing, as it were, her
whole appearance, she might have stood
the model for any artist whose chiso was
TO create the statue of Juno. Such she
apreared ordinarily, but at this moment
n strange shadow surrounded her eyes
and deep lines of care furrowed her
brow. She appeared twenty years oder
than usual.
Could it be possible, after all, that
Ralph would seriously think OF marry
ing such a woman? Mrs. Warringham
was the daugh er of one of those old
families that were of note already dur
ing the colonial period, and of whom
only very few remain today Their
ancestral pride constitutes strange
anomaly among the democratic sur
roundings of the present day, but it
is perhaps 50 much stronger for
that very reason. Mrs. War; ngham
her late husband, although he could not
boast of such illustriOas descent as his
wife, vet was a gentleman of excellent
connections and ample fortune. All her
life she had moved only in the most cx-
elusive circles of society, and it was sim
ply impossib for her 10 conceive OF such
a person as an actress as her equal.
More or less consciously she had always
entertained a sentiment that people who
worked for living, and especially women
who did so, were a class of creatures with
whom she had nothing in common. And
now she was to be asked to receive q
Derson Of that class into her house as her
daughter 1t was into'erabe.
She thought of the sneering smile OF
Mrs. Cabling when that lady asked her
whether she might congratulate her on
her sons engagement.
"Pray, and to whom is my son engag-
hnr vii hal
amused, half annoyel at the insinuat on
contained in the question. or course
she expected to hear the name OF one of
the many society bellies who, she knew
well, were casting longing eyes on the
handsome, clever, and wealthy young
doctor.
She was thunderstruck when Mrs.
Cabling replied, with that same sneer-
ing smile on her lips:
"Why, is it not true, then, that Dr.
Warringham is gong TO marry Miss
Lucy Lyon, the celebrated actress?
Everybody was talking about it at Mrs.
Corvdon's reception last night"
Everybody m ght have had something
better to talk about" Mrs Warrlngham
said, with forced laugh. She would
not for the world let her friend see how
the news affected her. "0f course there
is not syllable of truth in the report. "
"Oh, | am discretion itself. | under
stand, it is to be kept a secret for while
yeti"
With this parting shot, AMI an atfec-
tionate embrace, Mr.. Cabin had taken
her leave, no doubt, in order to dissent
nate the pilua little scandal among as
many of her acQuaintanceS as she could
visit in the course of day.
This painful scene REQUIRED viyldly 10
Mrs. Warr,ngham's mind as she sat