New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11

she ought to reply TO Horace. or. by silence. give
him permission call Thursday. If she
wrote she must mention the marriage. IL she re-
Trained from writing. was 1t not a form III decelt
On arriving at his parents house Horace WOULD
hear at once the scandal Of the little town. ana
most likely ne would wish for time to think the
matter over Yes, she must write; ana she diu
so In these terms:
Very suddenly and to me unexpectedly. my
father has taken a second Wife 1 think it would
perhaps be better if you did not call here quite 40
as next Thursday
The letter posted. she went back ana smut hei'
self UP and cried.
on Thursday. in the afternoon. she could not
keep still. Bad nights and ceaseless eIorts III
self-subdual had already undonc nuch OF the el
feet Of her happy holiday: there was look oi
worry in her eyes and her cheeks began TO lose
their color. Finding the house intoleraoie, she
went into the garden behind, and here at about
o'clock. Mrs Kirby came to say that gentleman
wished to see her-Mr. Easton
HAS he come in?' ,
room"
Very well. I'll go"
She entered the room with a heart beating so
painfully that her breath all but faileu ana hel
eyes dazzed. Horace Easton, hat and SUCK IN
Kate could not observe 1t. was In troupious
state OF mind. which made his behavior awR-
ward They shook hands, sat down uncomiorta-
bly, exchanged a few remarks about they Khe"
not what; then came terrible silence.
Il hope you will forgive me-" the young man
voice sounded at length. "for coming when you
expressly tOld me not 10 Itdi! iS' "'"o~~
see YOU If II were possible.
He looked at her intenty. with eyes OF emo
ton. Meeting them for an instant kate iei' mel
heart leap. and longed for the next WORDS one
could not utter a syllable.
Il want TO ask you the same queslioh aS "'
Morecambe.''
AS though barrier were broken. his speech
flowed with sudden copiousness. Horace coulo
sneak we'll and his voice lent itself to an ardent
sincerity He grew red: his hands shook; no giri
in Rates position could have doubted the truth
Of the feeling he uttered so eloquently. Ana per
haps girl. in common circumstances ever SUI
fered A more severe temptation. but When ne
ceased she looked up him, and said rather ao-
ruptly:
Have you spoken Of this to your father and
mother?"
on" he laughed. Il am old enough to act Tor
myself"
to know. Have you spoken to them"
Agitation made her voice sound particularly
downright. And her eyes almost glared az ms;
Yes. have" replied Eas.on. moving uneasi,y
"It's better 10 be honest What made me ike
YOU first Of all was your frank. stralgh'tor ware
way of talking: and had better Initiate you
My parents haven't quite the same opinions as
have: we differ about good many things That
natural enough: they belong to an oder scho"i
Well. have heard from them about Mr.. kirpy
marriage | don't regard II as they DO. IL mas
nothing whatever to do with--with you and me.
/ can't see that IT should come up for discussion
at ALL IL altogether refuse to think about H.
He grew nervous and involved. and spoke as
though arguing a point with some opponent who
irritated him. Kate. who lost not an intonation'
not "A movement OF his features. drew oeeP
breath as he ceased. .
IL can give you no answer to-day, Mr.. Easton."
He protested. fervently. vehemently. Why
why should she consider for a moment MS par
ents' pre1udices?
1T isn't that altogether"
"Ah, but I feel il is"
NO not only that. am not sure OF myself. /
saw neither Please let me- have time
. She stood up moving as though the constrains
Of her position had become unendurable. lie
did likewise. and endeav ored to take her hand
bu. Kate drew II back. as IL offended She was
no longer quite mistress OF herself; her throat
swellcd, the skin below her eyes grew hot and
red, hystercal impulses made her dread to pro-
long the conversation.
You will come agan-perhaps. But perhaps
| II would he better If you didn't"
Very reluctantly Easton accepted his dismis-
sal. When he was gone. Kate stood Tor some
moments gazing toward the door.
Presently. in crossing the hall. she met Mr'
Kirby and spoke To her in a low voice cody
but respectfully;
please not to mention to father that Mr.. East
on called
And she passed on. up to the room which alone
knew her hours % weakness.
Between ) and q O'Clock Isaac Kirby came
home He was IN n towering rage. Some candid
| friend Of HIS had passed the permissible limits IN
facetious remarks on recent occurrence. and
Isaac had scarce withheld himself from assault
and battery. Kate. still struggling with her
wretchedness. heard his voice roaring wrathfully
below and opened her door 10 listen. unable to
relieve his feelings otherwise her father had
seized for excuse Some trivial fault OF n servant.
and made every one in the house trcmblc Mrs
Kirby fed before him. and Kate found her in
tears on the bedroom landing.
"You won't have 10 mind that sort OF thing"
said the girl. she might have spoken to "a fool
lsh child Indeed. she herself felt n great desire
to pick auarrels to rage and reviie. Her eyes
were bloodshot: she had bitten her liz. raw.
Her father was shouting FOR her She went
down. and followed him into his room Of which
he slammed the door so violently that a picture
crashed down from the wall.
"Hark to me. Kate. You'll have nothing to do
with Mrs Illingworth and her brats. You'll pass
them by as II you didn't know them
because 7 tell you" roarcd Isaac.
That's not reason enough. and shall do noti-
| ing OF the kind"
Their eyes met; Kirby's on fire with fury
| Katc's ageam IN resOute defiance. As he stared
at her. he saw the blood on her lip.
Whats that? what's wrong with YOU
Nothing. But as were here. We may as well
have a little more talk II you're going to come
| home like this every time you find out that pco-
! pie are Laughing at you. shall have a pleasant
| life Any one could have told you how 1t would
| be- Sooner than face this kind OF thing. I shall
leave home. And don't envy your wife. The
next thing you'll be turning on her, as ~ she
were Ia blame"
Tina can be on as soon tina likes. Kate"
| said Kirby. the change To dialect cvincing as
always with him. an Improvement OF temper
| 'Tha can take what brass tina wants and go
where il suits tina"
81 dare say ] can. and leave nice state Of
things behind me. choose to stay, az long as
| ] can do anything. It's no use behaving like n
madman. father You'll have 10 let people talk
as they please, till they're tired Of talking. and
dare saw that won't be 50 long. il YOU behave rea-
eonably I'm doing my best for you. | go about
lust as II nothing had happened. and keep a
| pleasant face. It's none easy. tell you"
Kirby stood with head down. grinding his
! teeth When Kate had spoken more In the same
! strain he put question without violence.
"Dosta think the women II take to herr"
ITS rather late 10 ask that. IN doing my
host ! tell you. I've got a promise from Mrs.
! Uarrop to call with Lizzie. In a day or two.
| And In, going to try and teach her how to be
have She's willing to be taught. and that's
| something"
What's wrong with her behavior" growled
|