Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-12-31

home.
Constance was jaded by her fort
nights travel, and dispirlted almost be-
yond her power of concealment, but she
had learned already that her lord dis
liked to have whatever observation he
was pleased to make go unanswered.
She Is your housekeeper, suppose?"
she replied, languidly.
"No-that is-she does not occupy the
position Of salaried inferior in my
establishment. must surely have
spoken to you of my cousin, Harriet
Field"
Not that I recollect I am sure that
l never heard the name until now"
"Her mother" continued Mr.. With
ers, in a pompous narrative tone, was
my fathers sister. Left a widow ten
years prior to her decease, she accept
ed my invitation to take charge of my
house. She brought with her only
child, the Harriet Of whom l speak, and
the two remained with me until our
family group was broken in upon by
death. Harriet would then have
sought a situation as governess but
for my objections. She is a woman of
thirty-tive, or thereabouts, and I pre-
vailed over her scruples touching the
propriety OF her continued residence
under my roof, by representing that
her mature age, even more than our
relationship, placed her beyond the
reach of scandal. For eighteen months
she has superintendent my domestic af-
fairs to my entire satisfaction. That l
have not alluded directly to her before
during our mountaineering is only to
be accounted for by the circumstance
that we have had so many other and
more engrossing topics of conversa-
ton" He raised her gloved hand to his
lips in stiff gallantry, and Constance
smiled constrainedly in reply.
His endearments, albeit he was less
profuse Of them than younger and
more ardent bridegroom would have
been, were yet frequent enough to keep
his wife in unfailing remembrance Of
his claims and her duties. He was, ap-
parently, content with her passive sub
mission to these, seemed to see in her
forced complaisance evidence of her
pleasure in their reception. He was too
sedate, as we'll as too gentlemanly, to
be openly conceited, but his apprecia-
ton Of his own Importance in society
and in business circles was too pro-
found to admit doubt of the supreme
bliss Of the woman he had selected to
share his elevated position. Without
being puppyish, he was pragmatical;
without being ill-tempered, he was te-
nacious in the extreme of his dignity
and the respect he considered due to
this. Had her mood been lighter Con-
stance would have been tempted to
smile at the allusion to his Cousins age,
his own exceeding it by three years, as
she had accidentally learned through
the indiscretion of common acquaint-
ance. He was sensitive upon this point
she had likewise been informed. She
had yet to discover upon how many
others.
Most young wives would not have
relished the idea of finding this inval-
liable relative installed as prime man
ager in her new abode. It mattered lit
tie to her, Constance said, still languid-
ly, who ruled and who obeyed. She
had given up so much within three
months past that resignation had be-
come a habit; sacrifice was no longer
an effort. Having nothing to hope for,
she could sustain no further loss. How
long this nightmare Of apathy would
continue was a question that did not
present itself in her gray musings.
Having once conquered Nature, and
held inclination under the heel Of Re-
solve, until life seemed extinct, she an
ticipated no resurrection. She did not
know that no single battle, however
long and bloody, constitutes a cam
paign; that length Of days and many
sorrows are needed to rob youth of
elasticity; that the guest who fingers
longest in the human heart, clinging
to the shattered shelter from which all
other joys have flown, is Hope. II is
doubtful If she thought with any dis
tinctness at this period. She was GER
tainly less actively miserable than in
that which Immediately preceded her
engagement. That was amputation;
this, reactionary WEAKNESS. How she