The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-07-30
Observation-Disclosures
! IN HONOR BOUND.
BY JENNY WREN.
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kAI II w NV mari IioAa AsSoA-
wv ly, that is rather an intricate
question with which to wrestle, and l
presume the only lucid answer / can
give You is that ] have not yet found
the woman to suit my perhaps fastidi-
GUS fancy. l would wish wife pure
and loving, as wives used to be, before
these later days, when society gives
them no time to devote to husband,
home or children. But come, let us take
stroll before dinner and choose more
appetising theme-not one so hopeless
In its results" and the speaker, Irving
Willis, a tall, handsome fellow of some
80 years, linked his arm with that of his
friend, and the two slowly sauntered
off the broad piazza to turn their faces
oceanward.
The bathers were enjoying their mid
day plunge, and as the young men APP
preached the beach they met, just
emerging from one Of the lighthouses,
clad in a suit of white flannel, young
girl. Even In this most trying costume
her beauty was striking, and elected an
exclamation of admiring wonder from
Irving Willis lips.
"She is lovely, is she not?" said Hal
Rutherford, as last breaking the SIS
lence, during which she had plunged
boldly mid the breakers. ''She is a Miss
Hayes, believe, and quite the reigning
belle this season. Perhaps you may
yield to charms SO potent, hotwithstand-
ing your inexorable determination to
the contrary"
''My dear fellow, you greatly mistake
me. I am not one of those who dream
he has but to lay his name and fortune
at girls feet to have her eagerly stoop
and grasp them. True, no woman has
ever frowned upon my suit, simply be-
cause have never carried it sufficiently
far into the enemy's quarters. l am
too well content with my present lot to
wish to change it."
well you may be, with clear In
come of $4,000 per annum; but some
how, old fellow, feel as though this
summer should lose my friend"
"Never that, Hail." said the other.
grasping his hand most cordially.
"Come, this idle spirit Of prophecy is
exhausting, and in this case you will
prove yourself so false soothsayer
that shall lose all faith in your future
predictions"
That evening Ethel Hayes, surround
ed as usual by those ready to obey her
slightest wish, saw approaching her
friend and chaperon, Mrs. Struthers,
leaning upon Irving Willis arm. A
moment later and she found herself
formally presented. Already she knew
him by name as one of the eligibles of
the season.
Just returned from abroad and heir
to large wealth, there were many de-
signing mammas ready to welcome this
lamb with the golden fleece to the kind
designs Of the maternal shearing, and
ne had naturally been spoken of to her
on the day Of his arrival.
Money and brainless, probably"
was her inward comment, such having
often been her sad experience; yet she
Is obliged to yield different verdict,
as, glancing up, she meets pair of
dark gray eyes bent upon her-eyes
which hold her in spite of herself, and
which cause her to rise and take his arm
in obedience to his quietly spoken re-
quest for stroll with her upon the
piazza.
Surprised, the little court around her
drew back and let them pass out into
the moonlit night. Then he speaks:
IT am very glad to know you, Miss
Hayes. am sure we have met before
somewhere, In some sphere far removed
from this. Can you not remember it ?"
Really, my memory is not ante
mundane in its backward researches,
and shall have to confess to forgetful-
ness, if you insist upon 1t as memory's
fault. What a lovely night"
Far too lovely to remain unenjoyed.
1 could not talk with you in that
| crowded ballroom. The air stifled me.
| Is this your first season, and how do
you enjoy it?"
"My first, my very first, SO your last
question is almost superfuous. All.
Mr.. Willis, am SO glad am not blase
as you are"
"Who has been so cruelty slandering
me? I trust never to be blase, Miss
Hayes. One tires, as you will soon dis
cover, of an endless routine Of society's
demands, but never of intercourse with
men and women who possess souls and
prize the possession"
"Listen to that charming waltz. Can
one listen without longing to be dane
ing in unison? By the way, here comes
Mr.. Campbell to claim me. I had al
most forgotten my engagement. Au
revoir," and, slipping her hand from his
arm, she took that of her escort, and in
another moment was in the whirl Of the
dance.
In the open doorway Irving Willis
stood and watched her with fascina-
ton he could not understand. It
seemed dissertation to see her waist en-
| circled by mans arm, yet what mat
tered 1t to him? and he turned away
for quiet stroll upon the beach.
What mattered it? Again and again
| during the weeks that followed did he
ask himself this question. What cared
he that her smile was as sweet, her voice
as caressing to others as to him?
| Whence came this sweet content,
whether on ride or drive, dance or walk,
SO long as she was his companion. this
morbid unrest when he knew another
occupied the place he sought? Had he,
whose little bark so long escaped the
shoals and rapids. been engulfed at
last?
Even so. Irving Willis. with all his
impregnability. had hopelessly lost his
heart to a young girl who had seen
scarce 1s years. In vain he fought
against 1t. in vain strove to loose the
bonds which held him. Tight and tight
er were they drawn around him. though
the hnnd which he'd them was all un-
conscious of its subtle strength But