Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-06-04
CHAPTER III.

"This frame seems to have been made
for our purpose, Grace. And Mrs. Lee
conte arranged in order Gertrude with
her two girls and Frances with her two
boys. 1t seems only a few months in
stead of SIX years since the wedding
day.
"They have good husbands and happy
homes l only wish their father" -
This was So unusual that Grace looked
at her mother. and Mrs. Leconte checked
herself. You are going down to the
rectory, hope, next week. Gertrude is
always anxious to have you, and August
in London is very trying"
Certainly, but on one condition,
mother-that you go too. 1t would be
such joy to Gcrty, and you must have
some change.
perhaps l will a little later, but
never leave London in August. l have
always been very strong, and like "a
quiet time then.
"Mother," and Mrs. Leconte turned
lt the passion in her daughters voice,
"why will you not allow any OF us to
share your remem branCe and your grief
We know why you shut yourself up
alone in August, and now, when there
are Just you and l, it hurts me that l
may not be with you, if it were only
to prayer weep. Would it not be some
help?" And Grace took her mothers
hand, very rare caress.
You are often in my thoughts,
Grace, " after long silence, land am
concerned about you, for you have aged
beyond your years. Are you well?'
"What a question, mater You know
| that have the health of a donkey-save
a headache now and then that gives me
an interesting pallor You forget that
| I'm getting to be an old maid-nearly
80. "
lis it really that mean, do you not
feel lonely? 1t is a contract, and wom-
an heart was made to love, but if it be
so do mott cam explain myself-there
are many in this world to love, and at
any rate you will never know the sense
of loss y
THAT is the postmans ring" And
| Grace made for the door. Perhaps
Frances will have written from Loeb
Awe. We need some highland air. "
There was only one letter, but it was
not lightly brought up stairs, and after
Grace had given it to her mother she
went over to her favorite seat at the
window, where she could see the patch
of green that now had lost its freshness
in the city heat.
81 know that hand. It's-of course
from Mrs Palgrave, George Lennox'E
aunt What can she Dear me, this il
very sad. "
Are you there, Grace2 Did you know
George Lennox was so ill?"
Frances told me that he had over
worked himself " And Grace's voice
was so quiet that any one except Mrs
Leconte would have suspected some
thing.
"Overworked, poor fellow 1t is fal
worse than that. His aunt writes:
"'George used to go a great deal Il
your house i'll the old days, and l an
sure you will be sorry to receive the baC
news of this morning. l heard he wa
lying i'll in his rooms and insisted ON hi
coming to HaslemOre to be nursed. Fo
years past he has been looking pinchet
and sad In spite of all my husband salt
to him he would take no pleasure ant
seemed to have no rest except in work
We We're Mortified at his appearance h
was worn to IA shadow and his hal
turned quite gray We did our bes
to cheer him, but it would have mad
you weep to see him smile. Our docto
said it was an entire breakdown, an
that he feared the worst. His nervou
! system was in such state that when b
/ saw your photograph or Grace's- fol
, get which-he burst into tears. Tha
night he announced his intention Of &C
ing back to his chambers, and no pei
suasion could keep him. He left us o
! Thursday, and on Sunday morning b
was found dead in his chair But tn
expression was one of sleep. 1t is
lamentable tragedy, for if George ha
only married and had some. one to cal
for him he might have been alive an
= we'll today Her kind regards, and /
on. What a fine fellow" said Mrs. L.
conte He was in every way so hanC
. some, we'll bred and ablei Did it eve
occur to you, Grace, that George Lei
J nox had fancy for Franoes?"
mo, mother; never" said Grac
} hardly knowing the sound Of her voic
Every likely am wrong, for ha'
, not been quick to notice those things
some mothers are, but remember tn
| he never came again to the house aft
: the marriage except once to make
} formal call, and missed him.
Dying all alone, with no woman
} hold his hand or say word of love, I
whose sake any woman might well ha
4 left all But you may be right, he d
not want to marry.
Grace made no sign and shed no tef
but she pressed to her lips a handful
rose leaves, dry and withered, and t
shadow heightened on the street alo
which she had seen him go for the Ii
time.