The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-09-25
As
Feminine
IMPULSE

existence or MISS D0i OtHy Maxwell were
divided into two sections. There wece
those who considered her life most enviabe;
reprehensible. But as Dorothy herself was
ignorant alike Of envy or condemnation
she continued to live in the charming aud
admirably appointed Georgian house in
Kensneton, and in 4 pleasant envi'on-
ment created by lavish but intelligent eX-
penditure on the part of the Marquis of
BewlavOn. For some years she had been
mistress of Belper Lodge, yet her life was
extremely dull. Lord Rewdavon was "a
busy man both socially and politically, and
close friend of his father, the aged Duke
Of Strathwayte a circumstance so singular
that it was constant source of comment
among his contempOra' les. Consequently,
don for weeks together, either filling polit-
ical or social engagements, or staying with
his father, who never left the country, and
as Dorothy had no friends and no COM
panions save the faded widow of military
officer whom Bewdayon had engaged as her
chaperon to actompa y her to the play
when he was otherwise engaged, the com
fort and pleasure of her life were married
by its loneliness.
Dorothy had an overwhelming respect
for Lord Bewdavon. but she did not love
him, and this in the earlier days of her
conquest had given her sin Il blacker tnge
in her own eyes. A native cleverness,
added to acute feminine perception, had
shown her that Bewdavon had none of the
characteristics of the average man who
enters lightly upon irregular unions.
Morally, perhaps, he was neither better
nor worse; mentally he was incomparably
superior. Mere beauty and platitudts
wearied him, and when Dol otb7 discovered
the gulf that lay between their intelli-
gences she set herself diligently to bridge
it over. Bewdavon's devotion to politics a
devotion he had inherited from a long line Ct
ancestors-gave Dorothy her opportunity,
and during his many absences string Of
masters occupied her days, hard study hel
solitary evenings. One day, by the meres
chance, Bewdavon stumbled upon pile o.
books dealing with abstruse questions
with history, philosophy and politica
economy, their margins covered with note.
ia Dolotny's neat handwriting-a nanu
writing that bore evidence of the class from
which she had sprung.
GLOW this woman loves mer' he said tt
hin self, his eyes 'owipg dim as lie turned
owe NpluTe af.sr sol, re Al rh"r 100
Ii n /, L.nf { 60 e. I've y, g.. see
the bJo. = eve: a'ouHd H.n, hest
tai | have rcve. I. l,i led into YOU
s. pCtum h,fo p lie sd po'r,' '9 to IN,
n.a1' es re ,c?s OF her plo|"iry. 81 sin
C: civ wish had, Have you been wadi %
through all these books to please me?'
Dorothy faltered. His immeda ate con.
clusion that she had been educating herself
for his sole benefit filled her with vague
irritation.
al wished to understand you better, ~
she stammered.
"You have succeeded in making me
understand you," he answered, kissing her
reverently.
From that day they inseusibly d,ifted
into a close friendship, and often as
Dorothy sat by Bewdavon, steadily helnng
him with his many researches and filed
with admiration for his marvellous SYM
patty and broad outlook upon life, she
would cry bitterly to herself why can
not love this man? Why caouot love
him." And so the days passed; the wo-
man endcaycring to st;Ae TIE iupu'scs oF
her heart by severe study, the man glo rjng
in her beauty and her incl, sence, until
the Duke of StrathwaYte fell dangerously
i'll.
'1his illness may last TO months,' said
Bewdavon, as he was leaving Belper Lodge,
land | canhot be away from him. Go
abroad, Dorothy, with Mrs. Nane.
''Iow could l help you them" she
asked, terror Of strange places and peo-
pies suddenly taking possession of her.
"rhere is much | can do for you if l stay
here"
But it will do you good. You need a
change he protested.
''We will compromise, he said, smiling.
81 will 20 to Brighton
And be thoroughly idle, !" he concluded,
patting her cheek. "You have been work
ing too hard.
At the end Of fortnight Dorothy re-
turned, hurrying the meek Mrs. Vane
protestingly from the delights of the hotel,
the victim Of resticssness thar left her DO
peace. Soon after her return to Belrer
Lodge she was one afternoon idly scan1ing
the pages of magazine, when her eye fell
upon an illustration of the interior of a
large draper's shop. She rose abruptly,
filed with sudden desire for he. old life -
to smell the aerial scent OF new calico, to
see the long line OF llarng lights over each
counter, to hear the ripping Of cloth, The
conversation of the tired shopgiiis. Mem
cries of her girlhnod surped through her