Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-04-07
CHAPTER XXU
VOL. III.

CHAPTER XXI.
The te egram which reached Bertie''
lodgings just before the travellers left the
house was from Stella Moncrieff. Com.
Mt once" it said. Your father is away
but am sure that he will welcome you.
1t was not until four or five o'clock OF
the following day that the little party
made its appearance at the doors of Tor
oesmuir A sad little party, indeed! Fol-
Molly, the once merry, high-spirited girl,
had come back crushed and broken
hearted woman; and BERTHE was bowed
down by sympathy for her troubles, and
Lady Val had sorrows of her own. And
Stella. who received them. also had hei
share of grief, and looked as II she had
spent many hours of WEAKNESS and anN-
iety during the year that had elapsed
since Molly's marriage.
No question was asked or answered a!
first. Molly fell into Stelia's arms At
naturally as if she had been Il child com
Ing home TO her mother, and Stella folded
her close to her breast, as if she could not
bear to let her go. There WAS Sous
sweetness to be got out of this sad home
coming, after all. And then Molly had 10
be put TO bed, and comforted, and tended,
and it was touching to see how gentle
she bad grown, how grateful for word'
and deeds of love.
kingscott was for once ignorant o.
Alan's whereabouts as Stella; and hl'
ignorance was excessively annoying &c
him. 1t would have been his greatest
possible delight TO steal a march Oh Stells
and to represent her TO her husband al
defying his commands and utterly neg
iecting his wishes; he could. he fancied
have drawn very striking picture o
"Stelia in revolt" as he phrased it Il
himself. Stella opening the doors or Tor
resmuir to the disobedient runaway
daughter whom Alan had never intended
to invite to his home again. This wal
all, no doubt, a fancy picture; but Ii
would have been extremely gratifying
to heighten its hues and intensity its dis
tinctness in Alan's eyes. The provoking
part of IL was that Alan had not chosen
10 leave him his address. 1t was almos,
the first time that this had happened: and
kingscott was obliged to see in II wha,
he had for long time suspected. that
Alan did not trust him much as il
former days. and was rapidly learning t.
dispense with his services.
One day Stella had taken the road that
led toward Dunkeld. and did not intend
60 90 very far. The day was cold but
She went for some little distance, gather.
ing winter bouquet on her way-a few
red berries, u yellow leaf or two, messy
twig. and by and by she began to rear
range her little uosegay, looking down al
IL instead of straight before her. So il
happened that she did not in the least SET
that any one was approaching. and when
Mt the sound of halting foOtstep she
raised her eyes, she started violently tc
find that they met those of her husband
who was standing in the road before her
..Stellar There was the most extraor
dinary pleasure in his face and voice.
Stella was conscious of something un
usual-something indefnably warm and
caressing-wh crept into his tone; but
IL was SO quickly succeeded by coldnesi
that she had scarcely time to realize +
before 1t was gone.
Il wanted to be alone for a time-noi
To be troubled with business letters" he
went on. There was nothing for which
was likely to be needed at home"
Il have a great deal to tell you" said
Stella, TREMENDOUSLY. Molly is here
.Monyf" She had somewhat expected
the quick, stern look of inquiry, the bend
ing of the naughty brows. And her bus
band?'
Her husband turned her out into the
street one cold, stormy night. She wen
TO Bertie's lodgings. They telegraphet
here to know If she might come"
.Hsnnington turned her out! Turned
Molly out?-his wifeT' He stopped shor
in the road, as if he could not 60 on, hi,
lips working with emotion; suddenly hs
broke out with violent ejaculation
-The scoundrel! the brute! And I no
here to horsewhip him! Well, what next
What did she do? She came here-oi
eourse. Weir
Then Stella repeated the whole story
as We know 1t, while Mr.. Moncrieff lis
tened with growing Indignation Wher
she had finished he exclaimed:
Il ought to have been at home.
ought never to have done such u viii,
thing as to go off in that way, as if
did not care what befell any of you.
shall never forgive myself. But / Ger
tainIy had an idea that left an addres,
with Macalister. / suppose l forgot it
meant to have important letters for
warded. was a fool-a fool. A selhsf
fool. too, for I went for my own salts
faction only If I tell you why l went
Stella, l wonder whether you will thini
II possible ever to forgive me for N!
neglect of you"
Tell me-" she said, softly.
MY dear" he said, stopping short ant
looking fixedly at her, Il had been find
ing out that 1 could not bear the state
of things between us-the life we led
any longer. And I went away that
might, in the course of few lonely dsTs
settle one or two matters with my con
science / wanted to decide whether yor
were right or wrong In the accuse tiOL
you brought against me. l thought
even on tha. night when We talked TO
gether in the library-that you wers
wrong. Do you remember? But the mor'
think of it, the more l am certain thai
you were right"
She wished that she could stop him
but the strange dumbness which had be
set her before made it impossible for bel
C utter W. Mt on: