The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-26
A FEMININE IMPULSE.

of the existence Of Miss Dorothy Max.
well were divided into two sections
There were those who considered her
life most enyiahle; there were others
who deemed it highly reprehensible
But as Dorothy herself was ignorant
alike OF envy or condemnation she con-
tlnued to live in the charming and ad-
mirably appointed Georgian house in
henslngton, and in pleasant environ
ment created by lavish but intelligent
expenditure on the part of the Marquis
of Bewdavon. For some years she had
been mistress of Belner Lodge, yet her
life was extremely dull Lord Bew-
davon was busy man both socially and
politically, and close friend of his
father, the aged Duke of Strathwayte-
circumstance SO singular that it was
constant source of comment among
his contemporaries. Conse quently, at
first he was frequently away from Lon
don for weeks together, either filling
political or social engagements, or stay
ing with his father, who never left the
country and as Dorothy had no friends
and no companions save the faded
widow of military officer whom Bew-
dayon had engaged as her chaperon to
accompany her to the play when he
was otherwise engaged, the comfort and
pleasure of her life Were married by its
loneliness
Dorothy had an overwhelming re
spect for Lord Bewdayon, but she did
not love him, and this in the earlier
days of her conquest had given her sin
blacker tinge in her own eyes. A ma
tive cleverness, added to acute feminine
perception, had shown her that Bew-
davOn had none of the characteristics of
the average man who enters lightly
upon irregular unions Morally, per
haps, he was neither better nor worse;
mentally he was incomparably superior.
Mere beauty and platitudes wearied
him, and when Dorothy discovered the
gulf that lay between their intelligences
she set herself diligently to bridge it
over. Bewdavon devotion to politics
"a devotion he had inherited from a
long line of ancestors-gave Dorothy
her opportunity, and during his many
absences a string of masters occupied
her days, hard study her solitary even
ings. One day, by the merest chance,
books dealing with abstruse questions,
with history, philosophy and political
economy, their margins covered with
notes III Dorothy s neat handwriting
handwriting that bore evidence of the
class from which she had sprung
"How this woman loves mel" he said
to himself, his eyes growing dim as he
turned over volume after volume. At
that moment Dorothy entered the room,
and, seeing the books strewed around
him, hesitated. Il have never pene-
trated into your sanctum before, u he
said, pointing to the many evidences Of
her Flooding. Il sincerely wish l had.
Have you been wading through all
these books to please me?a
Dorothy faltered. His immediate con
clusion that she had been educating
herself for his sole benefit filled her
with vague irritation.
IL wished TO understand you bet
Ter, she stammered.
You have succeeded in making me
understand you," he answered, kissing
her reverently.
From that day they insensibly drift
ed into close friendship, and often as
Dorothy sat by Bewdayon, steadily
helping him with his many researches,
and filled with admiration for his
marvellous sympathy and broad outlook
upon life, she would cry bitterly to her.
self why cannot | love this man?
Why cannot | love him. And so the
days passed, the woman endeayoring to
stife the impulses of her heart by Sc
we're study, the man Rlorying in her
beauty and her intelligence, until the
Duke of Strathwayte fell dangerously
ill.
"This illness may last for months, "
said Bewdayon, as he was leaving
Belper Lodge, land | cannot he away
from him. Go abroad, Dorothy, with
Mrs. Vaue. "
How could l help you them she
asked, terror of strange places and
peoples suddenly taking possession Of
her. There is much / can do for you
if stay here, "
but it will do you good You need
a change" he protested
eve will compromise, " she said
smiling, Il will 20 to Brighton
And be thoroughly idle, " he con
cluded, patting her cheek. lyon have
been working too hard. "
Al the end Of a fortnight Dorothy re-
turned, hurrying the meek Mrs. Nane
protestingly from the delights of the
hotel, the victim of restiessness that
left her no peace. Soon after her return
to Belper Lodge she was one afternoon
idly scanning the pages of "a magazine,
when her eye fell upon an illustration
of the interior of large Diapers shop.
She rose abruptly, filled with sudden
desire for her old life-to smell the
aerial scent of new calico, to see the
long line of fiaring lights over each
counter, to hear the ripping of cloth,
the conversation of the fired shopgirls
Memories of her girlhood surged through
her brain as she leaned against the
mantelpece, and an incurable longing
to see the great drapery establishment
where she had worked took possession
of her. She picked up the magazine,
and then, with a untitled cry, threw it
down and ran to her bedroom The
tea gown of diaphanons lace and silk
xuac torn pR aud a few ruOmanta lotar