The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-15

the curb with a sense OF escape from
a terror. scarcely caring that his sis
ter's words must have reached the
ears Of the coachman. And now he vas
at home again in Dover street, and
was sitting in the armchair OF his
study, his nerves still shaken by the
scene he had just passed through. The
violence OF his sisters words had rob-
bed them Of a possible effect OF arcus-
ing in him a feeling OF ~self-reproach.
What filled up the horizon OF his pres
ent thoughts was the past kindness
habit of turning to his wife for SYM
pathy, but he resolved to write to her at
once about this bout with Emily. She
would confirm him in his resolution OF
having no further relations with his
sister and her family and OF blotting
the thought of them out OF his life.
Emily had only herself to thank, and
for him it was best so. His near con-
nection with all that ugly poverty
could not but be regarded as an un-
desirable impediment in his struggle
up the social ladder. His present po-
sition was due to his own exertions,
aided by a carefully chosen marriage,
from which love had been the only
element missing. He toe much credit
to himself for the success OF his career,
it never occurring to him at any time
that his ambitions were unwOrthily
placed.
Years rolled by and found James
Homersham we'll on in the path he had
chosen for himself. His childless wife
died shortly after the breach with his
sister, which nothing had eve occurred
to repair. Once or twice he had caught
a glimpse Of her as he flashed past
her in his carriage. AT another time
they had almost elbowed one another
in a crowd, and he was surprised to
see that she looked handsome and not
addressed. He would not have been
more surprised to learn that, with all
her anger and resentment, the knowl-
edge of her brothers state formed an
agreeable element in her consciousness,
and imposed certain obligations upon
her own of life, of whose real
source she was, perhaps, unsuspicious.
Fol his part, he was neve conscious
Of regretting the result Of their last
interview, and the echo OF her bitter
words still sounded across the years.
He chung to his Did ambitions, and
knew few interests beyond the state
Of his Investments and the number
and distinction Of his social engage
ments.
One morning he found on his table
a letter Of invitation to the country
house Of a nobleman whose doors had
only hat season been thrown pen to
him. He was surprised at the mod
Clo oAlAOulI u Will l11C
invitation filled him, and thought how
differently the departed Adelaide
would have been affected by it. Some
how of late, things that he had always
priced did not seem to yield to him the
old satisfaction. He began to be con-
scious of unpleasant sensations when
by chances a with ess at an exhibition
of the family affections. He put these
sensations down to the fact Of his be-
ing a little out of health, and on that
count was inclined to welcome this
opportunity of spending an April day
or two away from town. He knew lit
tie Of his hosts. His hostess was an
American, and he had gathered
vaguely that she was not held in spec
ial esteem among the women Of her
set. But the great fact remained that
he had a nance of eating his morning
egg in the company Of the English
nobility.
The garden lay in a glory Of after
noon sunshine. Mr.. HOmersham, paper
in hand, descended the stone steps Of
the terrace, and waved a greeting as
he passed by the tennis-lawns to the
men and girls hard at play there,
During his morning ramble he had
noticed an outlying bit Of lawn with
a sun-dial and scattered clumps of
rhododendron and lilac. 1t was here
he purposed to enjoy half an hours
ease and respite from a noisy, chat
tering world. Arrived at the spot, he
chose with care a seat we'll within
range of the shafts Of mild sunshine,
and lay back in it, with closed eyes,
| prepared to yield himself to the physi-
cal of the situation. The
voices of the distant tennis players
sounded family in his ears. A thrush
trilled for him from a white lilac-bush.
The air was heavy with the scent OF
neighboring may trees. On the whole
he was glad that he had come. The
other members of the house party
were agreeable people, very agreeable
people. And most of them belonged to
| quite the best set. He felt fattered at
| being asked to meet them. How well
| Adelaide would nav played her part
among them all! AS for himself, these
things were beginning to be too much OF
an effort. If he had only had a child
nova daughter! By the bye, what a
pretty little governess creature Cor was
she a nurse maid?) he had noticed in
the morning at play about the lawn
| with the children. And what a head OF
hair she had! 1t had uncoiled itself as
| she ran, and lay spread like a mantle
over her shoulders. He tried to recall
where he had before seen such hair
with those shades in it Of the copper
! beech.
The sound of talking from the furth-
er side of an opposite clump of lilacs
disturbed his reverie. The voice most
in evidence vas that of his hostess,
| betrayed by it's American twang. She
was ScOlding some unfortunate person
with all the vulgar vehemence Of an
angry washerwOman.
Mr.. Homersham's first impulse was
to make his escape. But he found he
could not do this without revealing
his presence, and increasing thereby
the unpleasantness of the situation.
So he sat down again on the sea from
which he had half arisen, disguised
at the part Of eavesdropper that was
forced upon him. He 500 gathered
that it was the little nursery governess
who was undergoing verbal chastise-
ment, and, as insult followed imperti-
nence, his blood began to boil with
shame for the honor of a noble coun-
| tess.
The occasion of the uproar was a
mere trif1e. The o little governess
I bod fnr n fau- r,ir,ta- fo~~o$too H.