The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-08-05
LIKE Split WINE.

When woman who has been pretty
realizes that she is so no longer she IL
apt to exaggerate her past charms. She
is also apt to regard herself as singu
larry astute and honest, and to admir-,
her own sweet reasonableness in con
Tossing 1t.
Lucy Locke-James had been Tilted
and not overgently Tilted. Her feel
ings were not complex. and she did no.
analyze them; but she was sensitive
and she felt pain quite as acutely a.
do more superior persons. Her father
Admiral Locke-James, did not make
things easier for her. He went abou'
breathing fire and slaughter, and using
nautical language against the mar
who had Tilted her, so that the whole
town OF Bath was sorry for Lucy, ant
showed 1t. 1t is not surprising. there
fore, that she lost her color, that hei
manner became shrinking, and he,
expression grew wan and sad.
Presently she stood up and let dowr
her hair. She was tall girl, and now
much too thin for her height. Shit
shook the soft waves round her face
and looked in the glass again, signing
my eyelashes and my hair are all thai
are left" she thought, sadly. Then she
undressed and read one of the little
white books on her dressing table, try.
ing to believe that God must love her
dearly, inasmuch as he had Thought III
to chasten her SO; and so to bed to lie
wide-eyed and wakeful, thinking OF
that earthly love who had loved hei
so little.
Il am too worn out, too world-weary
to give you a love worthy of your own
my Lucy" Clarence Webster would
say, pickering up his forehead as he
gazed into Lucy's eyes-his own were
large and blue and prominent
1.-THE love you give me is enough fol
me; ask nothing more or better OF
fate" was Lucy's invariable rejoinder
Then she would complacently tell her,
self that he idealized her, that she was
in no way really fitted to be the mate
of such high minded genius, but
And so they were really happy, in a
quiet-commonplace sort of way, until
Mrs. Van Schorer came to Bath.
Mrs. Van Schorer said she was Eng.
lish, but her appearance and her TEN.
permanent belied her. She was small
and decidedly plump, with that grace.
full, undulating walk that suggests
more southern climes. Her eyes were
dark and inscrutable, her hair heavy
and straight and black. She wore it
parted in the middle in Madonna bands
and the result was quaint and uncom.
mon. Her complexion was pale, her
mouth big, and her teeth magnificent
She nearly always dressed in black
Women called her ugly and fat. Men
whom she interested, called her "une
bellelaide, ronde ct gracieuse"
Clarence" said Mrs. Van Schorer
"why do you marry this ridiculous
girl? Have you forgotten, Clarence?''
Her voice was musical, with pathetic
little break in it; a touch of foreign
accent gave subtle distinction to her
English.
Clarence Webster looked at the be.
wildering bundle of desire on the sofa;
he crossed the room, and knelt down
beside it; and for the time being the
odor of patchouli quite overpowered
the scent of lavender.
One afternoon toward Christmas
just as It was growing dusk, and as be
SAT snUkin.k by the studio fire and
wondering why he had ever been born
there was knock at the outer door
a fluttering, uncertain sort of knock
like that of child.
He crossed the little passage to open;
the gas on the staircase was not lit
but in the emi-darkness he recognized
the outline of the tall, girlish figure
standing there.
Lucy" he cried, incredulously
Lucy! You'll"
The girl was trembling and could
not speak; he led her in and put he1
in an armchair; then she held out a
letter to him, saying timidly:
will you read 1t and tell me If it is
true?"1,
Clarence turned on the light and
silently took the letter. Lucy leant
back in her chair, grasping the arms
to stay her trembling hands. He no.
ticed how thin she was and pale, and
for a minute everything was blurred
by the tears that came into her eyes.
The letter, in handwriting he knew
well, bore an African postmark, and
began abruptly thus:
sit has struck me lately that 1t is not
fair that you should be punished for
my fault. noticed you that day in
Bath, and you are the sort of girl who
will take life hard You probably love
Clarence Webster; 1t has been a grief
to you to lose him; there is no neces.
sity Such love as he is capable OF
you have had, and can have again il
you wish it. What he felt for me was
merely passing passion, which does
not in any way affect his feeling for
you You probably think it all terrible
and shocking; you are only a girl
probably tender and foolish one, who
knows. nothing of life. If, when you
get this, you still care for him, tell him
what have said. and try to believe
that bear you no sort of ill-will
Victoria Van Schorer."
The letter fluttered from his hand
and he went and knelt by Lucy.
Can you forgive me, my dear, my
dear?"
For answer Lucy put her arms about
his neck Il have been SO miserable!'
she said.-Chapman Magazine.
Aspley-But McLerie is not so bad
as they say; there is better side OF
him.
Buttle-Indeed, what is it?
Aspley-Mrs. McLerie.
"Your disease is hereditary"
Patient-What must l do, doctor?"
ATTACK the trouble at its source
make your father take sulphur baths
at once.'