Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-06-02

II
1 would have loved dearly to take INV
| kind hosts int my confidence this
| evening, and ask their advice as to the
whole affair, but had never broken
| through my rule not to gossip with
4 anyone of events connected with INV
| life at The Ivies.
About ten o'clock heard the sound
of wheels stopping before the doctors
! gate, and prepared to depart.
VIII you be so good as to call out
to Holmes that I am coming?' sug-
! gested to my host: sit will save the
old mans getting out"
| He complied, and, a few moments
later, accompanied me out to the car
riage. 1 was surprised to discover that
the dog-cart hsd been sent for me. Int
4 my surprise was greatly increased
| when L saw that Darracott Chester
| himself had come to drive me homo
felt momentary awkwardness at
the prospect of meeting between two
men who, l was convinced. no longer
entertained feelings of friendship FOR
| each other, but I might have SHARED
myself needless worry, for they saint
ed each other with polite. if distant
courtesy. 1 mounted the cart and we
drove rapidly away.
l had felt constrained in the society
| or Darracott ever since the scene Of
the preceding day, and 1 had sought
to avoid him as much as possible. I
had guilty consciousness of having
gone beyond my province in taking up
the cudgels in Madam's defence. and
was well aware that, righteous
though my indignation was, there had
Deen no warrant for my exhibiting it.
But /! cannot feel easy in the position
OF debtor, and 1 knew that owed the
man beside me an apology.
L made one or two tentative remarks,
hoping to open up a channel through
! which / could glide easily and grace
FULLY into the broad waters of general
regret for my oyer-zealous manifesto
ton OF my exceeding love for my mis-
tress, thinking that SO / could vindi-
cate my late imprudence without actual
self-humilation. But in some inscru-
table fashion, effective, but apparently
careless In design, my companion turned
the drift OF my attempts quite away
from their goal. At last I was forced
to come boldly up to the point
ut is very good of you to have come
for me tonight Mr.. Chester" I said.
Il look upon the attention as mark
OF your forgiveness"
For whatp he asked, and / saw he
was determined to force an issue.
For my failure in respect towards
you yesterday" / murmured.
There is no reason why you should
need forgiveness on that account" he
replied. IF a mans conduct is such
that 1t arouses the scorn of others, ne
would be singularly unreasonable TO
hold them responsible for manifest
| ing their just contempt"
But n dependant should better exer-
else self-control," returned. ST should
remember that / was not engaged to
/ discipline the morals of the household.
\ 1t was the place of the mistress. not
of the servant, to resent your cruel
words; for they were cruel, you know,
Mr.. Chester"
He nodded his he Id, and in the
moonlight saw n bitter expression
| settle about his mouth.
Yes" he said, they were-I sup
pose"
You supposew cried, little holly.
Tor memory brought before my ewes
the vision OF my dear lady as She had
looked when those words were uttered.
OF course they were cruel! And 10
Madam-of all persons in this worldl
TO Madam-who can never have caus-
ed pain to the smallest of living
thingsp'
He turned and looked at me. His
brow was little lifted, and there was
a quizzical and yet stern smile in his
eyes.
Il am man Of average proportions
Miss Lothrop; scarcely infinitesimai
enough to be reckoned outside your
category"
you mean" paused in amaze
ment, absolutely unable to construe
him.
Il mean," he replied, quickly and
with hard, metallic ring in his voice,
that no one living In this world to-
day has ever caused me pain and suf-
fering equal to that which my mother
has inflicted upon me-
'OhP I cried protestingly, ''I cannot
mo, cannot believe it. If it is so, II
was an unconscious act on her part"
He gave a short laugh.
mo, think not" he answered. "In-
voluntary, perhaps; but not uncon-
seious. She is aware OF it."
Then she is deeply repentant Also"
I said, recalling now the peculiarities
which l noted in Madam's regard for
her only son.
He shook bis head.
"One does not sincerely repent a
cruelty while still practising it." he re-
turned, sententiously
My love and veneration for Madam
fared up holly at this.
You calumniate herp' 1 burst forth.
TT is treason for me to discuss her
with you. Let us change the subject,
Mr.. Chester. You are wounding me
beyond words"
We were turning into the avenue as
/ spoke, and he curbed the eager pace
of the horse into a walk before he an
swered. Then, letting the rains fall
slack on the animals back, he turned
sideways on the seat and looked
squarely and earnestly down upon me.
miss Lothrop," he began-and there
was no loager either bitterness or Gym
icism in his voice, only gravity and
obviously controlled emotion-''it Is not
my habit to discuss my mother or my
own feelings and sentiments with
others. But neither Is it my habit SO
to forget myself as / did yesterday.
If that incident had taken place before
almost anyone else in the world 1 |