The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-07-27
An AVERTED SCANDAL.
BY CORA RIGBY.
Copyright, 1900. bv ERIN Hdrdmqn.

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Mrs. Wynne felt she had borne all that
any woman could be expected to bear,
and more. Julian would not only cease
to love her, as he already had done, or
he never could have spoken to her as he
had done at breakfast, but he could not
respect her il she overlooked this indig-
nifty. She would show him that just be-
cause she had hsHnofsd him and given in
to him almost eNIy time far the whole
six mouths of tfNls fSerried existence she
was not altogether lackigs In spirit.
She would hd9 scsy,uater that roof an
other night-not an hour Logger than was
necessary to see that the house was put
in order and directions given for dinner
for she did not want any one to be able
to say that she had neglected any plain
duty. But where was she to go?
1t was very easy to say that she was
willing to work for her living, but who
would give her a chance? And she
meant it when she said she would sooner
starve on the streets than eat the bread
of Julian Wynnes providing. But the
police would not let her do that. She
shuddercd Mt the thought of being rough
ly pulled about and thrust into a cold,
hard cell among dreadful women.
Oh, it was cruel of Julian to drive her
to such fate, and she sat down and
wept into the cheesecloth buster until
her face was all smudged, which pre-
vented her from looking as heroic as she
felt when she stood up and declared
sternly that she would not give way; that
no man, especially Julian Wynne, was
worth her tears.
When Mrs. Wynne had finished her
household routine, she felt calmer, but
her resolution was mistaken. Go she
would. She saw that by Fastening her
preparations she could get the 10:47 train
for the city. She wouldn't take a trunk;
she could send for her belongings later.
A suit case and Gladstone bag would
hold everything that she would need for
a few days until she was settled.
She dared not look back at the pretty,
shingled house with the ruffled white
muslin curtains at the windows. She
had been so proud of the house and its
belongings when she had come there to
live six months before, and now she was
leaving it forever!
Were the neighbors watching her? she
wondered. Would they read her trouble
in her face and take note of her travelling
bags? She hoped no one she knew would
be going in on the same train. Fortu-
nately It was little late for the shop
pers; most of them got off before 10
o'clock. But just rs she had said, mo,
Thomas, you need not meet me" and the
man had touched his hat and driven
away, she turned to face her near neigh
Dor. Mrs. Frewlen. the most inquisitive,
amiable and sociable person in Brock
hurst, whose deafness was no bar to her
insistent talkativeness.
"Why, are you going away, Mrs.
Wynne" she demanded.
"Ye-es."
"Dear me, didn't know it, How long
are you going to stay?"
81 haven't quite decided"
"What will Mr.. Wynne do without
you? Or is he going with your"
"Oh. he will enjoy keeping bachelors
hall, I've no doubt"
All of Mrs. Wynne's replies had to be
shouted at her companion and many Of
them repeated. She was glad when they
reached the ferry. One question that she
dreaded more than all had not been ask
ed. But it was not too late yet. As they
crossed the river, Mrs. Frewlen, parry
ing or seeming not to hear remarks about
the weather. the noxious odors of ferry
boats and the casual comments on the
trials of suburbanites in transit, put in:
Ibid you say you were going to your
mother's?"
NO." replied Mrs. Wynne desperately.
Excuse me. 1 must see the porter about
my bags"
But the friendly Mrs. Frewlen was not
to be baffled thus
"You don't mind my asking where you
are going, do your" she said as her un-
happy victim was e9pgtatufating herself
on her escape. ~ lust can't bear to
have any one AMY from Brockhurst and
not know where Ihey are. It's SO unso-
ciable."
Now. the only thing certain about Mrs.
Wynne's plans gas the uncertainty Of
her destination. She certainly could not
and would not go to her mothers or any
of her relatives, where she would have to
explain matters. And in accepting the
hospitality of friends she would have to
go through the same humilitating ordeal.
She thought Of hotel and dismissed the
idea in the Same breath. The Harriet
Marie home occurred to her, but she sure
ly could not tell Mrs. Frewlen that she
was going there.
81 am going to Westehester," she said
at last. At the instant she thought it
was lie, but by a ruling Of Providence
It proved otherwise.
Rochester" exclaimed Mrs. Frewlen.
THANK heaven, she misunderstood! l
never appreciated her deafness before,
and now, since she thinks have gone to
Rochester, why shouldn't so to West
chester? There's Gertrude Allyn; she
would take me in and be less prying and
disagreeable than any one can think of.
I'll go to her for a few days. l wouldn't
go il George were home, on account OF
his being such good friend of Julian's
but l don't believe he is back from his
western trip"
Gertrude Allyn's welcome was as cor
dial as could have been desired, and hel
sympathy was freely offered to the inlur'
cd wife.
ST know Julian is unreasonable on that
subject; we had a quarrel once on tina
same account" sine said when she heart
how matters stood.
For some reason Mrs. Wynne resented
this acquiescence, and she remembered
with q pang what until now she had for
| gotten-that there had been a filtration
once upon time with Julian Wynne ant
Gertrude Howard as principals. If sh
had remembered that, she would hav
| gone anywhere, even to her mothers, be
| fore coming here.
However, it was too late now-every
thing was too late, and tears of commits
| Grafton for her sad fate fell into the tie;
| which Gertrude already had overflavore
| with lemon and rum in her solicitude 70
her friend.
Julian Wynne arrived at his offic
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