Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-03-22
CHAPTER XIX

IL was uOL uutH Odpl duU MIS-. MAUI
rice Kynaston had been at home for
more than a fortnight that Vera came
back to her brother-in-law's house. The
Vera who had come back to Sutton vicar
age in August was no longer the same
woman who had stood months ago or the
terrace at Kynaston among the falling
autumn leaves, and who had told her
self that it was money alone that was
worth living for. She came back to ev-
erything that was full of pain, and to
much in which there was absolute fear.
Five minutes after she had entered the
vicarage drawing room her tortures be-
gan.
"You have not asked after the bride
and bridegroom" says old Mrs. Daiutree,
as she sits in her corner darning ever
lastingly at those brown worsted socks
of her son. Vera thinks she must have
been sitting there darniEg necessarily,
day and night, ever since she had been
away. "We are all full oS it down here.
Such a pretty welcome home they had
arches across the road, and professions
with flags, and band Inside the lodge
gates. Everybody is making much OF
Mrs. Kynaston; she is very prettE wom-
an, l must say, and called here three
days ago in the most beautiful Paris
gown"
''She seemed very sorry not to see you,'
says Marion, land quite disposed to be
friendly"
Decidedly" said Ve;a to herself, as
she went slowly upstairs to her own lit
tie room, decidedly I must got away
from all this. shall have to marry.
She leaned out of her open wildow in
nd foSr inn nd
looked out over the lime trees toward
the hail. Now that the trees We're in
full leaf, she could catch no glimpse of
it's red-stacked chimneys and its terraceo
gardens; but, by and by, when the leaves
were down and the trees were bare, she
knew she should see is. Every morning
when she got up the sun would be shin
ing full upon it; every night when she
went to bed she woulsi see the twinkling
lights of the many windows cleaning
through the darkness; she would be IN
her room alone, and he would be out
there, happy with hi; wife.
81 shall not be able to bear ii" said
Vera, slowly, speaking aloud to herself.
81 had better marry and go away. Poor
Denis! he is worthy of better woman;
but / think he will be good 30 me-"
TO be at SuIIUu anu uOl W SSLAC 1dSC
to face with Maurice, was Gf course an
impbssibility. Carefully as Vera contin-
ed herself to the house and garden for
the next three daye, she couId not avoid
going to church when Sunday came. And
at church were Capt. and Mrs. kynaston.
During the service she only saw his back,
erect and broad-shouldered, In the seat in
front of her. Maurice looked neither to
ST. loft hc r0nIx
turned his head an inch, but Helen's but
terf1y bonnet was twisted IL every direc-
tion throughout the service. 1t is GER
tain that she very soon knew who it was
who had come into the vicarage seat be-
hind her.
When Vera came out of church, hav-
ing purposely fingered as long as she
could inside, until the rest of the con-
gregation had all gone out, she found the
bride and bridegroom waiting for her IN
the churchyard. :,
Helen stood with her hand twined with
easy familiarity round her husbands
arm; possibly she studied the attitude
with a view to impressing Vera with
the perfection of her conjugal happiness.
She turned quite deliSHtedly to greet
her. =,
tOh, here you are at faSt, Miss A>SNiii.
We have been waiting for you, have we
not. Maurice, dear? We both felt how
pleased we should be to see you.
Vera turned 60 Maurice.
sHaye you any news of Sir John yet Z!
sNo. we cannot expect to hear of his
arrival till next month. I dare say you
will like to hear about him. | will let
YOU know as soon as he writes
..Thank you; l should like to know
about him very much"
Helen was casting furtive giances at
her husband; even the two or three grave
words he had exchanged with Vera were
sufficient to make her uneasy. She de-
sired TO torture Vera with envy and
with jealousy; she had forgotten to take
into account how very easily her own
susnicious jealousy could be aroused.
"Now. really, we mus. run away. Come
Maurice, darling. we shall be late Tor
lunch. you and Miss Nevill must finish
your condolences another day. You VIII
come mn soon, won't your
s.xry, = -, o5d tb;u, ii is that you ana