Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-04-20
CHAPTER NIX.

rice Kynaston had been at home for
more than IL fortnight that Vera came
back to her brothcr-in-law's house. The
Vera who had come back to Sutton vicar
age i'll August WAS no longer the same
woman who had stood months ago on 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 cv-
erything that was full of pain, and to
much in which there was absolute fear.
Five minutes after she had entered the
vicaragc drawing room her fortunes be-
gan.
you have not asked after the bride
and bridegroom" says old Mrs. Daintree.
as she sits in her corner. darning ever
lnstingly at those brown worsted socks
of her son. Vera thinks she must have
been sitting there darning necessarily.
day and night, ever since she had been
away. I'VE are all full of it down here.
Such Il pretty welcome home they had
arches across the road, and professions
with flags. and a band inside the lodge
gates. Everybody is making much of
Mrs. Kynaston; she is u very pretty 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 Vera to herself, as
she went slowly upstairs to her own lit
tile room, decidedly 1 must get away
from all this. 1 shall have to marry"
She leaned out of her open window in
Il framework of roses and jasmine, and
/ looked out over the lime trees toward
the hall. Now that the trees We're in
full leaf. she could catch no glimpse of
its red-stackcd chimneys and it's terraccu
gardens: hut. by and by, when the leaves
were down and the trees We're bare, she
knew she should see it. Every morning
when she got mp the sun would he shin
ing full upon it; every night when she
went to bed she would see the twinkling
lights of the many windows cleaning
through the darkness; she would he in
her room alone, and he would he out
there. happy with his wife.
Il shall not be able to bear it," said
Vera, slowly, speaking aloud to herself.
II had better marry and 80 away Poor
Denis! he is worthy of IL better woman;
but l think he will be good to me-"
10 be at Sutton and not TO come face
to face with Maurice. was of course an.
impossibility. Carefully as Vera contin-
cd herself to the house and garden for
the next three days. she could not avoid
going to church when Sunday came. And
at church We're Capt. and Mrs. Kynaston.
During the service she only saw his back,
erect and broad-shouldcrcd. in the seat in
front of her. Maurice looked neither to
the right nor to the left: he scarcely
turned his head an inch, but Hclen's but
tcriiy bonnet was twisted in every direc-
ton throughout the service. 1t is cor
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 c~hurchyard.
Helen stood with her hand twincd with
easy familiarity round her husbasd's
arm; possibly she studied the attitude
with n view to impressins Vera with
the perfection of her conjugal happiness.
She turned quite delislftedly to greet
her.
"Oh. here YOU are at last, Miss Nevill.
we nave been waiting for you, AVE we
not. Maurice, dear? We both felt how
pleased we should he to see you"
Vera turned to Maurice.
Have YOU any news of Sir John vet? '
mo. we cannot expect to hear Of his
arrival till next month. / dare say you
will like to hear about him. 1 will let
you know as soon as he writes"
"Thank you; l should like to know
about him very much"
Helen was casting furtive glances 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 W
suspicious jealousy could he aroused.
Now, really, we NUS run away. Come,
Maurice, darling. we shall be late for
lunch; you and Miss Nevill must finish
your condolences another day. You will
come up soon, won't you?"
What an odd thing 1t is that you and
that girl EVE can meet without having