The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-07-21

!. !. ! !. !:
aq~ .~1EmHYE@EJnl have dinner ready
& sGs7W TA@W-71la at six. We shall be
| aSMHHsGlGslE just in time said
w NRkE@1 Mr.. Withers, as he
", ME@NW took his seat in the
@INE@R| carriage that was
EN3N@Gr. to convey him with
MSfgEGS his bride from the
&c = depot to their
q 32' Qass,3 s& home. =:
- Constance was jaded by her fort
nights travel, and dispirited almost be-
yond her power of concealment, but she
had learned already that her lord dis
liked to have whatever observation he
was pleased to make go unanswered.
"'she is your housekeeper, I suppose?''
she replied, languidly. 8 81: u q"
No-that is-she does not occupy the
position of a salaried inferior in my
establishment. I must surely. have
spoken to you of my cousin, Harriet
Field" : !" +,
mot that I recollect.saI am sure that
l never heard the name until now" II
Her. mother" continued Mr.. With
ers, in apompous narrative tone twas
my fathers sister. Left widow ten
years prior to her decease, she accept
ed my Invitation to take charge of my
house. She brought with her only
child, the Harriet of whom speak, and
the two remained with me until our
family group was broken in upon by
death. Harriet would then have
sought a situation as governess but
for my objections. She is woman of
thlrty-five, or thereabouts, and I pre-
vailed over her scruples touching the
propriety of her continued residence
under ll!d my roof, by representing that
her mature age, even more than our
relationship, placed her beyond the
reach of'scandal. For eighteen months
she has superintendent my domestic af-
fairs to my entire satisfaction. That /
have not alluded directly to her before
during our acquaintanceship is only to
be accounted for by the circumstance
that we have had so many other and
more engrossing topics Of converse
ton" He raised her gloved hand to his
lips in stiff gallantry, and Constance
smiled constrainedly in reply. =.
His endearments, albeit he was less
profuse Of them than younger and
more ardent bridegroom would have
been, were yet frequent enough to keep
his wife in unfailing remembrance of
his claims and her duties. He was. ap-
parently, content with her passive sub
mission to these, seemed to see in her
forced complaisance evidence of her
pleasure in their reception. He was too
sedate, as we'll as too gentlemanly, to
be openly conceited, but his apprecia-
ton of his own, Importance in society
and IN business circles was too pro-
found to admit doubt Of the supreme
bliss OF: the woman he had selected to
share his elevated position. Without
being puppyish, he was pragmatical;
without being ill-tempered, he was te-
nacious in the extreme Of his dignity
and the respect he considered due to
this. Had her mood been lighter Con
stance would have been tempted to
smile at the allusion to his cousins age,
his own exceedingly by three years, as
she had accidentally learned through
the indiscretion of a comm on acquaint-
| ance. He was sensitive upon this point
she had likewise been Informed. She
mad yet to discover upon how many
others. s8 fs:zg .3$
Most young wives would not have
| relished the idea Of finding this inval-
liable relative installed as prime man
ager in her new abod It mattered lit
tie to her, Constance said, still languid-
a$ly, who ruled and who obeyed. She
had given up 50 much within three
months past that resignation had be
come a habit sacrifice was no longer
an effort. Having nothing to hope for
she could sustain no furthe loss. How
1 long this4nigh tmare OF apathy would
continue was a question that did not
present itself in her gray musings
Having once conquered Nature, and
held Inclination under the heel of Re
solve, until life seemed extinct, she an
ticipated no resurrect on She did not
know that no single battle however
long and blood const flutes cam
Spaign; that length Of days and many
sorrows are needed to rob youth oi
elasticity That the guest who fingers
i longest in the hum an heart clingins
| TO the shattered 1 she lter rom 7hich al
other joys have a own Hope. Its
doubtful II she thought with any IS
itinctness at this period She was GER
ltaInly less actively miserable than in
that which Immediately preceded her
I8engagement That was anap lion;
this. eactionar wearins ss How she