Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-03-01
CHAPTER XIV

.
The Cleverdales' ball had come and
gone, and Lady Kynaston had taken
pains to insure that an invitation might
be sent to Mrs. Hazeldine and Miss Ne
WILL She had also put herself to some
inconvenience in order to be present at
it herself, but all to no purpose-Vera
was not there. Perhaps she had had an
other engagement that evening.
The old lady's promise to her youngest
son was still unful6lled. She half re-
pented now that she had given him any
such promise. What good was she to
do by interceding between her son and
Miss Nevill? and why was she to lay
herself open to the chance of a rebuff
from that young lady? 1t had been a
senseless and qMxotic idea on Maurice's
part altogether
The old lady was in her coy morning
room and had taken out her fancy work,
piece of crewel work such as is the
fashion of the day. But she was not
fond of work; the leaves Of muddy
shaded green's grew but slowly under her
fingers, and, truth to say, the occupation
bored her.
By degrees, it all became mixed up in
a delicious confusion. The rocks, and
the bees, and the gardener made one con-
tinuous murmur to her, like the swish
ing of summer waves upon a sandy
shore, or the moaning of soft winds in
the tree-tops.
Then the crewel work slipped off her
lap, and Lady Kynaston slept.
How long she was asleep she could not
rightly have said; it might have been an
hour, it might have been but twenty
minutes; but suddenly she awoke with a
sart.
The rustic of woman's dress was
beside her, and somebody spoke her
name.
Lady Kynaston! Oh, I am so sorry
| have disturbed you; did not see you
were asleep"
The old lady opened her eyes wide, and
came back suddenly from dream-land.
Vera Nevill stood before her.
''Vera, is it you? Good gracious! how
did you get in? I never even heard the
door open.''
Lady Kynaston had called Vera jilt
and a heartless coquette; she had made
no secret of saying, right and left, how
badly she had behaved; what shameful
and discreditable deductions might be
drawn from her conduct toward Sir John.
Yet, the very instant she set eyes upon
her, she felt sorry for the hard things
she had said of her, and ashamed of her
self that she should have spoken them.
''They tell me half the men in London
have gone mad over you,' were her first
words.
Il care very little for the men in Lon
don, Lady Kynaston,' answered Vera,
quietly.
'sMy dear, what do you care'for?" ask
ed her ladyship, with earnestness, and
Vera understood that she was expected
to state her business.
Lady Kynaston, | have come to ask
you about your son." she answered, SIM
ply.
about John?'
'<Of course, it is Sir John I mean" she
said, quickly, hot flush rising for one
instant to her face, and dying away rap
idly again, to leave her trihe paler than
before. Il know" she continued, with a
little hesitation-''I know that l have no
right to inquire-but l cannot forget all
that is past-all his goodness and gener-
osity to me. shall never forget it; and
oh, I hear such dreadful things of him,
that he is ill-that he is talking Of going
to Australia Oh, Lady Kynaston, is it
all trueW
She had clasped her hands together,
and bent little forward toward the old
lady in her earnestness; she looked at her
piteously, almost entreatingly.
Does she love him after allY' thought
Lady Kynaston, as she watched her; and
the meaning of the whole story Of her
sons love seemed more unfathomable
than ever.
John is neither we'll nor happy" she
said, aloud. II think, Vera, you must
know the reason of it better than any Of
us"
1T is my fault-my DOING cried the
girl, with a ring of deep regret in her
voice do you know that | saw him
once? / don't think he saw met was
in the park one morning. He looked so
aged, so saddened. / realized then what
/ had done-his face haunts me-"
"Vera, you could alter all that if you
chose" said the old lady, earnestly.
'What is it stands between you and
John?"
Vera was silent, looking down upon
her hand that lay crossed one over the
other upon her knee.
4 cannot tell you, Lady Kynaston,"
she answered.
Lady Kynaston sighed; she was little
disappointed.
ITO no continued)