Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-07-27


to love her, as he already had done, or
lac never could have spoken to her as he
had done at breakfast, but he could not
respect her if she overlooked this indig-
nifty. She would show him that just be-
cause she had humored him and given in
to him almost every time for the whole
six months of their married existence she
was not altogether lacking in spirit.
She would not stay under that roof an
other night-not an hour longer 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 chance? And she
meant it when she said she would sooner
starve on the streets than eat the bread
of Julian Wynne's providing. But the
police would not let her do that She
shuddercd at 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 duster 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 1O:47 train
for the city. She wouldn't take trunk;
she could send for her belongings later.
A suit case and a 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 as 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. Frewen, the most inquisitive,
amiable and sociabe 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 stayP
81 haven't quite decided"
"What will Mr.. Wynne do without
you? Or is he going with your"
ooh, 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 abou
the weather, the noXious odors of ferry
boats and the casual comments on thu
trials of suburbanites in transit, put In:
"Did you say you were going to you
mother'sP
"No," replied Mrs Wynne desperately
"Excuse me. I must see the porter abou
my bags"
But the friendly Mrs. Frewlen was no
to be baffled thus.
"You don't mind my asking where yo
are going, do your" she said as her un
happy victim was congratulating hersel
on her escape 81 just can't bear t
have any one away from Brockhurst an
not know where they are. It's so unsC
cable"
Now, the only thing certain about Mrs
Wynne's plans was the uncertainty O
her destination. She certainly could nc
and would not go to her mothers or an
OF her relatives, where she would have
explain matters. And in accepting tn
hospitality of friends she would have
20 through the same humilitating ordea
She thought of a hotel and dismissed tn
idea in the same breath The Harrie
Marie home occurred to her. but she sur
~ could not tell Mrs. Frewlen that st
was going there.
II am going to Westchester," she sal
at last. At the instant she thought
was lie, but by ruling Of Providen'
it proved otherwise.
Rochester," exclaimed Mrs. Frewle
THANK heaven, she misunderstood!
never appreciated her deafness befor
and now, since she thinks l have gone
Rochester, why shouldn't l go 70 Yves
chester? There's Gertrude Allyn; 81
would take me in and be less prying al
disagreeable than any one l can think q
I'll go to her for few days. / wouldr
go il George were home, on account
his being such a good friend Of Julian
but l don't believe he is back from
western trip"
Gertrude Allyn's welcome was as &C
dial as could have been desired, and b
sympathy was freely offered to the inju
ed wife.
81 know Julian is unreasonable on tn
subject; we had a quarrel once on tn
same account" she said when she hea
how matters stood.
For some reason Mrs. Wynne resent
this acquiescence, and she remember
with pang what until now she had Il
gotten-that there had been tirtati
once upon a time with Julian Wynne a
Gertrude Howard as principals. If s
had remembered that, she would ha
gone anywhere, even to her mothers,
fore coming here.
However, it was too late now-evel
thing was too late, and tears of comm
Grafton for her sad fate fell into the
which Gertrude already had overhavoI
with lemon and rum in her solicitnde
her friend.