Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-08-01
Fenton'S DiSifiuSi0n.

'--s-s-s--s-.s.. f.-.s.-.f-f--t-f-
Fenton was not exactly n sentimental
ist, else in two months he would have
had time to forget. He was, indeed,
rather a slow man, who took life more as
a matter for calculation than as n series
of startling and unsolvable problems.
But in one matter his faculty OF calcula-
ton had played him false-he had fallen
in love. and the woman whom he loved
had married another man.
Two months consideration and intro
spection did not make the matter clearer
to him. He was an idle man. and this
constant dwelling on the affair began to
tell upon his nerves. His instinct for
placid enjoyment deserted him, and he
moved among his old associates in self
abstraction that made them nudge each
other. This annoyed him, and one day,
sitting solitary in his room, he decided to
go abroad and escape from 1t. He ran
over in his mind all the places that were
likely to suit his mood, and. with a folly
that he recognized, but did not trouble
to suppress, decided upon St. Winoc,
a quiet, gray little place on the coast
of Brittany. 1t was there a couple Of
years before he had come to the conclu-
sion that he was in love with Kitty Dens-
more. She, by some happy accident, had
found her way from Trouville to st. Wi
noe, and had persuaded her father to
make n heightened stay there. Fenton
delayed his going also. and together they
spent some particularly pleasant and
Erowingly confidential weeks. But it
never got beyond that, and perhaps Kitty
was little piqued.
AS he stepped out upon the square, Of
which the Hotel du Centre formed one
side. the light was just beginning to fade.
The church reared itself darkly against
a glowing sky. As he skirted its north
ern wall breath Of salt wind blew across
his face. and instantly the spirit of his
last visit returned to him. The folly OF
this struck him definitely that he
laughed. and with the soand of his own
voice there came an unpleasant sense OF
solitude. He quickened his pace and.
mounting an abrupt and narrow pathway.
emerged upon n great stretch of level
ground which, half mile beyond.
sheered down and joined the ragged line
of coast. Here he paused. letting his
gaze range from east to west along the
changing distance of the horizon. The
sound of breaking surf reached him like
the noise of wind in pine trees. AS he
moved forward again he seemed utterly
alone.
Qgite suddenly, however, he was aware
of n figure that grew ont OF the dusk like
n darker. moving shadow, and almost at
the same time the wind brought him the
stir Of footsteps. He stopped and listen
ed inIcntly AS | have said, Fenton was
not n Sentimentalist, but his truth of in
stinct told him instantly that it was
kitiy's step. She also was alone. The
circumstances were so singular that he
accepted them without a mental protest.
He had neither anticipated nor desired
meeting; but, since the fates so clearly
willed it. he would not turn back. Each
was conscious Of the presence of the 9TH
er, so that, when they met. any express
sion Of surprise on either side would have
helped to make the position false. Fen
ton was thankful for the darkness. not
for his own sake. but for hers. He had
not time to strike out any definite plan
before he was adrift upon the inevitable
tide of circumstance.
Il did not expect to find you here. Mrs.
Corwcn.' he said.
Nor l you. Have you been here long?"
IL suppose for about two hours. And
you?'
We came last night" she said. He
had turned in her direction. and they
were wa king slowly, side by side. down
the path up which he had come. He
could not see her face clearly. but there
was something In her voice that made
him jump to the conclusion that she was
not quite happy. A dangerous desire to
protect her from some indefinite sorrow
sprang up in Fenton's heart Such re-
sentiment as he had felt against her was
resolved in the first conjecture of her I'M
happ ness.
Where are you staying?" he asked.
AT the Hotel de rUnivers, by the
PLACE"
And why in that great, new, hideous
place."
Frank preferred it," she said.
oh" said Fenton. Then you are
going in exactly the wrong direction.
Hadn't we better turn back?"
I'm in no hurry to get back" she said.
Frank is resting. He knows I'm fond
" lonely walks"
Perhaps you would rather that left
you.'
NO" she said; I'm glad met you;
I'm glad you are here. Why did you
Gomez"
Il did not know that you were here"
"Of course not. How could you? I
persuaded Frank to bring me to st. Wi
aoc quite on an impulse"
Indeed? 1t is strange that we both
bad that impulse
why stranger" asked Mrs. Corwen,
with that note of sudden recklessness in
her voice which makes a woman danger
BUS. why STRANGE" she repeated.
1--WE were both happy here once. Why
should we not choose to come again.
II came" said Fenton. moved for a
moment beyond himself, ito escape from
CALLING memories. 1t seems, rather, that
l have succeeded In reviving them"
tsyVbat do Won yaaar che naI.nJ