Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-08-22

get. And you are doing right. Richard
/ will make excuses 20 Florence TOT
You whether you 10 abroad OF down 10
bristol I suppose she will not sus
pect-no. she cannot suspect IL you
have said nothing TO her"
Nor was this the only act OF renuncia-
ton on Mr.. Richards part Just nj TINS
time he had to go up 10 London Tor d
few DAYS 10 transact some business
with his mothers lawyers, but he dlu
NOT apprise his uncle and cousin OF his
coming TO town. nor did he once call ut
fine house In Melbury road. Ii is true
that during these few days he found
his way a number Of times to that
nelghhorhood, and on more than one
occasion he raught n glimpse of Cousin
Floss as she drove up in the barouche
ar came out walking with her maid.
He knew he had no right TO do this
thing. but he regarded 1t as n sort OF
Kidding goodby TO n broken fancy. an
impossible dream. To whom could IL
do any harm? Cousin Floss could know
nothing of IL. lie studiously kept him
self concealed. IL this unspoken fare
well was unduly prolonged for he re-
mained in London some days longer
than was necessary for the lawyers, 1t
was himself who was being iacerated
by its pain. II did not matter to Nam
cy. Marriage would condone every
thing. She had no part or concern IN
these fantasies of the hour, that would
soon be forgotten among the actualitles
of life.
By the time Cousin Floss visit drew
near Mr.. Richard had made all MS
preparations He was going down u
Bristol. lie argued with himself that
being constantly In the same nelgh'
borhood with Nanciebel would keep
alive in his recollection what was due
to her, and. moreover, he considers
| that in the circumstances he NIGH
| fairly ask for some modification OF the
arrangements that had been arrived
at in family conclave with regard to
| his visits. Might he not see Nanciebel
once a week. or perhaps even twice
| week, for a single hour? Both he and
she had hitherto loyalty obeyed the
conditions that had been imposed
| Might not these be relaxed little
now? 1t was not as a punishment, but
as test, that this separation had been
agreed upon, and here were the two OF
them, after the lapse of considerable
time, of the same mind. MIR. Richard
endeavored to extract courage ana
hope for the future from those wise
and virtuous reflections. but 1t was
with rather heavy heart that he
drove away to the station on the day
previous to Cousin Floss arrival.
Cousin Floss, when she stepped out
Of the pony chaise on the following
afternoon and found the widow await
ing her in the porch, was in the high
est spirits, and her always bright
enough eyes fairly shone with glad
ness.
"Do you know, Aunt Cecilia" said
she as she Rugged and kissed the little
woman, ut is just like getting home
again to see your dear face once more
When saw Thomas and the pony and
the carriage at the station, said r.
myself 'Ah, now you will soon be
among old friends!"
Come away in, dear" said the wild
ow, quite as affectionately, and she
took the girl by the arm and led heI
into the house. 81 declare II does my
heart good to hear your voice again."
"And papa is so sorry he couldn't
come with me this time" continued
this blithe young damsel, who looked
all round the drawing room as If ex
pecting to see some one, "but the fact
is he has found himself a good dea
better of late, and he thinks 1t is be
cause the Kensington neighborhooC
suits him. and he likes the house. The
garden is just about forty yards long
so twenty-five times up and dowr
make an easily measured half mile
and he can get his regulation quantity
done every day without being over
looked by anybody. l think he viii
keep on in that house. He hasn't beer
looking about for any other But-bu
Aunt Cecilia" continued Miss Flor
ence, again glancing back into the hall
"where Is Cousin DickY"
Only for the moment did the widow
seem little embarrassed.
"He has had to go away, dear" sh,
said, striving to appear quite placi'
and unconcerned "He was so yer,
sorry-I was to tell you how sorry h,
was. Nothing but the most absolut,
necessity compelled him-you may b,
sure of that"
Gle has gone away?" said Cousil
, Floss in return, with a kind of puz
, Zled, uncertain look. "Where has h
, gone, Aunt Cecilia?"
"To Bristol, DEAR answered tn
widow.
"Oh, to Bristoln' repeated the youn
lady slowly. "That is where his incl
lives-his Uncle Charles-isn't it?'
And when Mr.. Richards mother sig
nified assent the young lady said n
more. She seemed trifle thoughtful
as she went away to her own room t
look to her things, but when she ar
peared at dinner she was as cheerful
! as ever, and the widow, with affection
ate eyes and many kindly speech
, showed how she rejoiced to have thi
! pleasant companion once more wit
| her.
2 ITO RE cONT,NIIenN