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


all the splendors of the spring were
beginning to declare themselves III piot
and bed and border, seemed empt!
now.
81 could not have believed ] should
have missed her so much the willow
said sadly. -,
And. as for Mr.. Richard he was III
ot ease. His thoughts, which, he Knew
sbould have been turned toward brls'
fol. went in quite another direction
and would hover in spite OF hlmseii
about Kensington and the neighbor'
hood of Holland Park. Poor NancieDefs
fortnightly letters TO himself were mol
looked for half so eagerly as COUSIN
Floss hasty scrawls sent down To her
dear Aunt Cecilia, and Mr. klcharu
would lie in wait for these, and when
ever he found one on the hall table he
would at once carry it TO his mother,
with the seemingly careless question:
what has Florence TO say now' ma
teri" For. indeed, Cousin Floss seemed
70 find a great many things to say to
the widow. She was continually writ
ing on some kind Of excuse, and she
invariably wound up with pretty and
affectionate speeches and hopes OF
speedy reunion. Cousin Floss did not
write to Mr.. Richard, of course-that
was too much to expect-but in one
way or another his name generally
came to be mentioned. and sometimes
there were tantaliZing and even i'm
pertinent messages for him.
who is this Captain Webster. Rich
ard, dear?" the widow asked on one
occasion.
| Mr.. Richard blushed angrily.
"Oh, he's some young idiot-aid-de'
Nmp to a colonial governor or some
thing Of that kind"
But why should Florence send you
this message about himT Mrs. King
ston asked again.
"Oh, WELL" said he. with a fine air
of assumed Indifference, FLORENCE told
me something about him before. He
was on board the steamer they came
home in. and, as he left the ship at Gil
braltar, | suppose she was surprised
when she found him turn up in Lon
dom"
Meanwhile the continual unrest and
downheartedness that had character
lied his manner ever since their return
to Woodend had not escaped the anx-
ious mothers eyes. and one evening
she made bold to speak of it.
well, mater" said he, II don't know
what it is except that feel ! am In a
wrong position altogether. l am tired
Of doing nothing. ! want to go away
Look at Nancy. The separation that
was agreed upon tells more hardly on
her than on me, for she is kept apart
from her friends and relatives, while
| live on just as before. It's hardly
fair. think ! should 60 away from
England for a time-for a considerable
time-until, indeed, this period Of sep
aration ends, and then | could come
back and marry Nancy. and everything
would be settled and right am sure
If once the wedding took place al
would be we'll"
81 suppose" said the widow absently
that my Selfishness must be punished
in the end. 1t was | who have kept yor
in idleness, Richard, and now you fire.
and want to go. l should have though
you could have found some way o.
passing the few months that mus
oil hnfnpa ha INF
speak of. And if you find the house 81
dull-well, l had not intended to tel
you; it was little surprise we hat
arranged-but Florence is comm,
down to stay with us for awhile"
as Florence coming down here?'
he asked slowly and with a strange
expression of face.
Something peculiar in his tone strucl
her. She looked up as she said:
"Yes. 1t was to be little surpris
for YOU
Mother" he said hastily, 81 will
not be in this house when Florenc,
comes. You must make some excuse
for me. l will go abroad, or | will g
down to Bristol and live in the tow
and only see Nancy from time to time
Florence comes"
The truth flashed upon her in an in
slant, but amid all her alarm and be
wilderment she had the courage t,
say in a low voice:
"You are right, Richard. If it is as
suspect-ah, well, there is no use think
ing now of what might have been
you must none the less do what i
right. 1t was thoughtless of me to asl
Florence to come down again, but hoy
could any one help loving her? She i
such a dear girl, so bright and cleveran,
good tempered. But you, Richard-you
honor is at stake. OF course you hay
said nothing to herY
'"To Florence? Certainly not, mott
er. How could 1? But there is NO
another word to be said. You mus
make some excuse for me to Florence
and l must CO."
No, there was no use saying anythin
further, but the widow could not hel
adding, almost in an undertone an
wistfully:
"If things could only have been di1
ferent, Richard! l cannot help thinl
ing that Florence-well, she has Away
seemed so much interested in you, an
she would always talk so much abou
you when she and l were alone t.
gether, and you yourself see how 70
are never out Of her letters-ah, wei
it is no use thinking Of what is impos
sible, but if you had been free and
you had gone to your cousin l don
think you need have feared her al
swer'-
He turned very pale.