The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-10-18
CHAPTER XII.
Latent Jealousies.

Aunt Hosle, dryly. Jealousy, MS evil
lent is a sentiment out of date. A pair
If old-fashioned sweethearts will soon,
take it, be objects for museum, and
What was courtship?' question for
competitive examination in archaeol-
/ ogy.'
| Three days have elapsed since the
dinner party on board the Liberia and,
through the lozenged windows Of the
Misses Vansittarts parlor the western
sun shines upon the unwonted sight
Of company -expectant household;
I shines upon Daphne, her fair arms
/ barred to the elbow as she piles up
dish after dish Of strawberries and
+ flowers; upon Aunt Hosie, somewhat
lushed in the face, and holding little
paper parcels of the best, seldom used
silver in her hands.
The queer thing is" she proceeds,
/ pausing Of sudden in her work, and
looking significantly across at her
niece's face--"the queer thing is, that,
having abandoned the old-fashioned
illusion Of love, young women should
retain so firm and eager faith in the
old-fashioned institution of marriage!
But these contradictions are the mark
of the age, People snetr at their
Bibles and are firm believers in Plan
Ghetto. Oblige me, Daphne, by ar
ranging your flowers so as to bring
Mr.. Felix Broughton as little before
my sight as possible. AT fifty-six
years old''- whenever Aunt Hosie is
at all out of temper win the world
or its goings on, she makes these kinds
of raids upon her own age-'at fifty
six years old one ought to know, to
have grown callous to every new de-
velopment Of human folly. Unfortu-
nately, have not done so. An eye
glassed dandy, monosyllabically toler-
ant Of the universe, myself included,
is what ! cannot abide"
For the last time Inc principal actors
in this small drama have agreed to
meet together. Sir John Severne,
called away on settlement business by
his lawyers, will quit the island to-
morrow morning. Felix Broughton
is to start for Paris a few hours later.
The Liberia, wind and wave permit
ting, will leave for conger fishing off
Chaupie's toward noon. In another
four-and-twenty hours Daphne Chester
alone will be left-left to live out the
Did, blank, self-colored life of Fief-de-
Ia-Reine, to hear the motiveless fall
of the waves, watch the rose leaves
futter and die around the sun dial;
left to stagnate, as she used to do be-
fore Severne's coming had brought
back human warmth and vitality into
the sluggish currents of her existence
AN old womsn's opinions signify
nothing pursues Aunt Hosie. as she
distributes round the forks and spoons.
"An old woman's opinions signify
nothing happily for Mr.. Broughton-
SO long as young and pretty girls are
content to listen to the words Of wis
dom that fall from his lips. Although,
how person as cultivated as Miss
Hardcastle, not to speak of yourself
you are listening to inc, Daphne ?--how
young women, destituts neither of
parts nor education. can hold out the
encourage cement they do to an empty
headed creature like Cousin Felix
passes MY cOlupEtueuSAuu
should premise that during the past
three days Felix Rroughton and Miss
Hardcastle have, through one seeming
accident or another, fingered away the
greater portion of their time at Fief-
della RENE. Aunt Hosie has, in con-
sequence. had ample opportunity for
verifying her judgments in the matter
of modern love-making and modern
lovers. The drift of her remarks will
suffice to show in what direction these
judgments tend.
Felix Broughton may not be Sol
omon," says Mrs. Chester, IF he were,
/ don't suppose he would care to talk
to me. AS for his eye-glass, cannot
see that short sight is proof of shall
low brains. Besides, how good he is
to Paul! Always something in his
pockets for the child always"
Don't take the unnecessary trouble
of accusing yourself by these excuses"
interrupts Aunt Hosie, coolly. Daphne
Chester is no more in love with Mr..
Felix Broughton than Clementina
Hardcastle is in love with Sir John
Severne. 1t would be quite impossible
for me to find stronger language in
which to express myself"
Daphne hides her face away behind
the shelter of a bowl she has been Law
lshly filling with roses, pinks and hon
eysuckles.
Miss Hardcastle is to become Sir
John Severne's wife some time in Au-
gust-oh. there is no doubt about it,
Aune Hostel The dresses are ordered.
the color of the bridesmaids bonnets
decided on. For aught we can tell, it
may not be the fashion for engaged
people to pay open attention to each
other"
Human nature is the fashion al
ways" cries Aunt Hosie, suddenly
abandoning her tone of banter. ''Doa
Eou think. il Miss Hardcastle loved Sir
John Severne. she would tolerate his
lukewarm attentions for a day? Do
you think she would not show jeal-
Dusy--yes, dare use the word hon
est, natural. commendable jealousy. of
walks by sunrise, walks between
and o'clock on a June morning. with
woman as young and well looking
as yourselfs,
At this sharp home thrust the color