Middletown transcript., 1904-10-22
a DOUBLE DISOBEDIENCE
TcoNTINUED FROM LAST IssuEl
CHAPTER VII

p
as he calls her now-if you want TO kno"
anything about her antecedents, De
lieye can tell you," Lady Penryth sale
in low confidential voice to Mrs. Marsh
a rather fast widow who was among tht
number of the guests gathered at Mr.
Daryps house.
ssDraw your chair closer. There is nc
use in everybody hearing the tale; bu
you, Mrs. Marsh, 1 know are discretion
itself, and perfectly safe to entrnst any
thing to-
"Oh, shall never breathe a word o
what you may choose to tell me, mur
INJURED the widow eagerly, rather sur
prised to find her reputation for discre
ton so unimpeachable in Lady Penryth'
eyes. "We could not help knowing o
course that there was more than we were
told in the sudden appearance OF a grand
daughter whem nobody even knew tina
Mr.. Daryps son was married. suppose
that that is all right, dear Lady Fen
ryth p
"My nephew's marriage, you mean
Yes-that is all right. You need nave
no scruples in associating with the glr
on that account. Every one Is aware
how particular you are, and it wouie
never do to bring person into your com
pany who was not at least highly re
spectacle"
Mrs. Marsh, affecting not to notice the
sarcasm. in the last speech, leaned ior
ward eagerly, and Lady Penryth wen
on
"You, with your unexceptionabis circle
of friends. NAV not know that there is
certain person called Warrender, living
at a place called Merridale, quite close
to U.s.
"But l know Mr. Warrender," mur
INJURED Mrs. Marsh, puzzled. That is
'sLet me advise you, then, to drop III:
acquaintance !" cried Lady Penryth, rails
ing her voice. "I should not like to re-
peat to you, ignorant as every one knows
you to be of the wickedness Of the world
the stories that are afloat about the life
which that young man lives.
"WelI, my brother accidentally heard
that there was some love affair between
this Warrender and his granddaughter,
and he determined of course to put an
end to it at once. He had no fancy fol
his heiress to follow in her mothers foot.
steps, which Warrender's life would have
driven her to if she had married HIM.
Mr.. Daryl had not intended to acknowl-
edge the girl at once, but, when he heard
what was likely to take place, he had no
choice.
However, here the worst part of the
story comes in. This will shock a per-
son of your refined feeling, | know.
was at the pains to tell her in what esti-
nation Warrender was held, but it had
no effect on her. She is dying of love
for him, | hear, and my brother does not
know to what extent her infatuation may
carry her. Only yesterday she met her
lover, and could not hide her agitation
from everybody's eyes. She had to run
and shut herself up in her room the
moment she came in to try to recover
her composure."
"ShockingP' cried Mrs. Marsh, who
was rather disappointed not to find the
story quite as interesting as she had ex-
pected.
81 told my brother that it was only
what might be expected from person Of
her bringing up" Lady Penryth went
on. "These bourgeois never know how to
conceal their feelings. And the worst of
it is that Lord de Bruyne was with her
You may have remarked-you are so
very unselfsh about the attentions that
other women receive-that he seemed
inclined to be taken with her, but Of
course he will never think of marrying
her now. She may give up all thought
of that
sBut if she is in love with Mr.. War
render she will not care about Lord de
Bruyne," Mrs. Marsh objected.
"Warrender will not marry her. Every
body knows that she is dying about him,
but he has sufficient common sense to be
aware that his pretensions to Miss Daryl
are over after what we have heard. And
now she cannot get Lord de Bruyne
either I never pretend to virtue, and
do not mind telling you plainly, Mrs.
Marsh, that l think the girl only got
what she deserved but you, I am sure,
are SO sweet and kind that you will pity
her, or will say that you do. Every one
knows Mrs. Marsh's womanly charitv."
81 cannot say that pity Miss DARYL"
Mrs. Marsh replied, not finding these
constant sneers agreeable, ''if she cannot
control her feelings sufficiently to conceal
her attachment for a man such as Won
describe Mr.. Warrender. OF course no.
body could expect Lord de Bruyne to
take any more notice of her. Where is
Miss Daryl just now, Lady Penryth? 1t
Strikes me that have not seen her for
some time"
I do not keep watch ON her move.
ments. Shall we 60 back to the drawing
room? This conservatory is rather cool
for me, being an old woman. A person
like you, in the first bloom of youth does
not notice it..
Mrs. Marsh, who had begun to be of
an uncertain age, Redeemed and rose. GLAD
to escape from the spitefulness OF her
companion. She had found her reyela-
tions rather dull, and, though she might
make some capital out OF Miss Daryps
infatuation for Mr.. Warrender, and Lord
de- Brayne's consequent scorn for her
she could not, on the whole, render the
story highly interesting. She Quilted
Lady Penryth as soon as she conyen-
iently could, and mingled with the other
guests. She only half believed the stories
which Lady Penryth had hinted at in
connection with Mr.. Warrender. and sbe
vaguely wondered if she had not hoo,
made fool OF by that wicked old woman
She came fo tho oonoln.;o,,