The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-11-08

ROMANCE q REALITY,
BY Miss ANNIE EDWARDS.

DeSlu VIII, nave Ahuutlhs 4HANJ
that Sir John Severne will not be in
cOnsolable.
! Daphne rises hastily and moves
across to side window. Away on
| the orchard terrace she can see Sew
erne'S figure, just as in the old happy
| days, with Paul in his arms. Aunt
Hosie is in conversation with him
animated, eager conversation, look
Of mingled surprise and happiness on
her sunburnt face.
81 was thinking badly Of no one" she
answers. very low. Il was only won
dering
"Over the unaccountably foolish
choice Of Clementina Hardcastle All
WELL" says Mrs. Broughton, falling
back upon one Of her stir little blue
stocking phrases. "the depth Of human
perversity in these matters seems still
to be an undetermined quantity. You
must remember, If you wish to be char
| table," she adds. "that did not go
from my word quite without strug-
gle. After / returned to London in
June it was settled thing that
ydreary farce go on-let Mrs. Hard
castle busy herself over dresses and
bonnets, and the lawyers and papa
addle their heads over settlements.
without telling any Of them that my
heart was breaking. ! had only to
think Of the error of giving up rich
lover there was the shame Of aban-
doning eausel AS Lady Seyerne,
with money, with influence, ! might
have founded scholarships for my sex.
laid the first stone Of a new college or
two, and, perhaps, in time, have
stepped into the lecturers chair my
self AS it was-as 1t was. Mrs. Ches-
ter, broke down suddenly one day,
just as the miliner was to have fitted
on my wedding gown! broke down,
confessed everything, wrote to Sir
John, who was away In Scotland, and
was sent of, in disgrace, to do PEN
ance with Cousin Ethelberta, the cross
grained typical old maid of my moth
er's family in Devonshire.D
ssAnd Mr.. Broughton, what had be-
come Of Mr.. Broughton all this timer"
Felix was in Paris, poor fellow, ex-
pecting daily, SO he says, to be asked
over, as best man, to the wedding.
However this may be- he made his APP
pearance in Devonshire just one week
after arrived there. Old Ethelberta,
to our wild amazement, turned out
bricki Yes, brick" says Clementina,
with tears in her eyes. and, for the
first time in her mortal life, STOPPING
to word of slang. when she heard
my story, and how / had given up
money for love, Ethelberta declared
had behaved as people did in her
youth, and received Felix with open
arms You can imagine the rest.
Without bridesmaids, white satin, or
settlements, we were married one
summer morning in the village church,
Cousin Ethelberta acting as witness.
the parish clerk giving me away. and
have lived happily and contentedly
ever since"
The bride pauses
.And your own iamily?v asks
Daphne, "the people who care for you
most? Has your marriage been kept.
secret from them all?''
"Well in time, naturally, we had to
write penitential supplications, not
only for forgiveness, but for money;
Mrs. Hardcastle sent me down my
rousseau, without word or message
the irony Of twenty-four silk dresses.
all with trains, to people who want
bread! Papa inclosed check for FIVE
hundred pounds, and begged we would
look upon the gift as q final one. These
are our material prospects, says
Clementina, cheerfully. "Ethelberta.
however, looks as If she would
live another half century hints that
we are to be her heirs. and Felix
thinks he will some day be made Sec
ond Secretary, with a salary Of three
hundred and fifty pounds a year. in
Vienna! For this winter, we are going
to economic in Italy. You look grave
still, Mrs. Chester?"
II am thinking Of your father and
OF Sir John,s is Daphne's answer.
papa has begun to relent already.
had a kind little note from him,
written. You may be sure, withouh Mrs.
Hardcastle's leave, the evening before
left Devonshire. AS for Sir John-I
confidently look to the Lady Severne
Of the future, that unknown but not
impossible She,'" says Clementina.
with meaning, ito restore his hap
piness. DO you despair OF my predic-
ton being fulhlled?"
But Sin John and Paul having by
this time reached the parlor window,
Mrs. Chester's answer remains forever
unspoken.
(The Endl