New-York tribune., 1906-07-22

]
relgned perfect quietude, a peacefulness ac
centuated by the wheels and hoofs passing in
the dusk outside Al
Vi, said Mrs. Mordaunt, Mr.. van Hun
teldt VIII be here presently"
" How do you know nother2''
coming" &c
% But why every dav?'
p" Is that displeasing TO YOU dear7"
" It seemed superfiuous"
hat comPeis me to suggest to YOU. Vi
Importance"
And why, pray?"
Can YOU not guess"
The girl stood up; she walked restless1v TO
the window and back before she cried: Mother
| nlother Have YOU not had experience enough
OF the curse of men?" Her great ewes rested
glOOmily on the older woman's face. There
was beautiful heredIty marked in the pair.
but seldom have more diverse souls been pent
within similar tabernaces.
Don't speak so recklessly, dear" said the
Old lady. You had the best of fathers There
are good men, too, IN the world, and when a
I man IS good, he IS better than anv woman
It may be So God knows | hope 1t Is so
But IS Mr.. van Hupfeldt quite one of these
fabulous beings? 1t has not struck me"
Please, Violet, don't imagine that | desire
to influence You IN the slightest degree said
Mrs. MOrdaunt. " / merely wish to hint to YOU
what, II fact, You can't be blind TO- that Mr.
van Hupfeldt's inclinations are fixed on YOU
ana that he VIII probably give expression to
them to-day. On Saturday he approached me
on the subject, beseeching me with great
warmth TO hold out TO him hopes which OF
course could not hold out, vet which l did
not feel authorized wholly to DESTROY At anv
rate, was persuaded upon to promise him q
fair field for his enterprise to-day"
" Oh, mother Really, this Is really irritating
OF YOU cried Violet letting fall with a clatter
a spoon She had lifted off the table.
But don't see II. Why so?"
lToF7r led 49,
O." As II / was one OF the two parties con-
| cernedi" laughed Mrs. Mordaunt with a GER
tam maternal complaCenCy. She knew, or
thought she knew. her wayward daughter.
With little tact this most suitable marriage
could be arranged.
No, admitted Violet, angry at the weak
ness OF her defense; " but you allow Yourself
10 be drawn into having a hand in what is
called love affair because Il Is an event;
and Il was not fair TO Mr.. van Hupfeldt, since
YOU knew quite well beforehand what would
be the result"
I" Well, well. purred Mrs. Mordaunt good
hUmoredly, looking down TO stroke the toy
Pom on her lap, a nervous little animal which
one might have wrapped N a handkerchief
- ! VIII say no more. II the thought OF allowing
1 myself 10 be berett OF YOU has occurred to me,
| YOU understand Tor whose good l gave It a
| moment S entertainment. Marriage. OF course,
| IS a change Of lie, and for girls whose minds
! have been overshadOwed by sorrow, Il may not
/ be altogether bad thing
But there IS usually some selection III the
matter, ! think, some pretense Of preference
for one above Others. Just marriage by itself
| hardly seems q goal"
Yes. love IS good. dear-none knows
| better than but better marriage without
| love, than love without marriage" uuttered
| Mrs Nordaunt, suddenly shaken.
And better still life with neither, It seems
10 me; and best Of all, the end Of life, and
| good-by to II all mother"
Vi VI, Sh-h-h, dear" Mrs. Mordaunt was
so genuinely shocked that her daughter swung
/ the talk back into its personal channel
Still, | VIII not see this man. Tell him
when he comes that I VIII not see him. He has
| held out to me hopes which he has done nothing
TO fulfil"
What hopes dear
You NAV as well know: hopes as to
| Gwen, then"
! Tell NE.
Twice he has hinted TO me that he knows
| some one who knew the man named Strauss
that ne would succeed n finding this Strauss;
that all was quite, quite well and that he did
not despair Of finding some trace OF the where
abouts Of the child. He had no right TO say
| such things, # he had not some real grounds
for believing that ne would do as he limited
| Il IS TWO months ago now since he last spoke
| IN this wav down at Rigsworth, and he has