The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-02-06

~ gnarlmous-..it is easier to get over
the fittings Of those who are gone than
It might be, Ayou know, II one was ac-
tualTy thrown with them IN ones ualsy
life. when people are dead one can't
think Of any Of their errors 100
harshly.''
Jane's eyes glowed through az tneir
misery at this extraordinary trair OF
generosity in Mr.. Mohun.
Il am glad you have spoken so, Git
ford. It reminds me Of how should
speak and how should feel. Yes, !
will try never to be ashamed OF them
again. AS you say, their faillngs
should be lightly dealt with noW--lor
they are dead!''
And then, distinctly and without fai-
tering once, she told him, almost Wora
for word, what Mr.. Clithero had toiA
her respecting her mothers birth ana
history.
A nameless French actress-better
nameless perhaps than if she had been
more known. Well, Gifford's pride had
ID make an immense effort, but he did
gulp it down. 1t was merciful that the
woman was a foreigner-still more SO
that she was forgotten and dead. The
dreadful disclosure might have turned
out worse and then Jane really was
very beautiful (when she was looking
her best and he was very much in
love with her, and he would have been
very sorry indeed to have had to dis
appoint himself.
With a great deal of tenderness, not
unmixed with condescension, he began
to let her know that lie could not allow
her to break off their engagement, even
for such cause as she had just stated.
But Jane interrupted him interrupt
ed him with passionate haste with
looks, with words, that froze back all
Chords conventional speeches, all
small vanity yes, for the moment,
even all thought Of himself or of what
he felt and was going to do.
81 can't believe it, My God, this is
too frlghtful!"
Clifford Mohun was selfish to the
very core self-loying, splf-seeking, self
approving; thirsting for all earthly
good to be centered in himself; and
singularly apathetic, as a rule. to the
sufferings of any person whose suffer-
iDgs happened to be necessary to his
pleasures. But he was only boy; and,
however fine the raw material IN other
respects, no boy ever possessed the
prime, the essential quality for thor
ough man of the world--moral callous-
ness. A man must have gone through
a good deal of life to be perfect master
of very difficult situation in an in
slant; and Clifford had gore through
very little of life. and his brain turned,
and for a moment-for one moment-he
felt as though his voice was going to
be choked with sobs, and that he would
take Jane to his breast and bid her
stay there forever, because of the very
magnitude Of the horror that had fallen
upon himself and upon her alike.
But the reyulsion Of feeling came
quickly; and with that first irrepressi-
Bile instinct died the best chance of Gift
ford ATohun's life. Marry the daughter
of such man-ally his old name TO one
which, since he was q schoolboy. he
had himself heard spoken Of in connec-
ton with dishonor? Hot shame at the
bare thought of such marriage
thrilled through his veins and rose IN
dignantly to his cheek. He felt that
he had been shamefully, monstronsly
deceived The guilt lay with those
who, knowing what she was, had ever
allowed him to love Jane Grand. Now
only one course lay before him TO
break with her at once and forever, to
become the talk of all the country
round, and then to get far away and
fry to live down and forget the shame
and bitterness of all this miserable
business that had been forced upon
him.
This-if emotion could ever be truly
rendered by words-was something like
what now passed through Gifford's
heart. He did not think that first boy
ish impulse over of Jane, or of her
grief, or of her love. He thought of
what he loved best-himseif: and how
quickest to get away from what he
hated most-his own pain. And
think, II Jane could have read his soul
during these first moments, she might
II speak with diffidence, knowing how
rooted such women are in their fond
superstitIons-she might have found a
cruel but eficacious check to some of
the idolatry with which, for many
years afterward, she continued to re-
gard him.
II have been treated shamefully," he
repeated. between his closed teeth. He
had started at the eliminating part of
Jane's story and was marching up and
down the room, regardless ofsthe mar
BILE face and frightened, fearless eyes
that followed him as he marched.
(To be continued)
: Be In Earnest.