The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-11-07
CHAPTER VI.


rousseau, subject of such anxious
thoughts, so much study, was com
pleted, and she sat with fixed eyes
deep in thought. and looked uneasily
at the little gem of watch dangling
on its ormulu and jasper stand A
quarter to one. Violet must have gone
to bed hours ago, unless Violet were
like her mother, too unhappy to be
able to sleep. Mrs. Tempest was seized
with sudden desire to see her daugh-
ter. She took her candle and went
through the dark, silent house TO Vio-
let's room, and knocked gently.
Come in" said the girls clear voice
with a wakeful sound
"Ah." thought Mrs. Tempest, trium-
phantly. obstinate as she is. she
knows she is doing wrong. Conscience
won't let her sleep"
Vixen was standing at her window,
leaning with folded arms upon the
broad wooden ledge. looking out at
the dim garden, over which the pale
stars were shining. There was a
moon, but it was hidden by drifting
clouds.
Not in bed, v,olet?" said her
mother, sweetly.
No, mamma"
What have you been doing all these
hours?"
Il don't know-thinking
And you never came to wish me
good-night?"
Il did not think you would want me.
I thought you would be busy packing
for your honeymoon"
That was not kind, Violet. You
must have known that l should have
many painful thoughts tonight"
i did not know it. And if it is so, l
can only say it is a pity the painful
thoughts did not come little sooner. :"
Violet, you are as hard as iron, as
cold as icei" cried Mrs. Tempest, with
passionate fretfulness.
mo, 1 am not, MARINA l can love
very warmly where / love deeply. |
have given this night to thoughts of
my dead father, whose place is to be
nsurped in this house from tomor-
row."
Il never knew any one so unkind.
could not have believed il possible in
my own daughter. / thought you had
a good heart, Violet; and yet you do
not mind making me intensely
wretched on my wedding day
Why should you be wretched,
mamma, because / prefer not 10 be
present at your wedding? If l were
there, / should be like the bad fairy
at the princess's christening. / should
look at everything with q malevolent
eye"
Mrs. Tempest flung herself into a
chair and burst into tears.
Violets heart was touched by the
spectacle OF her mothers weakness, by
the mute appeal of those tears.
What does it matter to me, after
all, whether l am absent or PRESENT."
she argued at last. 81 cannot prevent
this man coming to take possession of
my fathers house. I cannot hinder
the outrage to my fathers memory.
Mamma has been very kind to me, and
/ have no one else in the world to
love-"
She took few more turns, and then
stopped by her mothers chair.
win it really make you happier,
mamma, if am at your wedding?"
TT will make me quite happy"
Very well, then; it shall be as you
please. But remember, shall look like
the wicked fairy. / can't help that"
Violet did not look like the malevo-
lent fairy in the old story, but she had
look and air which told every one
that this marriage was distasteful to
her
When all was over, and the register
had been signed in the vestry. Cap
tain Carmichael came up to her, with
both hands extended before all the
company.
MY dear Violet, I am your father
now" he said You shall not find me
Wanting in my duty"
Shs drew back Involuntary; and
then, seeing the focus of so many eyes
suffered him to touch the tips Of her
fingers
You are very kind" she said. "a
daughter can have but one father, and
mine is dead. 1 hope you will be a
good husband to my mother. That Is
all desire Of you"
All the best people heard this
speech, which was spoken deliberate
ly, in a low, clear voice, and they de
cided nwardly that whatever kind oil
wife Captain Carmichael might have
won for himself, he had found his
match in his step-daughter.
Violet did not want society. She
made excuses for refusing ali invita-
lions. The solitude of her life did no,
af1ict her. If it could have continued
forever, if Captain Carmichael and hel
mother could have wandered about the
earth, and left her in peaceful posses
sion of the Abbey House. with the old
servants, old horses, old dogs, all
things undisturbed as in her fathers
time, she would have been happy. II
was the idea Of change, a new and
upstart master in her fathers place
which tortured her. Any delay which
kept off that evil hour was a blessed
relief; but, alas; the evil hour was
coming. it was close at hand.
All things had been set in order fol-
the return. of the newly-married
couple. Mrs. Trimmer had her dinner
ready to be put in hand at a moments
notice. Violet felt the end of bel
peaceful life was very near. How
would she bear the change? How
would she be able to behave herself
decently? Wen. she would try hel
best, Heaven giving her strength
That was her last resolve. She would
not make the poor frivolous mother
unhappy.
Forgive me. beloved father, If / an
civil to the usurper." she said I'll
VIII be for my mothers sake. You
were always tender and indulgent to
her; you woald not like to see her
unhappy"
These were yiolet's thoughts one