The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-10-31
v I x EN
SS
BY Miss M. E. Brdddon.
CHAPTER V.

The Abbey House looked very quiet
when Vixen went into the hall whose
doors stood open to the soft spring
algnt. The servants were all at sup
per, treating themselves to some extra
comforts on the strength of dinner
party. and talking over the evenings
entertainment and it's bearings on
their mistress's life. There was feel
Ing in the servants hall that these
little dinners, however harmless seem
Ing, had a certain bent and tendency,
aud that one sinister to the house
hold and household peace.
He was more particular in his man.
aer tonight than ever" said the butler
as he dismembered a duck which had
been "hotted up" after removal from
the dining-room. He feels hisself
master of the whole lot of us already.
| could see it in his hi"
They'll be nobody master but him
when once he gets his foot inside
these DOORS" said Mrs. Trimmer, the
housekeeper.
While they were enjoying them
selves, with certain Christening touch
OF prophetic melancholy, in the SER
wants hall, Violet was going slowly
upstairs and along the corridor which
led past her mothers rooms.
Il must go in and wish mamma good
night" she thought; though l am
pretty sure of lecture for my
pains"
T,1cr a+ tbic r,oroopt n dOo-. 1,,apod
and soft voice called violet,
Violet"
Dear mamma, was just coming in
to say good night
Were you, darling? i heard your
footsteps, and l was afraid you were
going by. And / want very particu-
larry to see you tonight. Violet"
do you, mamma? I hope not to
scold me for going with the school chill
dren. They had such a happy after
noon; and eati it was like a miracle.
Not so little serving for so many. but
so few devouring so much"
Pamela Tempest put her arm round
her daughter, and kissed her with
more warmth of affection than she had
shown since the sad days after the
squire's death. Violet looked at her
mother wonderingly. She could hardly
see the widows fair, delicate face in
the dimly-lighted room.
Even in that subdued light Violet
could see that her mothers cheeks
were pinker than usual, that her eyes
were clouded with tears, and her man
ner anxiously agitated.
Mamma" cried the girl, there is
something wrong. know. Something
has happened"
There is nothing wrong, love. But
something has happened. Something
which hope will not make you un-
happy-for 1t has made me very
happy"
You are talking in enigmas. nam
ma, and I am too tired to be good at
guessing riddles just now" said Vio-
let, becoming suddenly cold as ice.
A few moments ago she had been all
gentleness and love, responding to the
unwonted affection of her mothers
caresses Now she drew herself away
and stood aloof. with her heart beat
ing fast and furiously. She OWNED
what was coming. She had guessed
the riddle already.
Come and sit by the fire, Violet
and 1 will tell you-everything," said
Mrs. Tempest, coaxingly.
II can hear what you have to tell
just as well where / am" answered
Violet, CURLY, walking to the latticed
window, which was open to the night
The moon was shining over the rise
and fall of the woods; the scent oil
flowers came stealing up from the gar
den. Without, all was calm and
sweetness; within, fever and smoth
cred wrath.
81 don't think / can tell you-the
little secret 1 have to tell, Violet, un
less you come over to me and sit by
my side, and give me your hand, and
let me feel IS If you were really fond
of me-" pleaded Mrs. Tempest, with q
little sush of piteousness. You seem
like an enemy, standing over there
with your back to me, looking out al
the sky"
Perhaps there is no need Tor yor
to tell me anything, mamma" an
swered Violet, in voice which, to that
tremulous listener in the low seat by
the fire, sounded as severe Is the voice
of a Judge pronouncing sentence
Shall tell you the secret?"
Il cont think you can, my love-"
Eyes, am afraid can. The secret
which is no secret to me or to any
one else in the world. any more thar
the place the ostrich has put his head
is a secret when his body is sticking
up out of the sand-the secret is that
after being for seventeen happy, hon
orable years the wife of tn. best ant
truest of men, the kindest, most de
voted, and most generous of husbands
you are going to take another husband
who comes to you with no better ere
dentials than a smooth tongue and (;
carefully drilled figure, and who will
cy to my dead father by making the
rest of your life miserable-a5 you viii
deserve that it shall be-"
1T is too bad" cried the widow, 81
Is cruel, undutiful, disrespectful, pos
itisely wicked, for a daughter to tall
to a mother as you have talked to me-
tonight. How can Miss McCroke have
brought you up, wonder, that you
are capable of using such language
Have you forgotten the Fourth Com
mandment?"
NO. 1t tells me to honor my father
and my mother. l honor my deaC
father, honor you. when try to save
you from the perdition OF a SECOND
marriage. / knew when that adven
turer came here that he intended t.
make himself master of this house
to steal my dead fath,T's place" crieC
Vixen, passionately.
You have no right to call him al
adventurer. He is an officer ard ;
gentleman You offer him a cruel, al
unprovoked insult You insult me still
more deeply by your abuse of him. An
l so old. or so ugly, or so altogether
horrid, that man cannot love mt