The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-12-26
CHAPTER XVII.

Vixen had been more than a year in
the Island of Jersey. She had lived
and made no moan. 1t was a dreary
exile, but it seemed to her that there
was little else for her to do In life
but dawdle through the long, slow
days, and bear the burden of living; at
least until she came of age, and was
Independent, and could go where she
pleased. She had reasons of her own
for quietly submitting to this joyless
life. Mrs. Carmichael kept her in.
formed of all that was doing in Hamp-
shire, and even at the Queen Ann
house at Kensington. She knew that
Roderick Vawdrey's wedding day was
fixed for August 1. Was it not better
than she should be far away, hidden
from her small world, while those mar
riage bells were ringing across the
darkening beech-woods?
Her sacrifice had not been vain Her
lover had speedily forgotten that brief
madness of last midsummer and had
returned to his allegiance
Lady Mabel is looking prettier than
ever, her mother wrote. u cannot find
out who makes her dresses, but they
are exquisitely becoming to her.
though, for my own part, do not think
the style equal to Theodores. But
then / always supplemented Theo-
dore's ideas with my own suggestions.
Il hear that the trousseau is some
thing wonderful. The lingerie is in
quite a new style; a special mark of
lines has been introduced at Bruges
on purpose for the occasion, and have
heard that the loom is TO be broken
and no more nader But this is per-
haps exaggeration. The lace has all
been made in Buckinghamshire, from
patterns hundred years old-very
quaint and pretty. There is an elegant
simplicity about everything, Mrs. SEQ
bel tells me, which is very charming.
The costumes for the Norwegian tour
are heather-colored waterproof cloth,
with stitched borders, plain to the last
degree. but with a chic that redeems
their piainness.
Conrad and | received an early in
vitation to the wedding. He will go;
but / have refused, on the ground of
ill-health. And. indeed, my dear Vio-
let, this is no idle excuse. Ny health
has been declining ever since you left
US. / was always a fragile creature, as
you know, even in your dear papa
time; but of late the least exertion has
made me tremble like leaf.
IL fuso
well and happy, but / do not see much
of him. Believe me, dear, you acted
well and wisely in leaving home when
you did. 1t would have been a dread
full thing If Lady Mabel's engagement
had been broken off on account of an
idle filtration between you and Rorie.
Frederick is making considerable
improvements and alterations at Briar-
wood. He is trying to make the house
pretty fear an impossible task.
There is commonplace tone about the
building that defies Improvement The
orchid-houses at Ashbourne are to be
taken down and removed to Briarwood.
Lord Mallow is staying at Ashbourne
for the wedding. His success in the
House of Commons has made him
quite lion. He called and took tea
with me the other day. He is very
nice. All, my dearest Violet, what a
pity you could not like him. 1t would
have been such a splendid match for
you, and would have made Conrad
and me so proud and happy"
Vixen folded the letter with a sigh.
She was sitting in her favorite place in
the neglected garden, the figs ripening
above her among their broad ragged
leaves, and the green Slopes and val
leys lying beneath her-orchards and
meadows, and pink homesteads, under
sultry Summer haze.
Poor mammal" she said to herself,
with Multiplying tenderness, 1T has
always been her particular vanity to