The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-01-02
CHAPTER XVIII.

NO Sttcl blessing as q SOOQ night
rest was in store for Violet Tempest
On that night of the first of August.
She lay in a state of half-conscious-
ness that was hear akin to delirium.
at last. with laggard steps. with OPP
pressive hardness, came the dawn, the
long streaks of lurid light above the
edge of the distant waters.
Red sky at morning is the shep-
herds warningi" cried Vixen, with dry
lips. Thank heaven, there Will be
rain today Welcome change after
the hot, arid skies, and the cruel
brazen sun, mocking all the miseries of
this troubled earth
"She felt almost as wildly glad as
the Ancient Mariner at the idea of that
blessed relief; and then, by and by,
with the changeful light shining on her
face, she fell into q deep sleep.
Perhaps that morning sleep saved
Vixen from an impending fever. 1t
was the first refreshing slumber she
had had for a week-a sweet, dream
less sleep The breakfast bell rang
unheeded. The rain, forecast by that
red sky, fell in soft showers upon the
verdant isle, and the grateful earth
gave back it's sweetest perfumes to the
cool, moist air. Violet awoke and
found that it was midday.
+, Her mood and temper were Won
drously softened after long interval
of thought and prayer. She was
ashamed OF her waywardness of yes
terday-her foolish, unreasonable pas
sion.
Poor Rorie, l told him to keep his
promise, and he has obeyed me-" she
said to herself. Can I be angry with
him for that, i ought to feel proud
and glad that we were both strong
enough to do our duty"
She dressed slowly, languid after the
excitement of yesterday, and then
went slowly down the broad bare stair
case to Miss Skipwith's parlor.
The lady of the manor received her
with affectionate greeting, and had a
special pot of tea brewed for her, and
insisted on her eating some dry toast,
form of nourishment which this tenn
pcrate lady deemed a panacea in i'll
ness.
Il was positively alarmed about you
last night, my DEAR" she said; you
were so feverish and excited You
read too much for the first day"
I'm afraid / did," assented Vixen,
with faint smile; land the worst of
it is, / believe / have forgotten every
word I read"
nrin III
Mortified at the admission you
seemed so impressed-so interested.
You were so full of your subject"
"I'll go for my favorite walk to
Mount Orgueil. / don't think there1l
be any more rain. Pelase excuse me
if am not home in time for dinner. /
can have little cold meat, or an egg,
for my tea"
You had better take a sandwich
with YOU" said Miss Skipwith, with
unusual thoughtfulness. you have
been eating hardly anything lately"
Vixen did not care about the sand
witch, but submitted to please her
hostess, and neat little paper parcel,
containing about three ounces of nutri-
4
Doddery. Never had the island looked
fairer in its Summer beauty than it
did to-day, after the mornings rain.
These showers had been to Jersey
what sleep had been to Vixen.
Resignation was to be her portion
henceforward She must live out her
life in isolation almost as complete as
| p . Uff hn inn
decisions which gave substance and
color to that lonely lady's existence.
IF / could only have a craze" she
thought hopelessly, "some harmless
monomania which would fill my mind,
The maniacs in Bedlam, who fancy
themselves popes or queens. are happy
in their foe lish way"
| The sur was gaining power, the air
was drorssy, the soft ripple of the tide
upon the golden sand was like 1ulla-
by. Even that long sleep of the morn
ing had not cured Vixen's WEAKNESS.
There were long arrears of slumber to
be made UP. Her eyelids dropped,
then closed altogether, and Vixen sank
quietly to sleep. her head claiming on
|
family stirring her loose hair.
J "'Ol, happy kiss that woke thy
sleer,'" cried familiar voice close in
the slumberer's ear; and then a warm
| breath, which was not the Summer
wind, famed the cheek which lay i.p-
most upon her arm, two warm lips
!; were pressed against that glowing
| oh IN ardent Tho ri ri
started to her feet, every vein tingling
with the thrilling recognition of her as
sailant There was no one else-none
other than he in this wide world who
would do such a thing! She sprang
up and faced him, her eyes flashing,
her cheeks crimson.
How dare you!" she cried. pray,
is this the nearest way to Norway"
Yes, it was Rorie, looking exactly
| like the familiar Rorie of old; not one
whit altered by marriage with a dukes
daughter
Not to my knowledge" answered
this audacious villain, in his lightest
tone. 81 am not very geographical.
But / should think 1t was rather out of
the way"
"Then you and Lady Mabel have
changed your plans?" said Vixen, trem-
bling very much, but trying desper-
atelv to be as calmly commonplace as
a young lady talking to an ineligible
! partner at ball. you are not going
to the north of Europe?"
| Lady Mabel and have changed our
i IL ~, ~ nrth
of Europe"
/ "Ohi"
'In point of fact, we are not going
anywhere"
But you have come to Jersey. That
is part of your tour, suppose?"
do not be too hasty in your suppo-
sitions, Miss Tempest. have come to
jersey am quite willing to admit as
much as that"