Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-03-13

sIbsn : uoihlng to tell be said 4
IA q tono 80 utterly new 10 Der IN It's
fnaliiy that she sat up as though It's
tening 10 an unknown woke
Tone anl words 50 completely ex-
clutlcl her from ire new Intimacy INTO
which she had imper-piihiy driitci
Thai loih saideuiy developed sis
nilirau,r from sheer contrast WI.
was the glri. then. Of whom he had
absolutely nothing 20 saw What WAS
she TO himy What could she lie u
hIm-an artnrss. woman OF cot9-
mon anter,,lentsg She felt little irri'
tated. little Inundated. little hurt
aud took refuge m silence that DC
did not offer Io break
Early twilight had fallen In the
room The freight grew redder.
sylvia" he said abruptly. reverting
TO the old. light tone limiting OF the
laughter in his eyes which she could
no longer sea-. suppose. as yon shg'
gested. did ambush you-say after
The opeTa-seize you under the very
nose Of your escort and make madiy
for IansomT'
Il know of no other way" she said
dcmuraly.
"wun!d you resist physically"
"Yes would II ] were going to
surrer .cr NJ once ! might US well go
OF to church with you now"
"Wenniston church, he said prompt
IN. "I'l order the motor"
She laughed, lazily settling herself
more snugly by the fire. "Suppos II
were our fire." she smiled. There
would he a dog lying across that rug,
and comfortable Angorn tabby doz-
| ing hy the fender, and-yOu. cross
| legged, at my feet. with that fascinat-
Ing head Of yours tipped back against
my krees."
The laughter in her voice died or'
! and he hal risen. saying unsteadn ::
Don't! IL can't stand that sort ~
thing. you know"
She had made n mistake too She
also he'd suddenly become aware OF her
own limits In the same direction.
Forgive me. dear. | meant no
mockeTy."
Il know. After awhile a man ends
laughter difficult"
II was not laughing at-anythirg. |
1 was only pretending 10 be happy"
your happiness is before you." be
said sullenly.
my future, you mean. You know
am ex changing one for the other. And
some day you will awake 10 the In
fanny Of 1t. You will comprehend the
daprayity of the monstrous trade
made And then - and then" - she
passed one slim hand over her face
then you will shake yourself free
from this dream of me; then, awake,
my punishment ut your hands VIII he.
gin. Dear. no man in his right senses
can continue TO love girl such as
am"
After long silence. do you think
before the year is out that you might
, be granted enough couraseF he asked.
NO. shall not even pray for 1t.
want what Is offered me. lie might
have stopped me. He did not. And
now what is there OH earth TO halt
me? Love cannot. Common decency
and courage cannot. Fear of your un
happiness and mine cannot. No. even
the gertrude Of your contempt some
day is pOwerless TO halt me now.
could not loye--l am utterly Incapable
of lovhg-you enough to balance the
sacrifice. And that is final"
Grace Ferrall came into the room
2 and found duel of silence in prog
ress under the dull fire glow limiting
the ceiling.
".Another quarrel" she commented
turning on the current Of the drol
/ light above the desk from which 81
, ward had risen at her entrance. "Yol
: quarrel enough to marry. Why don
o you|
=, Il wish we could" said Sylvia sim
f ply.
Grace laughed. What little foo
p you are!" she said tenderly. seating
, herself in Siward's chair and dropping
q one hand over his where it rested ol
# the arm. stephen, can't you max
# her-a big strong fellow like you? Oh
q WE'LL on your heads be it, My con
"a science Is now clear for the first time
!. and I'll never NEEDLE again" Sh
gave Siwards hand perfunctory pa
P, and released him with discreetly st
d fed yawn. I'm disgracefuly sleepy
IS The wind blew like fury along tn
n coast. Sylvia. have you had goo
Il time at Shotoyer-the time of you
life"
. Sylvia raised her eyes and encour
tered Siward's.
J. 81 certainly have" she said family.
e The dinner was very gay The cert
t. mony OF christening the Shotoyer cuI
r. which Quarter had won, proceede
y. with presentation speech and speec
+ of acceptance faultlessly common
W place. during which Quarter wore hi
% smile which was the only humorou
o. thing he contributed.
!, The cup was full. SIward eyed |
| perpleXed, deadly afraid, yet seeing n
W avenue of escape from what must az
,e pear Il public exhibition of conteml
lie for Quarter If he refused to taste II
~ contents. That meant bad night ft
~ him. Yet he shrank more from til
d certain misnterpretation OF a refus:
" to drink from the huge loving cu
with its heavy wreath of scented o
0. chids. now already on its way towal
t. him, than he feared the waking stru,
gle so sure to follow.
Marion received the cup lifted 1t
- both hands and said distinctly. Goo
RI hunting" as she drank to Quarrie
IInr hrnthar Cnr5nn t,nI, ~ o,>.l ,,, :,