Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-01-10

lCdrd " veered again to-
ward = mystery OF heredity
"Ju lou mean. Mr.. Siward. that
hereLi. is an excuse Tor moral weak
ness she asked.
Il don't know. Those nheriting
nothing of evil say II is no excuse"
1T Is no excuse"
"YoU speak with authority" he said.
"With more than you are aware Of
she murmurcd. not meaning to say ii.
She TODD up impulsively. her fresh
face l'ned TO the distant house. her
round young figure poised in relief
again. the sky.
I'M rited or not, ldleness. procras-
tination. are my besetting sins. Can't
you !ggest the remedy, Mr.. Siward"
But they are only the thieves of
Time. aud we kill the poor old gentle
man"
"Leagued assassins," she repeated
pensively.
Her gown had caught on the cliff
briers He knelt to release It, she
looking down. noting an ugly tear In
the fabric.
Payment for my iniquities-the first
inStallmeut," she said, still locking
down over his shoulder and watching
his efforts TO release her Thank you.
Mr., Siward. think we ought to
start. don't yout"
He Strengthened up. smiling. await
ing her further pleasure. Her pleasure
being capricious, she seated herself
again. saying: What ! meant to say
was this: Evils that spring from he
redity are no excuse for misconduct In
people of our sort. Environment not
heredity, counts. And it's our bust
ness, who have every chance in the
world. to make good
He looked down. amused at the
piquant incongruity of voice and YER
nacular.
What time is it?" she asked irrele-
vanity.
He glanced at his watch She turn
ed her eyes toward the level sun, con-
scious and little conscience stricken
that it was too late for her TO drive 10
/ Black Fells Crossing unless she start
ed at once
1t grew stiller. The wind went down
! with the sun.
! Doubtless he had forgotten to tell
( her the time. She had almost forgot
/ ten that she had asked him With the
/ silence of sunset n languor, the indo-
/ lence Of content, crept over her. She
II saw him close his watch with the alb
! sentminded air which she already as
! soCiated with him, and she let the
question go from sheer Discrimination
for the effort Of repetition-let the pro
jected drive go-ucquiescent. content
that matters shape themselves without
any Interference from her. The sense
of ease, of physical we'll being, invaded
her with an agreeable relaxation rs
though tension somewhere had slack
ened
The conversation drifted ilIogically
Sometimes he stirred her to Gnluse
ment, even Il hushed laughter Some
times he snilingly agreed with his
views. Sometimes she let them &C
uncriticise1 or, intent on her own
IDEAS, shook her small head in amused
disapproval.
The Stiffness over all, the deepening
mellow light, the blessed Incidence OF
the Young world and their few years
in it-"outh--that WAS perhaps the key
to it al after all.
"Tolaorrow," she unused aloud, knees
cradle in her clasped tingers-"tomor
row Il YIN shoot, with great circum
stance and fuss, few native wood
cock-taere's no fight yet from the
north-a few grouse, fewer snipe. {
stray duck or two. Others will drive
motor cars over bad roads Others
will ride, sail, golf-anything to xii
the eternal enemy. You know the ma
!ority of the people here or coming
don't you?"
"Who are theyT'
She began, 1.-THE Leroy Mortimers ?
ooh. yes"
Lord Adcrdene and Captain Vouch
e. and the Page twins and MarionT'
yes"
"Rena Bonnesdel the Tassel girl
Agatha Caithness, Mrs. Vendennmg-
all sorts, all sets" And, with an eff
fort. IF I'm to drive should like to-
to know what time it is"
He il formed her. and she, too indo
lent to pretend surprise and fndn:
rlproa,h easier. told him that he hat
no business to permit her to forget
His smiling serenity under the r,
Duke aroused in her slight resen
ment, as though he had taken som,
thing FOR grarted.
Besides, she had grown uneasy. ST.
had wired Quarter, saying she woul
meet him and drive him over. He ha
replied at once, naming his train. II
was an exact man and expecte
method and precision in others. Sf
didn't exactly know how it might a
feet him if his reasonable demand Wa
unsatisfed. she did not know hil
very well yet.
And, thinking of him now. she agai
made up her mind to give him tt
answer which he now had every re-
son to expect from her This dccisio
Appeared to lubricate her conscienc
i 1t ran more smoothly now, emittin
fewer creakS.
"You say that you know Mr.. Qua
+ rier?" she began thoughtfully.
mot we'll"
81 hope you will like him. Mr..
ward"
- 81 do not think he likes me, Mi.
Lands. He has reasons not to-"
- She looked up. suddenly remembe
=. ing: "Oh-since that scrape? Wh
y has Mr. Quarter to do She did n,