The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-01-16

/ InlnS was exactly the same DIS IL Hdu
been when she went away. That
dreary year of exile had seemed long
enough for earthquakes and destruc-
tons, or even for slow decay.
do you know what became of
Arion?" asked Vixen, almost afraid
to share the question.
"Oh, believe he was sold, soon after
you left home" Rorie answered. care
lessly.
"Sold," echoed Vixen, drearily.
Poor, dear thing. Yes. felt sure
Captain Carmichael would sell him.
But l hoped
WHAT"
That some one I knew might buy
him-Lord Mallow, perhaps"
/ Lord Mallow! All, you thought he
would buy your horse, for love of the
rider. But you see consistency isn't
one of that noble Irishman's virtues.
He loves and he rides away-when the
lady won't have him. No, Arion was
sent up to Tattersalls. and disposed of
in the usual way. Some fellow bought
him for a covert hack
Il hope the man wasn't a heavy
weight" exclaimed Vixen, almost in
tears.
She thought Rorie was horribly un-
feeling.
What does it matter? 2 horse must
earn his salt"
| Il had rather my poor pet had been
shot, and buried in one of the meadows
Captain Carmichael was too wise
to allow that. Your poor pet fetched
hundred and forty-five guineas under
the hammer"
Il don't think 1t is very kind of you
to talk of him so lightly" said Vixen.
This was the only little cloud that
came between them in all the voyage.
Long before sunset they were steam
ing into Southampton water, and the
yellow light was still shining on the
J furry levels, when the brougham that
/ contained Vixen and her fortunes
! drove along the road to Lyndhurst.
She had asked the coachman for
/
told that Mrs. Carmichael was pretty
much the same. The answer was in
some measures reassuring, yet Violet's
| spirits began to sink as she drew
nearer home and must 50 soon find
herself face to face with the truth.
The dusk was creeping slowly on as
the carriage passed the lodge and
drove between green walls of rhododen.
dron to the house. Captain Car.
michael was smoking his cigar on the
porch, leaning against the Gothic ma
sonry, in the attitude Vixen knew SO
we'll of old.
IF my mother were lying in her
same" she thought, bitterly.
The captain came down to open the
carriage door. Vixen's first glance al
his face showed her that he looked
worn and anxious.
rs mamma very ill?" she asked
TREMENDOUSLY.
! Very ILL.," he answered, in a low
voice. Mind. you are to do or say
nothing that can agitate her You
must be quiet and cheerful. If you see
a change. you must take care to say
nothing about it."
why did you leave me so long in
| ignorance of her illness? Why did
you not send for me sooner"
Your mother has only been serious
ly iii within the last few days. I sent
for you directly saw any occasion fol-
your presence" the captain answered
coldIy.
He now for the first time became
aware of Mr. Vawdrey, who had got
out of the brougham on the other side
and came around to assist in the un
shipment of Violet's belongings.
Good evening, Mr.. Vawdrey. Where
In heavens name did you spring
from?" he inquired, with vexed air.
Il have had the honor of escortine
Miss Tempest from jersey, where J
happened to be when she received
your telegram"
Wasn't that rather an odd proceed
ing, and likely to cause scandal"
Il think not; for before people car
hear that Miss Tempest and crossed
In the same boat hope they will have
heard that Miss Tempest and are 60
ing to be married"
II see," cried the captain, with q
short laugh of exceeding bitterness;
being off with the old love, you have
made haste to be on with the new"
Il beg your pardon. 1t is no new
love, but love as old as my boyhood,
answered Rorie. I'm one weak mo
ment of my life was foolish enough
to let my mother choose a wife for me
though had made my own choice, un
consciously, years before"
! May 1 go to mamma at once?'
asked Vixen.
The captain said yes. and she went
up the staircase and along the corridor
to Mrs. Carmichael's room, the door oil
which stood half open, and the lamp
light shone family from within. Violet
went softly in. Her mother was lying
on sofa by the hearth, where a wood
fire had been newly lighted. Pauline
was sitting opposite her. reading aloud
ia very sleepy voice out of the Court
| Journal.
/ Pauline" murmured the invalid
feebly, will you never learn to read
with expression? You are giving me
the yaguest idea of Lady Evelyn Fitz
damer's appearance"
! Violet went over to the sofa and
knelt by her mothers side and EN-
braced her tenderly, looking at hel
earnestly all the while. in the clear
soft lamplight. Yes, there was indeed
a change. The always delicate face
was pinched and shrunken. The ivory
OF the complexion had altered to dull
| gray. Premature age had followed
the cheeks, and lined the forehead
1t was change that meant decline
and death. Violet's heart sunk as she
beheld it; but she remembered the
captains warning, and bravely strove