The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-09-23

The first time that Mathilde had been
alone with Stewart after the evening of
their arrival, Miss Feason formed the
topic of their conversation. They were
walking through the beech woods. chat
ting, when Stewart gave an abrupt turn
to her thoughts by asking:
What did you think of the surprise
last night?"
what surprise?' she retorted. al
though she guessed what he meant.
THE temperance upon the scene of
my first love. / wonder why it was
DONE" he went on thoughtfully. Then
after {. moments pause: Did you think
me very brutal to her?'
Ma hides face had hardened, and her
voice was very cold.
Il supposed that there was some feel
ing Oh your part which caused, and per-
haps justified, your outspoken remark.
Otherwise, / must confess l think 1T might
have been better left unsaid.'
He cast a keen, sdewise glance at her,
and then laughed gaily.
"You thought it the ground-swell OF
some past storm of lovers quarrel. Poor
little Nellie. She was about as much a
present issue in my life as the rabbits l
petted as a child. No. my remark was a
preventive one as to any mischief that
they might be up to with you"
Mrs Herbert did try it a bit after
dinner" she agreed, in less stony voice.
But why should you include Miss
Fearon? She must have cared for you
once. even if meeting you again in that
fashion was not painful to her."
Again he laughed.
IF you will persist in constructing a
romance out of the affair, you must have
the whole of it. You needn't distress
yourself about Nellie's feelings. If she
minds anything now, it is the loss, not OF
me. but of the heir. Then. she was glad
enough to have a good excuse to get rid
of me, for she had had bit of success in
town. and thought that she might do bet
ter than a younger son. And /, for my
part. had been learning her unreality for
| so long that after her valedictory letter
she seemed to fade from my mind like
an old photograph. The loss of her, GER
tainly. hardly added a pang to those of
the debicle.''
"But thai does not explain why you
distrust her now"
Its not so easy to explain. It's more
an instinct than a reason. but your safest
plan is to take her enmity for granted"
THAT seems rule of universal appli-
cation" she answered. bitterly.
What, not losing heart already, when
| YOU have swept all before you with my
| father?''
Il am not losing heart" was the proud
| answer. Then she added somewhat visit
| fully II really think he likes me-
improbable as it seems, l really think
he does" he retorted, looking into her
face as he put out his hand to help her
| over a stile, with glance that brought
| ON one of her shy fits, and set her talking
to the Irish setter, Nomad, whom she had
adopted as her own special follower and
| friend.
The first change in the situation came
when, one morning at breakfast, Stewart
| looked up from his correspondence. never
very large, to announce generally:
Here's a letter from Norman, saying
that he is coming over from Paris to see
me- Wonder how he heard of my getting
home, for though have been meaning to
write to him ever since / came, l haven't
done so.'
| Mathilde, looking up as her husband
| spoke. saw a tell-tale change of color on
| Nellie's face, saw, too, an interchanged
glance between the two women which left
her no further doubt as to their secret
| alliance.
1t was only a rlomentary thing. then
Nellie spoke in her pretty, babbling fash
ion.
"Oh, l hope you won't thing me a
dreadful gossip, but / was writing to him
the other day about some old paste but.
tons that he is getting me, and | put in
all our news to fill up. How you had
| come back after all sorts of hard work
and roughing it, with a Canadian wife
who looked like a princess, and had taken
everyone's heart by storm"
Mathilde had heard them speak Before
now of this Norman Stewart, cousin, and
after James, heir, now attache over in
Paris.
This news of his approaching visit filled
her with grave misgivings, for his tastes
were said to be artistic. and she feared
their orbit might have crossed.
What role shall l have to play with
him? My Paris life must be altogether
hidden, / suppose? she asked her hus
band anxiously, as they paced the south
terrace, sunny and sheltered on this win
ter morning, and well removed from al
chance of listeners.
1--WE been thinking it over" he an
swered, 'and l don't see why you should
not be altogether your self with him. As
l said before, the more you stick to the
truth about yourself, save for the last
five years, the simpler it all is"
"A large exception" she said. ''Ther
the role Of the 'habitant' woman is alto
gethed dropped
THAT is what wished from the first,
he agreed gravely.
She paced on in silence, staring out
over the quiet, dim winter landscape thai
stretched below, with eyes that had il
them the sullen fire of one held in bond
age.
Suddenly she spoke. what are YOU
feelings about this cousin? Do you con
slider him a friend or an enemy?"
He was not quick TO answer her.
"We grew up together, and were al
ways chums. When the crash came, b,
tried, in a mild way, to help me, ant
came and saw me off at Liverpool.
have every reason TO consluer him
friend. and his letter is very cordial ant
yet---he is the next heir to me, and is in
communication with those two. He nigh
very well think that he, too, would hav'
a shy at the disposable cash. Yes, WI
must both be ON our guard"
"Oh, what a wretched ENHANCEMENT i
is" she broke out. How much better i
would have been if you had come hom
alone and faced it out. Anything would
have been better than this
mot at ALL" he remarked with urban
ity. Fancy life in this cheerful man
sion, unenlivened by your society. or b.
the uncertainties of warfare"
THAT is what pickpocket might say,
she retorted.
Exactly So" he agreed. IL always hat
a strong fellow-feeling for the crimina
classes. But / am forgetting one piec
of good news for you. My father has tn
solicitor over this morning to finish NJ
| h. L,,cs &c h. =