The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-10-07
CHATTER KILL

art beStirred himself, ordering fires on
the bank and refreshments there. 1t was
the first stir of life about the place since
the death of the eldest son. and although
the widow looked patiently resigned, and
ostentatiously retired into seclusion, ev-
eryone else, household and servants,
seemed relieved and pleased.
Mathilde would have welcomed any
thing that brought action and kept
thought at bay. She had not slept much
at night of late, indeed had often paced
the floor until the small hours; but If
vakefulness had left dark lines under her
eyes. they only seemed to accentuate her
beauty.
She wore a tight-itting dress of gray
velvet corduroy, edged with dark fur,
and admiring comments followed her
movements. for she had from childhood
been show skater of the Montreal rink.
Mrs. Herbert's paraphernalia of Grape
and jet bristled more ostentatiOusly than
usual, and it was with her most widowed
smile that she turned to Mathilde. Il
did not know that you were leaving off
your mourning so soon.'
Mathilde stared in rather a bewildered
way. Her thoughts had flown to her
dead father and to the autumn days OF
sorrow, not taking in the idea of either
the dead child or of her husbands broth
err
II have not left off my mourning" she
said. rather Indignantly.
1T was l who persuaded her to get
that dress. / hate to see her always in
black Stewart came promptly to the
rlf Lo1
deep in local politics with Norman.
"Oh, if you call that mourning!' Flora
responded with a plying smile.
But these little pin-pricks had no pow
er over Mathilde now. The only bitter
ness was in the remembrance how Stew
art had come in when she was looking
over the tailor's patterns, and had insist
ed on the choice of that one.
The lake in its sheltered dell was a
bright scene that afternoon Several par
ties arrived in carriages, and Mathilde
and Stewart had necessarily TO play the
host together, an outward bond over the
inward discord. Young and prosperous,
welcoming others to their future king
dom. many a one that day admired the
couple and many a one envied them.
''The exiled prince welcomed back to
his own Norman Stewart said in low
voice TO his cousin Nellie, as they skated
about at the further end of the lake,
watching the groups near the landing.
Although these two skated well. and
knew that they looked well on skates,
there was none of the animation of the
scene on their faces as they loitered there
together, whirling about idly in long
curves
''They have everything their own way.
What is the good of our thinking that
there is something queer about her, when
they both have Sir James under their
thumb? I'm no earthly help to you, ard
might as well write to know when 1 can
60 to the Harpers."
"You must not leave before / do" he
said. with calm authority. when you
brought me here, l thought yours and
Elora's idea of some mystery very far
fetched; but now l am sure that it is
90"
"But what could it be that would mat
ter? They must be married" she inter
rupted pettishly.
Scarcely needing her, he went on. Il
can guess at nothing though several times
during the past week l have felt as
though on the point of putting my finger
on the mystery. The one thing that am
certain of is that she never was on that
ranch of his
WHY
IL couldn't give any definite reason
only i am certain of it,
But where did she come from, them
81 think-mind you, l only think-that
she is some divorcee, an Englishwoman
of rank perhaps, whom he has picked VI
In New York or Montreal"
But the missionary, and the wife and
child"
That's all some mistake. The child.
Am sure. never existed
''But say il were so; how would il
benefit u.s.
-Only by our bringing out some scan
dal that would set Sir James against
them and make him prefer to leave you
and me the money. Fancy the wrath Of
the pious Flora"
Nellie laughed with real enjoyment
and Norman went on.
MY only hope lies in her betrayin,
herself in talk. Only leave her to me-
swell, haven't | left her to your sh,
answered with fresh pettishness. "Yot
must confess that it's rather hard on MI
looking at you flirting with her, and a
Flora's pious spooning with that gaun
parson of hers. She's going to marr1
him, you know
as she? Whether she gets it or not?'
"Oh. yes. She has plenty anyway o
her own. Greedy creature, How sh
loves money"
There was the suppressed spite o
weeks in Nellie's tone.
well, so do We, for the matter o
that he answered carelessly. IF onl.
she would take herself off now to the rec
tory. and we could find out what is reall,
queer about these two, you and | nigh
have a good chance with the old mai
yet"
I'm afraid it's no CO." she said de
spondently.
"Come, cheer up, Well, / must r.
back to duty with la belle savage" Al
they turned towards the more frequep:e
part of the lake, where Mathilde So
holding her little court.
Flushed and animated by the cheerer
stir and exercise, she swept about in III
dulating lines, or poised on one foot 4
her progress was arrested by frieDi.
Norman paused by her now.
you sweep along with just he ri
Of a gray-winged seagull over the waves,
he began.
Bah" with little shudder, Il woul
a. soon be likened TO a vulture, / hat
them So"
"But why? They are so beautiful.
he urged, feeling that his pretty spesc
had fallen fat.
''The very thought of them brings
sense of desolation. / have watched then
whirling and clamoring. when | hay
been so wretched,' she answered shortly
then with a swift recognition of the ras
personality of the remark, she added wit
q laugh, Il am such a wretched sailo
you know"
If Norman were too keen-witted to /
bafled by the remark he gave no sig
thereof.
Il am so sorry" he said penitently, bu