Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1909-08-28
selves afei It'd, played II bsins amused
and found hef dlveraioh ID the pitsoHs
misery Of the prelencs

~
misery Of the prelence
One day Hiida Cnchranc Areceised an
Invitation to spend Weekend ii JLiie at
the charming house Of SOME ffiends III
Hampshire. She hesitated to accept; but
tie advent of.a suddep heat wave finally
decided her. Perhaps the fact that the
son Of the house bad lately returned from
4 a shooting expedition in the Rocky
Mountains had more 60 do with Hilda's
acceptsuce Of she invitation than the
beat, but this shs would NOS have owned
even to herself.
When she arrived as Fsnwicke Court
on Friday Ililda was destined 10 Be dis
appointed, ioF her hosts~s casually OBJ
served al tea that her son Ead been oblie-
ed 70 70 up to town on business aud
feared I've should not gen back natil the
following week. Only then did Hltda
realize how keenly sue had cgunted GU
hearing some news Of Dennis from man
who had most probably met him in
the.mountain solitudes Of North America.
Philip Ramsay is coming tS-morrow.
You know him, think, Mp. ochrane?
Mrs. Fenwicke remarked.
Hilda replied IN the affirmative, aud
the talk drifted on to other topics.
The following day wire was received
from Jack Feuwicke saying he WIS re-
turning that after noon, aud bringing
friend.
wonder who his friend is. observed
Jacks mother. He is always 20 vague,
dear boy. Then followed long dilation
from Mre. Fenwicke on ths psrisatiaas Of
jack.
During the afternoon Hilda, who was
in her room at the front Of the house,
heard dogcart drive up to the front
door. She knew It was young Fsnwicke
who had arrived, and went to the VIM
dow, strangely curious. The porch hid
the occupants Of the cart from her view.
Hilda wondered at her interest in this
young man, it vas so long since Ahe had
experienced interest in anything.
When HiIda joined the oshera 1t tea in
the ball, tall, good looking man was in
troduced TO her BY Mrs. FenSicke with
great pride as my son Jack. Hilda sioux
hands and DECIDED she liked him,
May introduce my friend, Mrs. Coch.
raut? lie said, and q bronzed aud bearded
man came forward.
Mr.. Ramsay, Mrs, Cochrane, Hilda
heard the names spoken and bowed
mechanically. Then she swayed a little
and caught at the back Of chair, Every
one chsttering over the tea cups, aud her
emotion passed unohserved. With an
effort she recovered her seIf.possession,
and Dennis Ramsay, pale beneat the
bronze Of his complexion, handed her
some tea. Witha hand that trembled ia
spite Of her efforts, che took tie cup with
q formal "Thank you" Under the
cover Of she conversation he spoke to her.
had no idea you were here, Mrs.
Cochrane, or should not have come, /
will leave tomorrow morning by the first
train.
Hllda made no reply, and Dennis left
her side Immediately.
At the earliest opportunity Hilda es.
capped to her room aud found relief IN
storm of passionate tears. Why she
wept she did not know, nor could she ana.
lyze the tumult Of emotions which seethed
within her. Was she miserable, happy,
angry, sorry, terrified or triumphant p
She did NOT know. Sac on.y knew,
for happiness or woe, lt4t e.p longed ~
look again at The strong sad faee oI ,hp
man who had loved lnr, whom sGe-
hated, she tod herself ilIsisIenlIJ -.iated,
hated and despised.
Hilds took in6nite pains with her
dressing that night. Her maid could DO
nothing right, Ia the end she looked al.
most beautiful in spite Of her psllor. Did
gray hair age her very much, size won.
dered? She had never given the matter q
thought till now. He MAS getting very
gray about the temples, she lad noticed
that. Did be find her much chAnged2
Most of the guests were assembled in |
the drawing room when Hilda came down |
to dinner. Mre. Fenwicke Was talking
to priest, and, calling Hilda, she intro.
duced Monseigneur de la Hay. You are
TO take Mrs. Cochrane to dinner, she said.
Hilda and the young priest bowed to
each other.
Monseigneur speaks English as well as
we do, remarked Mrs. FenWickp, as sfie.
left them 10 70 fill her duties as ho.tess.
Dennis Ramsay was Standing close bt.
The FreucIInan evidently knew him, for
he turned and INCLUDED him la the cou.
versation, Hiida spmmoned all her SELF
possession to her aid, and, in spite Of tile
wild emotion within Der, she appeared
outwardly calm.
Have you been long in England she
asked the priest.
have only just come, bnt I was edu-
Gated at your English college at Beaumont.
For ten years I have been confessor
abroad for English residents aud visitors.
How interesting priests life mpst be,
the woman said.
The young priest looked quickly at her,
So interesting that at first ii almost fright.
ems me. That is wrong, Of course, one
realizes soon, but just at first, when one
is very young
Do You have such dreadful things con.
fessed to yon, then
Very dreadful. Ny frst-my very first
penitent was a murderer.
How awful ! How awful murmured
Hilda, and che shuddered invoIuntarily.
DennieRamsay had been listening TO the
conversation. but he did not speak. The
tension was coming afmost unbearabIe, n
when Mrs. Eenwicka's cheerful voice
broke in upod the awkward silence that
had fallen On the gFonp of three.
Every one is starving. Who are We ,
whiting for2 I can't make out. She
looked round the room anxionsly.
Captain Ramsay, announced the butler.
Philip entered The room with a PROFIT. !
iatory smile. He was immacnlateIy
turned out. and go delightfully."- psnitent
and plausibie in his explanations that no