The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-05-12
CHAPTER XVIII.
Past All DiShOpOr.

INTO QGr fnuC1ny
Rash and undutiful:
Past all dishonour
Death has left on her
Only the beautiful
Thomas Hood.
The gates of silence between Jem
and Vernon were not only closed, but
locked.
Upon reflection, he could not but
think, since the SANDER against him
was current, and since she had had
so much to do with the personages
concerned, that she must. have heard
it. He, poor fool, had thought that,
in dispelling her false ideas respect
had knocked down the barrier be-
tween them. But here was one far
deadlier and more sinister-one
which he could not push, nor shake,
nor SO much as touch upon, with her.
For a moment, so sore was his
need that he had thoughts of going
to his aunt and appealing to her.
He was sure that she would not have
heard anything of the kind herself,
or that, having heard, she would
give no credit to such a tale. For
she, as he firmly believed, knew his
secret-knew the feeling for Vernon
which was consuming him. When
he had avowed his intention of go
ing away, she had not seemed sur
~ -
depth of sympathy which had great
ly surprised him. She had said that
she knew, she guessed, his reason
for departure, and could not but own
that it was natural.
That being so, he went on to sup
pose that she might have told Yer
non of his feelings-that the girl
also knew why he could not remain
longer in the same house with her.
There was nothing to be said-notl1-
ing to be done. It was one of the
dumb tragedies of life. His only
as long as their enforced
should last, was to
see as little of her, say as little to
her as he could.
He thought it hard that Gladwyn
should have turned up before he
could escape. His curiosity to know
what had passed between Vernon and
her sutton was consuming in its in
tensity.
When they reached home, after
the Flower Show, they were told
three o'clock, that he had looked and
seemed ill, that he had packed his
things, and gone back to London,
leaving a note for Miss wilmot.
Vernon, who was in a silent, brood
ing mood, opened the note in the
hall, both her aunt and Jem stand
ing by.
What a queer way to behave"
was her comment, as she broke the
seal. 1t was very brief. "H'm," she
"He says he has had
news Of such a SCATTERING nature as
% make it impossible for him to tell
ne what it is at present. He will
write further in two or three days
rom London. Oh well, he has gone,
sigh exhale. ST can't forget about
Mrs. Trent" she said, land it makes
ne feel wretched, and rather self
I don't feel at all equal
% the effort of entertaining a visit
Or. I am glad there are only just
She lifted her head
md smiled, the tenderest, shyest of
smiles, right into Jem's eyes. He
vas looking so intensely at her that
lie caught it full, and had a sensa-
ion of sudden glory. Mrs. Bard
ley, who had found two notes await
ng her, took these in her hand and |
vent into the drawing-room. Yer |
ION, seeing that they were unheard. |
hastily crossed the space between |
hem, and stood looking wistfully in
o his face, wherein, as it seemed 20 |
Ter, a door had rolled back, making |
w
81 want to say she murmured |
that I believe I do know !
ust how you feel about-about that |
,oor Mrs. Trent. II was so sorry |
or laundering so the other night. |
.fter the picnic. But I understand |
,etfer now. 1 only wanted to tell |
,ou that Don't be angry"
With which, she whisked up the |
tairs and disappeared.
Arrived in her room, she was sem
ible of a curious glow from head to |
DOT, the result of her bold attempt |
O propitiate Jem. 1t had cost her |
real effort. Oh, surely he would |
eel that it had needed courage, and |
,e kind to her in response, Might |
t not be the beginning of better re-
atoms between them?
She stood motionless in the CEN
re of the floor, her lipa apart. her
mind holding the picture of just |
ems eyes as she had met them but !
low: what was it? Why were they
o haunting? Why was she filled |
With a kind of exhaustion which yet
vas ecstasy?
Now, if only I can put my finger
n the last link, and truly under
tand him. Father Conroy said