Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-05-01

to find her quite calm and reasonable.
He had come to know her very we'll
in the past few years. He had been
her fathers lawyer up to the time of
that excellent bridesmaids demise, and
he had settled the estate with such I'M
usual dispatch that the heirs-there-
were many of them-regarded him as.
an admirable person and-kept him
busy ever afterward straigtening out
their own affairs. Which goes to prove
that policy is often better than hon
esty.
Il quite understand, my dear, that.
while 1t is a dreadful shock to you,.
you are perfectly reconciled to the
er-to the-well, / might say the cul-
mination of his troubles" said Mr..
Carroll tactfully, after she had re-
lated for his benefit the story of the
nights adventure, with reservation
concerning the girl who slumbered in,
the room beyond
Hardly that, Mr.. Carroll. Resigned,
perhaps. l can't say that l am recon
ciled. All my life l shall feel that L
have been cheated" she said.
He looked up sharply. Something in,
her tone puzzled him. Cheated, my
dear? Oh, see. Cheated out of years.
and years of happiness. l see"
She bowed her head. Neither spoke,
for full minute.
It's horrible thing to say, Saras
but this tragedy does away with an
other and perhaps more unpleasant al.
tentative; the divorce l have been
urging you to consider for so long"
Yes, we are spared all that" She
said. Then she met his gaze with a.
sudden flash Of anger in her eyes. But.
| would not have divorced him-neSer.
You understood that didn't your"
You couldn't have gone on for ever,
my dear child, enduring the"
She stopped him with sharp excla,.
nation. why discuss it now? Let
the past take care Of itself, Mr. Car
roll. The past came to an end night
before last, so far as l am concerned.
want advice for the future, not for the
past"
He drew back, hurt by her manner.
She was quick to see that she had Of
Tended him.
Il beg your pardon, my best Of
friends" she cried earnestly.
He smiled. IF you will take pres
ent advice, Sara, you will let go of
yourself for spell and see if tears
won't relieve the tension under"
"Tears!" she cried. why should /
give way to tears? What have to-
weep for? That man up there in the
country? The cold, dead thing that
spent its last living moments without.
thought of love for me? All, no, my
friend; l shed all my tears while he
was alive. There are none left to be
shed for him now. He exacted his
full share of them. 1t was his pleas
ure to wiring them from me because
he knew | loved him. She leaned for
ward and spoke slowly, distinctly, SO,
that he would never forget the words.
But listen to me, Mr. Carroll. You,
also know that l loved him. Can you
believe me when | say to you that |
hate that dead thing up there in Bur-
tons inn as no one ever hated before?'
Can you understand what l mean? /
hate that dead body, Mr.. Carroll. I
loved the life that was in it. 1t was,
the life of him that loved, the warm,
appealing life of him. 1t has gone out.
Some one less amiable than l suffered
at his hands and-well, that is enough.
l hate the dead body she left behind
her, Mr. Carroll"
The lawyer wiped the cool moisture,
from his brow.
81 think l understand" he said, but
he was filled with wonder. "Extraor-
binary! Ahem! l should say-Ahem!
Dear me! Yes, yes-I've never really
thought of it in that light"
Il dare say you haven't" she saidr
lying back in the chair as if suddenly
exhausted.
"By the way, my dear, have you
breakfasted?"
mo. l hadn't given it thought.
Perhaps it would be better if l had
some coffee"
Il will ring for waiter" he saidr
springing to his feet.
Not now, please. l have young
friend in the other room-a guest who
arrived last night. She will attend
| to it when she awakes. Poor thing, It
has been dreadfully trying for her"
Good heaven, l should think So"
said he, with a glance at the closed
| DIOR "Is che aSlpnD2"
Yes. I shall not call her until you
have gone"
May inquire"
"A girl l met recently-an English
girl" said she succinctly, and forth
with changed the subject. There are
a few necessary details that must be
attended to, Mr.. Carroll That is why
sent for you at this early hour. Mr..
Leslie Wrandall will take charge
Ali" she Strengthened up suddenly.
What farce it is going to bel"
(TO BE CONTINUED)