A Modern Chronicle -- Volume 02

ky had darkened, and angry-looking clouds of purple were gathering over the hills. She rose and hurried homeward. She had thought to ent

ace with that lady, who was inciting a footman to further efforts in his attempt to close a

said, "where have yo

Mr. Erwin, Mrs. Holt. I have

ems to me I invited him

e he extended

h the seven o'clock train," faltered Honora, somewhat disconnectedly. "Otherwise he would have come

oon of surprises. The Vicomte has gone off

te!" excla

quired Mrs. Holt; "I thought perhaps you might b

he felt ready to sink th

s haunted her afterwa

, my dear? Didn't h

t say he was

bed about anything?

t, he did seem a

had to go at once. I was at a meeting of my charity board. It seems a very strange proceeding for such an agreeable and polite man

s moody," Honor

the work we are doing. But I can't understand about the telegram. I had Carroll inquire of every servan

have met the messenger in t

bore a striking resemblance to a suppressed laugh. The footma

e matter with you, W

ylight, Madam, that got into my throat,

Holt, "there is no d

e, as I was, Madam," he ventured, rubbing the frame

," she declared; "in a few minutes the place wi

orm, which the wind was pelting against them. She drew the shades deftly, lighted the gas, and retired. Honora sank down in one of the upholstered light blue satin chairs and gazed at t

down in the

tly inherit" (Mrs. Holt coughed slightly) "the art of entertaining and pleasing, and I need not warn you, my dear, against the

. Holt," echoed Hon

lling as she is, does not possess your gift of t

e could be indifferent-were riveted on the face of her hostess,

s' Relief Society are coming, and on July the twenty-third I give a garden party for the delegates to the Charity Conference in New York. The Japanese Minister has promised to pay

ed Honora; "how many int

summer with me might not be without its advantages. As your aunt will have you until you are married, which, I may say, without denying your attr

staring painfully at th

f you, Mrs. Holt

credit. But, on the other hand, besides the advantages which would accrue to you, it might, to put th

of you, but I must

ow people had left Silverdale before she wished them to-"of co

pleasure you have given me. If-if things were different, I would stay with you gladly, although I

countenance of her hostess when she spoke these words. Mrs. Holt's

be married!"

ne, humbly, "I was going

d whom I did not see. It accounts for his precipitate departure. But I must say, Honora, since frankn

n," said Honora, meekl

en

a had come to recognize as indicative of agitation, returned with alarming intens

gaged-to-Ho

a, "it was as great a surprise t

d a common amazement did not appear, a

him?" she dem

onora burst

" she sobbed, "

eyance any ideas she may have had about the affair, took Honora in her arms, and against t

fact that the circumstances of that event differed somewhat from those of the present-in regularity, at least, increased rather than detracted from Mrs. Holt's sudden access of tenderness. The perplexing questions as to the

t," sobbe

are ver

Mrs.

ppened in

"it happened-near

iled, and wi

for your future happiness. That is a great deal. I could have wished that you both

d up a tear-

I was going away that-

knew that you woul

fter this-this event, I expect to see a great deal of you. Howard Spence's mother was a very dear friend of mine. I was one of the first who knew her when she came to

!" Honora

friends of mine in the financial world. I find that he is successful for so young a man, and well thought of. I have no doubt he

issed Honora, and dismiss

to your aunt at

........

l, were of the best, and from time to time Honora was aware of his glance. Then she lowered her eyes. She sat as in a dream; and, try as she mig

and success, and she was to live in New York. Ten days before he had not existed for her. She could not bring herself to believe that he ex

hts that drifted through her mind like tattered clouds across an empty sky after a storm. Peter Erwin appeared to her more than once, and he was strangel

shook the drops from the leaves, and the stars were shining. Presently, at

a!" he

id no

lone-since morning. It seems

es

you m

mean

little. "I've been thinking of nothing but you all

ook he

wouldn't look at me,

he said, cutting him s

c. And, seeing that she did not resist, he drew her to him and

me!" he

I am tired. I-I am going up

sed he

ora." He nodded boyishly towards the open windows of the library. "Shall I tell them?" he aske

and fled to the screen door. As she open

nows already

kirt, she flew qui