The Man Between: An International Romance

ing, and forces me to the conclusion that the actual circumstances, though commonplace, may be the most suitable. Certainly the events that shape our li

to that life had been one of the sweetest and simplest character-the lessons and sports of childhood and girlhood had claimed her nineteen years; and Ethel was just at that

he saw that one of the windows was open, and she stood a moment or two at it, looking across the straight

l be only common streets, full of common people. Of course," and here she closed the window and leisurely removed her opera cloak, "of course, this is only dreaming, but

estraining gauds of fashionable attire, and as she leisurely performed these duties, she entered into conversation with her own heart-talked over with it the events of the past week, and decided that i

an invitation to a studio reception, and she let it flutter indeterminately from her hand; the other was both familiar and appealing; none

on-come to me immediately. Well, Dora, I am going to sleep now, and to-morrow is Sunday, and I never know what view father is going to take of Sunday. He may ask me to go to church with him, and he may not. He may want me to drive in the afternoon, and again he may not; but Sunday is father's home day, and Ruth and I make a point of obliging him in regard to it. That is one of our family princ

not planned it, and circumstances would take care of themselves. In any case, she had no fear of rebuke. No one was ever cross with Ethel. It was a matter of pretty general belie

, all being agreeable, Dora. I shall

ll "Spring!"; and her face was radiant with smiles, and the touch of her lips and the clasp of her hand warm

"I am so sorry, Aunt Ruth. I onl

proper breakfast. Never mind the

d mushrooms, and some hot muffins and marmalade would do. How comfortable you

awdon took out his watch-"I am afraid you ha

th had her book, you, the newspapers. It is warm and pleasant here, it is cold and

eve in going to church. Religion is the Mother of Duty, and we shou

ng to some man talking was worshiping God. Those great naves were intended for men and women to stand or kneel in before God. And there were no high or low standing or kneeling places; a

you aiming

much better if we went solely to praise God, and

preached every year, they have a strong claim on our attention. To use a trade phrase,

; as if they were a commercial co

without sermons. The dear old city would be like a ship without ballast, heeling over with every wind, and letting in the w

ns, either of home or foreign manufacture. New York expects the very best of everything;

ng of your grandmother Rawdon. You have

t. She says she has 'extraordinary news' and begs me to 'come to her imm

mping her hair," suggested Ruth Bayard scornfully. "She im

schoolroom, and I have big-sistered her ever since. I suppose we get to love those who make us kind and give us trouble. Dora is no

she ta

metimes I have to

er. Why does sh

other, and she must dress and behave as I tell her to do. Poor Mrs. Denning

ch-she lives in a palace, and has a crowd of men and women servants to

days were full to the brim of just the things she liked to do. Her dress there was considered magnificent; people begged her for patterns, and regarded her as the very glass of fashion. Servants thought it a great privilege to be employed on the Denning place, and she ordered her house

" interrupted

she ought to wear-none of her things have the right 'look,' and of course I cannot advise a matron. Then, her fine English servants take her house out of her hands. She is afraid of them. The butler suavely tries to inform her; the housekeeper removed the white crotcheted scarfs and things from the gilded chairs, and I am sure Mrs. Denning had a heartache about their loss; but she saw that they had also vanished from Dora's parlor, so she took the hint, and accepted the lesson.

asked Judge Rawdon. "What a tone

would reveal their inmost character. Ethel's good morning says in D major 'How good is the day

that; but I do understand the voi

Quick, melodious natures like Ethel's never wander far from their keynote, and are therefore joyously set; w

u. I hope Ethel will be home for dinner. I like my Sunday din

ith her book. She gave a moment's thought to the value of good example, and then with a

tly occurred; but she quickly returned to its central and controlling harmony; and her serenity and poise were therefore as natural as was her niece's joyousness and hope. Nor was her religious character the result of temperament, or of a secluded life. Ruth Bayard was a woman of thought and culture, and wise in the ways of the world, but not worldly. Her personality was very attractive, she had a good form, an agreeable face, speaking gray eyes, and brown hair, sof

ely private arrangement of five rooms, marvelously furnished for the young lady's comfort and delight. The windows of her parlor overlooked the park, and she was standing at one of them as Ethel entered the room. In a

han her cheeks, though in a different way; while her black hair in its picturesquely arranged disorder seemed instinct with life, and hardly to be restrained. She was constantly pushin

to-day, Dora! Who has

e sweetest words that were ever uttered. I shall never forget one of them

tonished

ut that was because St. Jude's is so very High Church, and mother is a Methodist Episcopal. It was the morning and evening prayers she objected to.

good man, he must

he never even remembers me when he is in the sacred office. If you could see him come out of the vestry in his white

rstand-how did you

rning as I came out of church, and the next morning he walked

ther and mother think-or

quite prepared for any climax that might come. I wore my loveliest white frock, and had lilies of the valley in my hair and on my breast; and father called me 'his little angel' and piously wondered 'how I could be his d

ally very c

I went to mother's side and put my hand in hers, and she said softly: 'I can hear your father storming a lit

d h

to any interview where he can make trouble. However, it turned out all for the best, for when mother heard Bryce's voice above all the other sou

that you joined the

'demure little flirt' in a tone that was very offensive. You should have seen father blaze into anger at his words. He told Bryce to remember that 'Mr. Ben Denning owned the house, and that Bryce had four or five rooms in it by his courtesy.' He said also that the 'ladies present were Mr. Ben Denning's wife and daughter, a

d t

at I was not 'sly,' and Basil was not 'a sneak,' and father kissed me, and said he wou

acted beautifully.

n the back of her chair, and he did not answer Bryce-there was no need, father answered quick enough. He said Mr. Stanhope had asked to become one of the family, and for his part he would welcome him freely; and then he asked mothe

s. Did Bryce lea

s sorry Bryce felt so hurt, but father was sure Bryce would find plenty of consolation in the fact that his dis

ought he was very; lux

o mean to consider. Why, father makes him an allowance of $20,000 a ye

he is far more interesting. Wh

d me this morning I was a fairly rich little woman. Basil has some private fortune, also his stipend-we shall do very well. Basil's family is one

sting attempts to graft on some English noble family. No matter how great or clever a m

elp their des

emanly, honorable, even a perfect horseman, all because, being a Rawdon, he was by nature and inheritance compelled to such perfection. It is very provoking, Dora, and if I were you I

hel. I like the nobility; so does father, h

s grant him perfection and agree that he is to marry you in the Spring; well then, the

the joy and the triumph of it! There will be women there ready to eat their hearts wit

are in love with their own husbands; and the kind of girls who go to St. Jude's are not the ki

going to marry. You must not be jealous o

my life. All the same, you will not love me after your marri

that the details of the marriage merged themselves constantly in the wonderful fact that Basil Stanhope loved her, and that some time, not far off, she was going to be his wife. This joyful certainty filled her heart and her comprehension, and she had a natural reluctanc

y home she marveled at the girl's infatuation, and wondered if it would be possible for her to fall into such a dotage of love for any man. She answered this query positively-"No, if I should lose my heart,

an! O our fra

agedies are

-nothing but lo

t was satisfactory, for he was always a little impatient when the talk was of

le romance Dora had lived for the past year, and its happy culmination. "Setting m

y earthly thing, and I am sure Dora will object to that. Then I wonder if Dora is made on a patter

ted with the English no

f the English nobility in America very soon no

s of Basil Stanhope. There are many richer girls than Dora in S

th a few thousands a year? And to marry for love is beyond the frontiers of such women's intelligence. In their cre

at what he evidently consid

the English Stanhopes, the mesall

d lineage, and Bryce spoke of his sister 'disgr

turer of tin tacks. And now that we have got as far away

Denning-that is their original name Dora

, and holding the scent of roses: a place of deep, large chairs with no odds and ends to worry about, a room to lounge and chat in, and wher