The Man Between: An International Romance

lly a delightful absence of wind. The summer exiles are home again from Jersey boarding houses, and mountain camps, and seaside hotels, and thankful to the point of hilarity

he family it had been made beautiful inside and outside, and the white stone, the plate glass

nic." He vowed that the "first sight of the Stars and Stripes at Sandy Hook had given him the finest emotion he had ever felt in his life," and was altogether in his proudest American mo

her," she said gayly. "I sh

terrupted the Judge, "and she will

the joy of seeing her. Well, as I cannot

, Ethel," said Ruth. "Let

this morning, welcoming me hom

at that time but a few hours later Ethel came down from her room ready fo

ee, she is one of those who sow pain of heart and vexation of spirit about every house they enter,

not like its growth, I will pull

treet. The light kindled in her eyes and on her face as she did so. She already felt the ma

her first greeting was an enthusiastic compliment, "How beautiful you have grown, Ethel!" she cried

u also,

on, but Dora accepted them as

tell how it should be so, unless worry of all kinds is go

, Do

lid truth-partly

r inter

might have seen that I was not happy; and I wanted to come to Rawdon Court, and you would not

asons, Dora, why I

lfish ones, Ethel, and Fred

a, for he knew nothing about my r

ted me, and all for some wild West creature-a

hat is all about it. I shall not explain 'how' or

lunch. They attended to their own improvement from half-past one until four, had lessons in drawing and chemistry, and, I believe, electricity. They had another walk, and then indulged themselves with a cup of tea. They dressed and received visitors, and read science or theology between whiles. There was always some noted preacher or scholar at the dinner table. The conversation was abo

not be so c

.' I have no doubt they were all in love with him. I hope they were. I used to pretend to be very much in love when they were present

ression of the mockery and jealousy in her heart. This was an entirely different Dora to the lachrymose, untidy wife at the

so uncomfortable, I would have a

ot happy when I

would blow over in an hour or two; no one likes to meddle with an affair

enox with a friend. Then, like you, she said 'she had no liberty to invite me,' and so on. I never knew mother ac

hought she did the wisest a

fe and needed a change. I'm sure she did understand. Then why was she so cruel?" and she shrugged her shou

f his movements.

d she never answered the ques-tion. I suppose he wi

by the interview. All the elements of tragedy were gathered together under the roof she had just left, and, as far as she could see, there was no deliverer wise and strong enough to prevent a calamity. She did not repeat t

asual manner that he had met Mr. Mostyn on the avenue as he was coming home. "He was well," he said, "and made all the usual inquiries as to your health." And both Ruth and Ethel understood that he wished them to know of Mostyn's presence in the

in the city," said

tain

expecti

sure o

d beautiful dress

r Ba

ss the matter as she used to do. Yes, she was expecting him. I understand now her nervous

, and you m

one mu

and. Have you hear

of telegrams. He will

at once to th

nd very ill. Tyrrel will put his father first of all. T

ry much. You have bee

red of being very happy, and I think Tyrrel also will find absence a relief. In 'Lalla Rookh' there is a line about love 'falling asleep in a s

e you a philo

ries, the snatches of talk and laughter, the tread of crowds, the sound of bells, and clocks, and chimes. I long for all the chaotic, unintelligible noise of the streets. How suggestive it is! Yet it never explains itself. It only gives o

s to talk over, and she wanted "to find things out" that would never be told unless tempers were propitious. Added to these reasons was the solid one that she really adored her granddaughter, and was immensely cheered by the very sight of the rosy, smiling countenanc

she cried, "I thought yo

ng at all but what I ought to have. I've been made to take all sorts of things, and do all sorts of things that I hate to ta

y dear, it was all

ne for your grandmother! Discipline, indeed! That

y you must give the thousand

ad a most comfortable t

comfortless room and poverty all the more after

nder dollars by the thousand? Discipline! I think you are giving me a little now-a th

an imagine. And there is not, in all the world, su

an, dancing and singing and loving as it suited time and season, taking no though

eous gentleman. He worships women. He

he to say

d that he never could forget the first time he saw

ake the sheerest, lightest frocks any girl could want. Yes, I remember that time. I was going to a little party and crossing a meadow to shorten the walk, and Squi

fter hour telling Ruth and me how bright you were, and

had beaux to be sure. W

ward won you because he was

idea of living a free and equal life, and not caring what lords and squires and their proud ladies said or did, pleased me wonderfully. We read about Niagara and the great p

ad you came

rs in New York is worth fifty years i

ught I resembled you, grandmother, but he ne

generation-most of them bald at thirty, wearing spectacles at twenty or earlier, and i

er. I know some very fine young

leps and ice-water. I've got eyes yet, my dear. Squire Percival was a different kind of man; he could follow the hounds all day and dance all night. The hunt had not a rider like him; he balked at neither hedge, gate, nor water; a right gall

w he was careless

sorry for it. How did he manage

ng. His son for many years had been the real manager of the estate. He was a speculator; his g

they bor

ostyn's

, Ethel-but the name

he could have done so. They that wronged him were his own, a

f Mostyn's power; he said you had saved the estate,

ght

nse

d outlying farms an

, her eyes sparkled, she rose to her feet

atulations to Ethel,

ther, what el

did r

I have done well to buy it. In the future, if I do not wish to keep

let Nicholas Raw

. The Squire would have had to leave hi

can give one a deal of suffering. And I hear you have all been making idols

s are all right, and his wife and son are delightful. She is handsome, well dressed, and so good-hearted that her pretty county idioms are really charming. John Thomas is a man by him

't you m

ver as

he matter w

ngaged to a very

ad she i

s been to college and taken high

They had the right stuff in them, and it is a good thing for families to dwell together in unity. We have King David's word for that.

n which the room of the first Tyrrel had been opened and his likeness restored to its place in the family gallery.

her to Tyrrel Rawdon. She was expecting and waiting for this topic, but stubbornly refused to give Ethel any help toward bringing it forward. At l

f California! Pra

l Rawdon, of the U

ure! Well, w

ing to m

see abo

ore we left the steamer he got a telegram urging

come and see me. Perhaps

l, you need not love me. I won't ha

another twelve months, and I think I can manage t

eak mine." Whereupon Ethel began to cry with a passion that quite grat

me. And don't name the man in the meantime. I won't talk about him

no one but D

that nonsense

making no suggestions that might prejudice the case. For she really wanted her grandmother's

think?" she

many years; she has alw

hing abo

thi

to tell,

rha

r excellent hu

very kind to h

go to what they call 'a pleasant evening' with them. We sat around a big room lit with wax candles, and held improving conversation, or some one sang one or two of Mrs. Hemans' songs, like 'Passing Away' or 'He Never Smiled Again.' Perhaps there was a comic recitation, at which no one l

in the church affairs. She says she does not c

arten and sewing circles and missionary societies are the only

ion; she ought to fee

Do doctors tell their wives about their patients, and expect them to pay sympathizing visits? Does your father expect Ruth and yourself to listen to his cases and

en are d

a year for doing it. I don't believe St. Jude's pays Mrs. Stanhope a red cen

ora said she felt a great

a woman's likes and dislikes. Church work was courting-time

ight speak to

ng right. My father enjoyed justifying a man that everyone else was down on; and I've stood by many a woman nobody had a good word for. I was never sorry for doing it, either. I'll be

at Nicholas Rawdon's, where John Thomas had installed a French chef. Other domestic arrangements were discussed, and wh

after she left home this morning. Ruth seems troubled at the continuance

here is to tell, I dar

er, what do

and women, all of us, and as much inclined to forbidden fruit as any good Christians can be. Ethel can do as she

cs do not always fit the social ethics of this day, Ethel. She criticises people with her heart, not her intell

r soiled and ragged, but Dora will be sure to have hers reputably finished with a hem of the wides

vinity that sh

them how

THE REAPING