Coniston -- Volume 04

while these girls had yet been in short dresses, and now an experience had come to her which few, if any, of these could ever know. It was

een? No wonder she felt out of place among them, and once more the longing to fly away to Coniston almost overcame her. Jethro

. Miss Sadler certainly knew it, and asked Miss Duncan very particularly about her father and mother and even her brother. Miss Sadler knew, even before Janet's unexpected arrival, that Mr. and Mrs. Duncan h

it out to be posted immediately. In the meantime, Janet Duncan had seated herself on the sofa beside Cynthia, not having for an instant ceased to talk to her. Of what use to write a romance, when they unfolded themselves so beautifully in real life! Here was the country girl she had seen in Washington already in a fine way to become the princess, and in four months! Janet would not h

too, had a heart, but she was a young woman given to infatuations, as Cynthia rightly guessed. Cynthia must spend many afternoons at her house-lunch with her, drive with her. For one

nothing beneath that exterior, Janet would never have guessed it, and she would have been quite as happy

ning she had brought a note from her father to Miss Sadler, of the contents of which Janet knew nothing. Miss Sadler r

R MISS

rson to whom they refer, and her father was a sort of political assistant to this person. Although, as you say, we are from that part of the country (Miss Sadler bad

erely

NDER D

ld be no doubt that the revenge would fall on other shoulders than Mr. Duncan's. And when Miss Sadler proceeded to read the clippings, her hair would have stood on end with horror had it not been so efficiently plastered down. Miss Sadler sei

toll to the chief of a band of thieves and cutthroats, to a man who had long throttled the state which had nourished him, to-in short,-to Jethro Bass. Miss Sadler was not much interested in the figures and metaphors of political compositions. Right had found a champion-the article continued-in Mr. Isaac D. Worthington of Brampton, president of the Truro Road and owner of large holdings elsewhere. Mr. Worthington, backed by

of his wife and children and no roof. He must vote for the candidate of Jethro Bass end corruption or become a homeless wanderer. How the gentleman and his other respectable backers were to fight the system the article did not say. Were they to buy up all the mortgages? As a matter of fact, they intended to buy up enough of these to count, but to mention this would be to betray the methods of Mr. Worthington's reform. The first bitter frontier fighting between the adva

about the monster-in the goodness of her heart have taken the girl into her house. Had it been otherwise, surely Mrs. Merrill would not have had the effrontery! She would give Mrs. Merrill a chance. The bell of release from studies was ringing as sh

ill usually came home, but he had gone off somewhere for this particular day, and Mrs. Merrill had a sewing circle. The girls sat down to dinner al

ler is sending mamma cl

they're about y

ions than her sister, would have snatched it from Cynthia's hand, and it was a lon

ensation as she read was anger-anger so intense as to send all the blood in her body rushing to her head. But what was this? "Right had found a champion at last" in-in Isaac D. Worthington! That was the first blow, and none but Cynthia knew the weight of it. It sank but slowly into her consciousness, and slowly the blood left her face, slow

need to tell them that they were looking on at a tragedy, a

usan, who, thinking she would faint, se

inct of her kind which compels them to look for reliance within themselves even in the direst

here a little whi

the parlor after them. In utter misery they waited on th

gue premonition of disaster, and for a while she forgot the clippings. And when after a space the touch of them in her hand brought them back to her remembrance, she lacked the courage to read them through. But not for

possible that such things could be printed about one whom she had admired and respected above all men-nay, whom she had so passionately adored from childhood? A monster of iniquity, a pariah! The cruel, bitter calumny of those names! Cynthia thought of his goodness and loving kindness and his charity to her and to many others. His charity! The dreaded voice repeated that word, and sent a thought that struck terror into her heart: Whence had come t

s structure, tier resting upon tier, have been reared without something of a foundation? Fiercely though she told herself she would believe none of it, fiercely though she h

red a little from this unknown but overwhelming affliction, were fain to stand mute when they saw her to pay a silent deference to one whom sorrow had lifted far above them and transfigured. That was the look on Cynthia'

going, Cynthi

ack by five,"

. At last Cynthia came to a queerly fashioned little green door that seemed all askew with the slanting street, and rang the bell, and in another moment was standing on the threshold of Miss Lucretia Penniman's little sitting room. To

d the article

raignments and accusations, the sentences and paragraphs, wars printed now, upon her brain, neve

ad them?" as

my d

?" Did the whole world,

e, my dear," said Miss L

ed of this to

d Cynthia

she did not know all of Cynthia's troubles. She wondered wheth

I am a lonely old woman, getting too old, indeed, to finish the task of my life. I went to se

shook

etia, I cannot

t on you now," s

Lucretia. I'm go

ton!" exclaimed

content-seemed to recall Cynthia's spirit from its flight. Yes, the spirit was th

read?" she asked; taking t

a put on her

both of the

what they say abou

upon such an occasion if it came. A wonderful virgin faith had to be shattered, and was she to be the executioner? She loved the girl with that strange, intense affection which sometimes comes t

ten by politicians, in a political controversy

elieve what it says abou

nt

rill's. Oh, Miss Lucretia, who pride yourself on your plain speaking, that you should be caught quibbli

, and so far as I can judge from the inquiries I have undertaken, Jethro Bass has made

tacles and wiped them. She had

ia st

aid, "that is what

amazement and apprehension, "

said Cynthia, "to ask him

ask

they are true, then I

Here was a courage of which she had not r

nd I shall believe

luntarily. Then she paused for a moment. "Suppose he tells you

him." This was the first time her voice had faltered. "He kept my father from want and poverty, an

retia, the practical par

ce where I can see him often. I can break his heart, Miss Lucre

She perceived that the girl had a spirit as strong as her own: that her p

e to me?" she as

cles, and I knew if you had, you would have taken th

Lucretia st

n with you," she said

mpt

softened a litt

th the same firmness. "I-I am very grateful to you for your kindness

trust herself to speak, and then her words were broken. Cynthia must come to her at the first sign of doubt or trouble: this, Miss Lucretia's house, was to be a refuge in any sto

eaties, no fears of Mrs. Merrill or her daughters, were of any avail. Mrs. Merrill too, was awed by the vastness of the girl's sorrow, and wondered if her own nature wer

ough she was with sympathy for the girl. For Mrs. Merrill, though the canker remained, had already pardoned her husband and had asked the forgiveness of God for that pardon. On other occasions, in other crisis, she had wai

ried, "what are you

upon him, middle-aged man of affairs though he was, until the thought of it summoned up in his mind a figure of purity, and of the strength which was from purity. He

lse-the primeval one of a creature which is hurt-had been to hide herself; to fly to her own room, and perhaps by nightfall the courage would come to her to ask him the terrible questions. He was a friend of Jethro's. An illuminating fl

sat with his wife in the little writing room, he pretending to read and she pretending to sew, until the silence grew too oppressive, and they spoke of the matter that was in their hearts. It was

going to Coniston,

rill, "and I think she i

is wife rose and put h

aid gently, "you will

Coniston with

wants to go alone. And I belie