United States or Iceland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I'll wait a while; it's too warm at this hour." Aileen drew Mrs. Champney's arm chair to the other casement window. She resumed her seat and work. "How are you getting on with the napkins?" the mistress of Champ-au-Haut inquired after a quarter of an hour's silence in which she was busied with some letters. "Fine see?" She held up a corner for her inspection.
Speculation was also rife when Aurora Googe crossed the ocean to spend a summer with her son; at one time rumors were afloat that Champney's prospective marriage with a relation of the Van Ostends was near at hand, and this was said to be the cause of his mother's rather sudden departure. But on her return, Mrs.
Sometimes, it is true, it occurred to him that his room was better than his company; this was especially noticeable in his young days when he was much with his aunt's husband whom he called "Uncle Louis." Since his death he had never ceased to visit her at Champ-au-Haut too much was at stake, for he was the rightful heir to her property at least, if not Louis Champney's.
They, at once, in tacit understanding of each other's condition, put aside "the things that were behind" and "reached forth to those that were before": they laid plans for the speedy execution of all that Champney's decision involved. "There is one thing I cannot do," he spoke with decision; "that is to see my mother before my commitment or after. It is the only thing that will break me down.
My ambition has been overweening for Champney's material success I have urged him on, when I should have restrained. I have aided him to the extent of my ability to attain his end. I longed to see him in a position that, financially, would far out-shine hers. I felt it would compensate in part. I loved my son and I loved in him Louis Champney.
I thought I thought " he was wringing Champney's hand; some strange emotion worked in his features "I thought for a second it was Mr. Louis come to life." He turned to Aileen who had sprung from her stool. "Aileen, this is Mr. Champney Googe; you've forgotten him, I dare say, in all these years." The rich red mantled her cheeks; the gray eyes smiled up frankly into his; she held out her hand.
"Go go!" she cried out shrilly, hoarsely; her face was distorted with passion, her hands were clenched and trembling violently, "leave my sight leave my house you you ask me, by the love we bore Louis Champney, to save from his just deserts Louis Champney's bastard!" Her voice rose to a shriek; she shook her fist in Aurora's face, then sank into her chair and, seizing the bell, rang it furiously.
A month later, when Almeda Champney's will was admitted to probate and its contents made public, it was found that there were but six bequests one of which was contained in the codicil namely: To Octavius Buzzby the oil portrait of Louis Champney. To Ann and Hannah one thousand dollars each in recognition of faithful service for thirty-seven years.
The interest of the first faction was centred in Champ-au-Haut and its present possessor, the widow of Louis Champney, old Judge Champney's only son. That of the second in the Googes, Aurora and her son Champney, the owners of Googe's Gore and its granite outcrop.
He had seen her but once in the past three weeks; that was when he went to her on the receipt of the news of Champney's flight; he vowed then he would not go again unless sent for; the sight of the mother's despair, that showed itself in speechless apathy, was too much for him. He could only grasp her hand at that time, press it in both his, and say: "Aurora, if you need me, call me; you know me.
Word Of The Day