Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-11-30

family who would arrive at Pau, in the AFTER
noon, and lacking any other object for walk
he strolled through the park to the station
to meet the only train from Paris, and as it
seems had his curiosity gratifed by siglt
Of the party. m
.sThey're bride and bridegroom honey
incoming. MIR. Reeve-the courier told me.
AT least not quite honeymooning, suppose,
for the mothers with them, and I heard
something about step-fstber coming"
"You'l want a dozen mothers-in-law to
look after you and your wife when your
time comes for honeymooning, if you go on
81 as live, believe you've been playing at
guile in your great coat. Fsf4r
mo, haven't, laugheisthe boy; ssbut I
will tell you what did do. meant to have
come back in the bus, but it was full, SO
ran all the way and got back in time to see
them get out. The bride was so pretty, and
they are not going to stay, soft was my only
way to make sure of having another look
at her, bat I've not had time to cool yet"
"The most idiotic proceeding" began Mr..
Reeve, looking at the boy S crimson forehead,
then checking himself as if he thought he
was lecturing, he added, "better not do it
again, Gilbert; if you are 80 imprudent you
will do away with all the good of Pau, and
you al e so well now"
Gilbert might perhaps have blushed, but
he could not grow redder than he already
was; instead, he tried to change the subject.
=. The bride is really sumner. Such eyes
and such hair Her mother, if she is her
mother, is quite young woman, not above
forty, / should think. [ didn't hear her
name, the courier only said, Sir Edward
and Lady Litford'"
..Sir who?' Mr. Reeve turned to him
with awakened interest. ae
.'Oh! forgot to tell you, they're Sir Ed
ward and Lady Lifford On their wedding
tour. He is to dine at the tabled 'hote to-
night; the ladies said they would not come
down"
Mr.. Reeve turned away. He felt sick at
heart. Why should they, of all people in
the world, have crossed his path? Mildred
he thought bitterly-had driven him out of
England, and now she NEST needs pursue him
here. Before he had recovered himself the
table-dhote bell rang, and he turned in with
Gilbert and took his place at dinner. His
n ignbor at the table, good humored
freedman, with whom he had struck up an
intimacy, found his efforts at conversation
responded to very feebly on this evening, and
soon noticed that his companions eyes were
fixed on tall, rather heavylooking English
man of about sixty five, who sat opposite,
making poor work Of the thin soup and
greasy fish placed before him. Edward
Reeve knew the faces at the table well enough
to be sure who the stranger must be. That
Mildred's husband! To think Of her, in her
brightness and beauty, sacrificed to man old
enough to be her grandfather To think Of
her consenting to such sacrifice on the very
eve of liberty! Edward Reeve recollected
bitterly all her loving words to him. When
he burnt her hair he made fond foolish
excuse to himself for nos destroying the lit
tie purse, by saying that he had promised
her to keep it always, but now he thought he
would burn il as soon as he reached his
room. What had it been but the frail token
Of tickle love? Lady Lifford might be
drinking her tea up stairs but Mildred-his
Mildred-with her pure love and child-like
faith, could never exist again, if indeed she
ever had existed except in his own fancy.
When dinner was over Sir Edward rose,
and, coming round to Gilbert, touched him
on the shoulder.
81 beg your pardon, but sancy you are
son Of my old friend, Gilbert Blake. Do
you know if your father was at Christ Church
in 20 and III?
Gilbert colored and answered, and the next
moment he had accepted Sir Edwards invi-
tation to spend the evening in his rooms
Almost before Mr.. Reeve had caught the
purport of the conversation, he found him.
self included in the invitation which, how
evert he declined, pleading bad headache,
and walked home to his rooms, chatting in
wardly. A headache! The Lifords were
only passing through Pau, and that headache
should last until they were fairly gone; he
could not, no, he would not, meet Lady Lift
ford. He tried, with Indifferent success, to
devote himself to his books till Gilbert came
home, and then refraineG from all questions
as to how the evening had been spent. 1t
was rather relief that Gilbert was disposed
10 be great deal less communicative than
usual. He volunteered no account Of his
visit, and few words were exchanged be-
fore the two gentlemen parted for the night.
Next morning, as Mr.. Reeve was sitting
doggedly down to his books Immediately
after breakfast-Gilbert' studies did not be-
gin till later in the day--a little pink note
was put into his hand. The contents were
as follows:
"HoTEL DE FRANCE, Tuesday.
"DEAR Mr.. REEvE-If you spare the time 1T
ould be very kind Of you call here to-day between
II and O'clock / have several things to say to you
and greatly wish 10 you
"Yours very truly,
MILDRED LIFFoRb."
Edward Reeve groaned in spirit. Was ii
not enough for Mildred to have wasted the
best years of his life, that she must perse-
cute him so? Or was she in trouble, and
some shadow of her old trust made her send
for him in her distress? 1t did not signify,
in either case he must obey her summons, for
he could not confess himself too weak to bear
to see her.
At half-past eleven he presented himself
at the door of the Hotel de France and ask
ed for Lady Litford. Miladi was at home,
Monsieur would find her apartments an pre-
mier if he would give hin self the trouble to
walk up stairs. The apartment door was
opened by an English lady s-maid who
! showed him into the sitting room, and de-
parted without announcing him, closing the
| door softly behind her.
| On low chair before the fire, sat Mil
/ dred reading. She had not heard him enter
1 and for moment be watched her in 81
| lence. The freight was cleaning over her
| hair, as bright and luxuriant as ever, but
/ he could see that the hand held up to shade
! her face, was paler than it used to be. and
he fancied that the lines Of her mouth had
a look of sadness that they were strangers