The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-07-22
And yet he had not by word, OF


look betrayed himself to Kate. He
was much too deeply in earnest to risk
asking too soon. He knew it was life
or death, so to speak; and SO, though !
he haunted Kate's steps people did
not see what the truth was. partly be-
cause of the mask he wore, and partly
because of very special reason which
l shall explain presently.
Christmas was over; some guests
left and others came so that going in
to the drawing-room one evening,
and being rather late, Brian found
some ones assembled, enjoying that
pieasantest of all times. the cleaning
half-hour before dinner. Kate was
sitting near the fire, and consequent
ly in the lightest part of the room,
and by her side stranger, not
Young man, but old enough to be her
father; so Brian stood aside, content
to worship his divinity at distance.
Presently she caught his eye. and
beckoning him to her, introduced him
to General Amberly, who held out
his hand, saying:
"I have just been telling Kate that
your father and / were comrades in
early days, and saw some hard times
| together with the Duke of York.
You have heard him speak of Jessy
! Amberly ?" And then, turning to
Kate, he went on, "Jessy was my
nickname when L joiued; believe
in those days was considered a pref
ty boy, and coming fresh from a moth
er's care, my ways and wants were
different from those of public school
men. This young gentleman's father
Joined the same year, and being big
ger and stronger at that time stood
by me in more than one way"
ellis father is dead, General" whis-
pered Kate, her soft eyes filling.
{" Yes, my dear, l know; but the
memory of a good man never dies.
His father was one of the best of
them"
/ So Brian's heart was at rest, and
what was left of it went straight to
the outspoken old soldier whose old
fashioned courtesy and chivalrous at
tention to Kate seemed, in poor Brian s
eyes, the greatest charm he possessed.
Two days after this, Brian's visit
terminated. AS bad luck would have
it, Kate had headache; the last day
she neither appeared at dinner, nor yet
in the evening. Brian, who had made
up his mind to speak out, was down
an hour before any one else next
morning, but Kate only showed her.
self when breakfast was half over.
So, as time waits for no one, he had
to take his departure minus the hoped
for interview, and there was nothing
for it but to trust his fate to the past
So after reaching London he wrote q
manly, aightforward letter, telling
her the truth and asking her to be his
wife.
In two days the reply came, and
Brian's fate was sealed.
Il am deeply grieved," wrote Kate
! more deeply than can possibly tell
you. 1 thought you know I was Gil.
gagged to General Amberly. John
should have told you, and l cannot
{ understand how it was you never
heard the fact is so universally
known amongst my friends that
: never doubted that you knew, and
that will, hope, enable you to for
give me if my conduct has helped to
pain you. I showed your letter tt
the General, and he bids me say tina
) he feels as do, very, very sorry, ant
that as your fathers friend, you mus
! look upon him as true friend"
Over and over again Brian read thi
letter, quietly enough, too; but will
the quiet of despair. He saw it all
and there was not shadow of re
proach or blame in his heart agains
Kate; bat the light seemed to go on
of his life, and for three weeks Brian
tried the old trick of deiving ava!
his misery by life of riot. AT tn
end of three weeks nature gave way
: end he was raving with brain fever
Dissipation did not suit him, and
luckily, the stop came before he wa
! utterly lost.
'fYou must leave London" saiC
the doctor; quiet is snecessary-try
, sea voyage
: 81 must see her first" though
Brian, g and then don't care wher
[ 60; shall see what / want TO know
in her face"
So soon as he could move about
Brian took the morning express, an,
hiring gig at First Cross Station
u drove over to "The Cedars." Mr..
Mellish was out; the mistress wa
with the baby, but would Be dow
y directly. So Brian went into tn
morning room to wait, and presently
coming from the garden, he saw Kat
II She walked up to the house raIhe
SiOWIy dllo uluNlCH, DIS lC WIS DcHlll
u the curtain, Brian could see withou
> being seen, and his heart grew sic
even while wild triumph seemed t
e fill his being for he saw what he ha
70 hoped, even while he dreaded, i
Kate's face. She stopped opposite til
window, and looked at the dog car
= as if uncertain to whom it belonged
y or whether to go on then suddenly
u flush came over her, and she turne
II quickly down the avenue. Brian ha
o come out of his hiding place, an
3 leaned against the window; he wa
$ desperate just then.
7, When Kate was out of sight cam
y the remembrance of where he wa
20 and the certainty that he would hav
L to face Mrs. Mellish. If the though
of this interview had seemed difficu