American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-08-23

/ ter what the result is, it must be done AT
once"
Two tears glitter now on Mrs Ramsay's
/ checks. But think of what he has just
said TO me, Gladys" the poor creature
does nothing except halfcohercntly CUR
| gle. He laughs at himself for having
desired any thing a whit different from
your present dumbness. What toiW he do
when he learns the real truth?n
Hate me, l suppose" speeds the girls
hard, harsh rctort.
Hate you, Gladys?" is the plaintive
iteration. "Oh, my darling, l hope not
for you simply adore him. I'm not such
a fool, dear, that l haven't made this easy
discovery
Gladys has grown peony color to her
temples. "Oh, hush, Mrs. Ramsay, in
the name of all decencyn' She has drawn
both hands away, and hervoice is touched
with proud ire. Il had best go right out
and speak to him" She hurries along
with softening tones. "He should learn
as soon as possible that he is in love with
Il woman who has never existed"
After that, she turns with abrupt sud
denness and walks firmly out upon the
piazza never pausing till she is within Il
yard of Eric's side. He rises the instant
he sees her, his face glowing with wei
come.
away, for he discovers that she is greatly
agitated, and that she tries without avail
to master powerful trcmor of the frame.
Wonderingly he points toward a near
chair. She refuses, with lifted hand and
a little negative shaking of the head.
Then she fires, so to speak, the cannon
of her appalling revelation. Her voice
falls even and full, with only faint un-
steadiness at the ending of the last word
Il have deceived you. l am very sorry
But it cannot be helped now, and can
only beg you to pardon me-
Eric stands, for Il slight while, like a
man who has Just seen some blood -freeZ-
ing specter But in few minutes his
face wears much calmer look, though it
is still touched with great bewilder
ment, almost resembling terror.
Then Gladys speaks again, seemingly
with strong effort:
Il have been quite prepared for your
anger on learning the truth-your very
righteous anger, l admit. Indeed, it
must have been the thought of this anger
that has deferred me so long from telling
you. If had-had not CHANGED to see
that queer letter of yours to Mrs. Ramsay,
the trick would never have been played"
Don't call it trick" he murmurs,
while kind of dim ironic smile seems to
flicker across his lips, and then instantly
fade at surely deserves a grander name
than that. We do not talk of petty lar
ceny to man who steals million"
Her brow clouds little as she answers
very swiftly:
'Call it whatever you please-a gross
falsehood-a shameful hypocrisy. But
let me know as soon as possible, l beg,
Mr.. Palmer, whether you mean to forgive
me for making you believe that l was my
sister Eva. l suppose there is no use of
our speaking any further just now.
Words will only aggravate matters. The
mere sound of my voice must remind you
of how l have lately reveled in deceit"
While the last sentence leaves her lips,
she turns away from him and takes a step
or two toward the hall entrance. But
just then Eric, hurrying forward, plants
himself in front of her. Every sarcastic
trace is gone from his mouth and eyes;
nothing but a sort of questioning passion
ateness of appeal seems to fill his face.
"Gladys," he breaks forth, while his
eyes meet hers burningly, you cannot
ask me to pardon you until 1 hear one
thing"
"What is that?" she quivers, as though
foresecing the answer.
"Just this: when I wrote you certain
words yesterday, as we sat on the rocks
together, why did you not then seize the
chance of ending my deception? For
Heavens sake, answer me that! Did you
merely keep up your false part then that |
might remember more humiliatedly here
after how l had asked you to be my wife
while fooled in such ridiculous fashion as
to what you were?'
No, no." she cries, 'nOt that,-indeed,
indeed not that, l could take no pleasure
in your humiliation; it makes me shud-
der to have you suspect that | could"
And now the tears seem besieging voice
and eyes alike, as she hurries on brokenly
but with eager heat: " Can you not I'M
derstand a persons being prompted to
take a certain course by every truthful and
honorable impulse he or she may possess,
and vet being weak in Il cOwardly strength
to resist these impulses? 1t was just that
way with me. l tried to tell you yester-
day-I-1 have been trying to tell you
for days past" And at this her eyes take
IA sudden flash to which their tears lend
livelier brilliance, while she draws sud
denly nearer to him with one or two rapid
little steps. Shall 1 tell you what has
dragged my confession forth from me ?"
she questions, with Il sort of headlong
RIGHTEOUSNESS. Your own words to
Mrs. Ramsay, which l lately overheard.
Listen; | can repeat them perfectly; they
were these: To me she is perfect as she
is. l love her for just what she is. At
one time my pity and regret nearly mad
dened me- All her loneliness seemed I'M
reachable Now | laugh at myself for
desiring more-for desiring anything
whit different OF course, after that l
dared not be cowardly any longer. My
faisehood became an utter enormity. Com
mon self-respect commanded me at once
to undeceive you"
Dead silence follows between them for
perhaps Il minute; to Gladys Il minute of
sixty slow, long, heavy, suspenseful sec
onds. Then she moves toward the door
again, with quick sob-like sigh.
That movement rouSes Eric. "StOp' he
cXclaims, catching one of her hands be
tween both of his, and leveling upon her
face eyes which she knows are smiling
pardon the instant her own meet them.
Il forgive you, Gladys; and in turn |
must ask your forgiveness"
"Mine?"
''Yes-fOr having said what l did to
Aunt Edith. 1t was true, and not true. If
my love had not had such a mystery of
power, it could not have turned calamity
into blessing with such careless ease.
When there are grand faults in any thing
we love it is human nature, you know, to
persuade ourselves that these are grand vir-
tues. | suspect that l wanted you different
all the time, but did not love you an atom
the less for not being so; and, rather than
let either myself or Mrs. Ramsay believe
that my love was at all tinged with re-
gret, dashed myself into that fine fury of
defense. 1t was all, | admit, species of
selfish
Il forbid the word" breaks in Gladys,
each eye separate little April of tears
and sunshine. "Iou must never dare to
call yourself selfish when I am near.
After the way you have acted, it would be
~ SacriInua