Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-08-01

o how BITTERLY of what had Just been told
MN, fancied that he saw saw something deeper
than her usual light couuetry in the glance She
gave the handsome young fellow, and groaned
IN spirit. 1t seemed full confirmation Of what
| he had heard
'0ue, two three. One, two three. You are
shockingly out of step, Rupert ~ said she, after
the first turn. "What is the matter You look
as If you had seen a ghost"
81 have" he said, almost grimly-''the ghost
OF dead hope" and she, half frightened at his
tone, looked up at him questoningly But in
another moment he smiled back at her, and she
was reassured
Don't talk nonsense Rupert There you
are dancing beautifully now. What were you and
long 7"
| "Odious, do you call her ?"
well, do, Rupert. l think her 30 she has
not spark of good feeling in her Don't you
| go and tell her now ?"
''Do you think she is truthful, Mllicent ?n
mo, don't. Take care
| They whirled lightly through the may figures
OF the waltz; adniiring eyes followed their every
motion, jealous eyes resting upon them from
many of the fair mothers of fairer daughters;
While the sterner sex looked on with envy at the
favor shown for our hero by the most bewitch-
| ing damsel in the ROOM
| On they whirled, the admired and enyled of
the gaudiy illuminated halls, faster and faster
iioW pehutiiuly Uley WdlLZ Even COrnela
Granger involuntarily spoke in admiration, and
slender youth near her gave it as his opinion
that ''Ihstledown couldn't be lighter than Mrs.
Kathlane in waltz"
"Are you tired :" said Rupert, looking down at
| the beautiful face and Millicent for answer
| said she could keep on forever. And so they
danced on until Rupert saw the bright color fad
| ing away, and the sensitive mouth beginning to
droop little at the corners.
You are tired" he said, and then, before she
rOul1 he xybir1a6 tl,a Ia,,,
open window, into the cool, fresh air on the bal
| cony.
"Thanks," she said 81 believe was little
faint. Will you get my cloak 2" and then, until
| her cloak came she sat quiet like a tired Child,
with her head resting YEARLY on the railing.
'sfhe next dance but one is Richards" she
said AZ he wrapped the soft, white cloak around
her tenderly. 81 must not slight him. But
will stay out here until then, unless you wish to
| go back-in which case l will not keep you with
me l am engaged for every one of them, am
afraid | could have been engaged three or four
times over" she added, laughing. 81 am sorry,
Rupert, but"
'iNo matter" he interrupted her, almost rude
ly. 81 must get used to it, l suppose He was
standing before her. looking down at her, and
she, in her pretty, imperious way, laid her hand
on his arm.
"You are cross Tonight" she said. "sit down
beside me, and tell me what it is that troubles
you.n
He hesitated moment and then with a reck-
less determination to disclose everything and
afterwards leave her forever, he told her the
story OF his long love for her told her in a
ierce hard way, which almost frightened her.
and yet made her reverence and admire him
more, perhaps than she had done before.
IL have loved you, Mlllicent l love you now
more than you can imagine, and have not told
you, because-because you are 30 far removed
from me in every way. l feared you would
think me mercenary. | feared-0 Millicent Heay-
en- only knows how have loved you how Thave
longed to tell you, and yet have not had the
courage. Now it is too late either for harm or
good. l shall pray for your happiness always
with the man whom you have chosen"
"What do you mean, Rupert p
The profound wonder in her voice made him
hesitate. 81 heard ofayour engagement to MIR.
Worthington."
"Who has told you hdt?" she asked. But in
the same moment Richard Worthington stepped
through the window, and came towards them.
81 have been searching for you everywhere"
he said laughing IN his boylsh, good natured
way. Its my dance, most respected Cousin
Mllicent"
And she was forced to go, without another
word to the man beside her.
Have you and Nh. Thombury been quarrel
ling Y said Richard, who to do him justice, was
entirely innocent of any thought of Mrs. Kath-
lane, or anybody else, as a wife. 'He looked
black as a thunder cloud, and you are pale"
81 was a little faint after the waltz" she an
swered. Don't tease me, Dick" and 30 Rich
Meanwhile Rupert ThorDbury, left alone with
only his own thoughts for company, sat as utter.
ly and entirely wretched ~ man can feel but
once IN lifetime. Inside the rooms the music
kept untiringly on the gay dancers fioated past
the windows every face Was bright with smiles.
Outside here, in the darkness, man sat alone,
struggling bravey to lift up his cross and bear
it uncomplainingly.
Ii How long he sat there he knew not but at
last he reused himself, and rose to his feet
81 must go back, he said 'Cornelia Gran
ger will have delicate bit of gossip il she sees
me here"
So he went in and showed himself and said a
few words to Miss Granger, and strolled about
he knew not wither, talking to one, talking to
another and presently found himself up stairs
near the library.
The library door was ajar and as he entered,
a little figure all i'll silvery blue and white lace,
with scarlet buds glowing and burning here and
there, turned and advanced a step towards him.
There were tears in the great black eyes, and
the red lips trmblng like grieved child's
"Was 1t untrue, Mlllicent?"
every word of it. Dick, indeed o, Ru-
peril"
He clasped her hands almost rudely.
"You are not engaged2"
Only look answered him. He caught her to
him, pouring forth all the sweet VOWS he had
sensitively refraned from before and Milf
cent whispered that she never should be EN-
gagged, unless 1t was to him.
pity but Miss Cornelia Granger had CHANGED
to look into the library.
After waiting 30 many years.