Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-02

MIS-. Wyndhs n laughed again. Thirty years
General, then a poor sub. and she ,Ihsr kei
little romance In her friends
And now yeu want me Co help you, che
well, shsu she come down to her, or will you
"Fhe latter. certainly" cried Lyle.
Mrs; wyndhsm touched the bell. "whsre Is
Miss Jerrold. James?"
"In the schoolroom, m tsm, with Miss Eva"
"Seud Miss Eva down to me, please; and now,
my dear MAJOR go up as quickly as you will.
whether you succeed or not, the General will
never forgive you IL you don't stay and dine with
u-b
Itwas almost dark by this time; and when
Lyle opened the study door the room seemed ss
first sight empty. The something moved, aud
coming forward be saw Constance Jerrold
crouchiDg on q low stool by the fire. II Is
trance startled her to her feet like a frightened
deer; and, as her eyes met his, he saw by the
r1ddy flicker OF the frelight that every vestise
ashy white; only the eyes kept half defiant
sparkle, and her voice sounded sharp and ner-
Major Daryl! You here! Why have you
conner"
$40 see you, Constance" he answered. tax
ing her re uctant hands, and holding them as ne
spoke. "why should nots When You sent me
adrift three years ago, you were pleased to ack-
noeledge that IL was from no fault OF m ne that
ygusp acted. Have been gnilty of suyt ing
that you should deny ms your scqaslntsncs
now?'
mo. no ;" she answered humbly, the Grim ,on
see visiters now, and Mrs. Wyudhsm-"
Mrs. Wyndh Am Is aware Ia st am here, Con-
stance. Indeed It was she who seat ma to you"
Either the grave steadiness of his voice or the
mere touch of his hani hsd quite subiusd her
timid enough now, and trembling all over, she
stood before him, all defiance CONS; AMI her
voice shook IS shs sad, trying the while to free
her hand from his grasp
cit was very kind of her-of you, I mean; but
| never explained-"
THAT 1 should seek you out? You mast
know me very little, Constance, IL YOU think L
could be contsnted with meeting like our
last"
AZ must beg your pardon for that" she said,
trying to resume her old dignity. 81 WAS un-
just to you"
"Unjasti" repeated Lyle, with harsh laugh,
"Since when have you discovered that-siK
weeks or three years sgo?" Then, as he saw
the tears rush into the beautiful eyes, and the
painful tension of the little mouth, "Forgive
me, Constance" he said; 81 did not come here
to be ruds to you; but I've suffered good deal,
my dear, and it hasn't improved my manners"
1t was the old voice, the old simple phrase
and protecting appeilaaon. She couid not
speak, the tears came too fast now; and she
turned away and leant her face against the cold
marble OF the msutel- piece TO hide them. Lyle
laid his hand on her shoulder.
CONSTANCE" he said, very gently, az don't
want to distress you; bat I must ask you one
thing. When you broke off our engagement.
was 1t because had offended you in any way?'
"No, no." she said, very quickly, but without
raising her face.
fHad you ceased to love me then, or had you
make believe, Constance-not ALL" and the
grasp ON her shoulder frightened with those old
memories.
No answer this time-onIy the face still hid
den, and the red light of the fire rising and fall
ing on her heaving bosom.
"Constance, 1 never questioned or reproached
you then. i was too proud and too miserable;
but surely have right to an answer now.
You don't mean that 1t was so, do you-thst you
we're playing with me from the tirstr"
The stified agony in his voice frightened her,
cried, npS>InDdtely-
"Lyle! No. You know it was Dot.''
Then Why, in Heavens name did you write
No answer, but the tears falling hot and fast.
"Did you love me then-wheu you sent me-
away from your"
Still no answer, but golden head bowed
lower yet, and gssping SOB. With sudden
impulse Lyle Daryl pus his arm round the
dropping figure, ana drew it to him, lifting the
af-stained face from its cold support.
Darling he said, very husklly, sit doesn't
seem likely, l know; but do bslieve you did;
aud do even think you care for me still. Oh,
my love, in pity, don't tritie with me now; but
His arms were round her, his hand raising the
flushed and lovely face over which his own WAS
denial; but her glance went straight into the
honest depths of yle's brown eyes and found
a moisture there, which no living being had
ever seen before since Lyle Daryl was a child in
petticoats. With little, wailiDg cry of love
and sorrow, she hid her face on his breist, sob
bling out
I'm not worthy-oh, I'm not worthy OF your
love now"
II don't care whether you are worthy or not"
be said, almost tercely, as he held her close TO
him, and kissed her qaivering lips again and
again; "but know you are just the most dear
and precious being on earth to me, aud I'll
never let you 60 again while life is in us both.''
Even now she tried 20 resist little, though
she chung to him the while.
ooh, Lyle, you must mott You forget
What, my darlipg?'
THAT THAT I-how ! treated You befOrP.''
sweet one"
lift her hot face. what would your parents
say now? And l so poor, and q governess tool"
"Constance," cried Daryl, in a tone of such
sharp severity that she tFembled in his hold,
lido you think loved you for your money, that
You talk 10 me now about your being poor? As
if cared fer that You must have a high
"No, no; I know how gosd you are. But
thought-and Lady Daryl said--"
"What has my mother said TO you, Connie?"
said Daryl, imper stively. "Sie down and tell
me about it. There, don't look 20 frightened,
my pet; but I've waited long time for the
truth, and mean to hear it now. Remember,
nothing Will make NE let you 60 again, so you
may "a well tell me everything, "and there was
so much authority In his manner through he still
kept his arm round her, that Constancs leant
her proud little head on his shoulder before she
answered, pleadingly-
"Lyle, you will never forgive me, for 1t was all
my fault; 1 know that now; and I've been
never know how MISUNDERSTANDING how you
must despise me for my fckleness and false
Ood,"
''Yes,'' he said, stoutly, al did despise the
fckleness; but never you, Constance you,
dear; loved you too WE'LL"
She put up her face quickly, aud kissed him,
az a child might have done, before she went on
"YOu know how rich every one thought papa
was, Lyle? !, at snyrate, always believed it. L
knew your parents didn't like the way the
money was made; but thought it was there.
and that / should bring yon something in ex-
change for your cid name and your great love-"
eDid you think wanted anything more than
your love in return, ConstanceY'
"No, not you, but-Ly!e, don't be angry
your parents did. You know they would never
have given their consent TO your marrying me
If papa had been only poor man."
"Don't talk like that, child. He was one Of
the first men In the county; and ii he had been
Ioor-"
"As he was, Lyle-as he really was. heard
il first when you had gone up TO town that time.
| was sitting in the veraDdah, and my father
and his lawyer came out on the lawn below
Lyle, heard only two sentences; but they told
me that he had lost thousands, that his wealth
WAS only sham, and that he was keeping on
only tlll-oh, Lyle-our marriage! He was
afrsid-darling, don't be hard on him, for he
loved me, and he is dead now-that, IL you found
1t out, you would want to break Oft the match;
and, once I was married to you, he relied on
your fathers dread OF q scandal in his sons