Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1876-02-24
PASSING snADeW.

and q splsndN estate In Wxwickshirs, was far
moro miserable that dull October day, became
IL wa raining. than Carroll the nnssk companion,
who was trying 10 please her potulant mistress
by N account Of the vivid interests OF some new
book.
"It's Of no use, Gar. 10 rain like this-to day,
Kingston .-
.sYou will forget the rain, II you will only let
me read you the hrst chapter It's splendid, Miss
MAuds," persisted Carroll, opening the brown
volume. &
Miss Thornton stoppsd her with gesture.
"Hiag for ~ cloak md shoes, Car am 60
Ing down 10 the lodge to eco nursie."
''Miss NAuds r We
Miss Mauds had turned 10 The window, and WA
impesuously tapping Tho pane. She was still
young, with proud are In her fAoe and shining
ing than her beauty. Tail and slight. nande had
inherited rare graco Of movemenS from her
moehss. That noshas twsnsy four yeazs go had
married tho old Squire for bis money. They
wses boAh dead now, lying together under the
gray stones Of the ehancel pavement and Mauds
was their heiress. Bhe lived In the big house"
with IN old half witted aunt and her companion
II was only temporary Arrangement. Maude
was engaged to bs married to beg cousin, dash
toned As Kingston. She was proud Of him, and
loved him all the bsttef for his poverty; for hers
was . nature that felt almost too keenly the Joy
Of giving. s.s.
the love Of the heirsss and 70 exoits the envy Of
all the other fellows who didn't see what
MAuds Thornton liked in her yellow-haired cons.
In"
Maude had rebsllsd nsroely It his manner
latAly. IL was too courteous, too reserved for
devoted lover, abe inwasdly decided, and 1t was
this perhaps that on that vet day made hes 70
disseminated amid III the splsndor Of tho Thorn
ton drawing room.
and shoes, and went out into the rain. It was
coming down more 6ercely than ever on the
dark leaves and the soft grAvel but ahe hasssued
onward bravely enough, down tho path and
aoross the bridge, striking away from the main
Parting Thornton grounds from tho Reosory
garden was high, thick fence Of laurel, which
ran for few hundred yArds In almost straight
line, A new thought struck Aauds's wAyward
mind - shs reached The fsnce; .he would go and
see Polly. the rectof's little daughtsr, whom
Maude patronised very gracefully. A. she stood
there moment by tho fence, undecided, low
voice, tremulous with pain, reached her from tho
"Poor little Polly Its cruel that fAte should
part two such loving hearts."
II was Lawrence Gary who spoke. Then came
Pony's soft Response
"Never mind. Heaven will help us, Capt.
"Eay II help you to bs patient, dear"
| MAude heard NO more she hastened away,
like guilty thing, back ACROSS the bridge, her
breath coming 4 short gasps. the fsvsr-hush OF
Carroll met hsr in tho hall, mildly reproseh-
full.
"You'u fall into = consumption and die, Miss
Maude, and then what will Captain Gary do 2
I'd sooner have . tame elephant to keep In
niss Thornton threw OF her cloak with little
"Don't be cross, Car. was great fool 10
60 out, know. III 60 And dress for dinner,
and you can read that BOOK, IL you Ike desr."
she hastened up stairs to her room, and rang
az will wear my new dress tonight, Mary ;
and do my hair In curls, please"
MAude looked queenly when sho came into
the drawing room she Was dressed In black
velvet, with square cut bodice, and rich lace
dropping over her protty white arms.
"You look like . picture, Miss Maude," ex-
claimed Carroll, admiringly.
Maudo srniled. and seated hss-sR by tho
" face, and on her luxuriant hair. She sat
there, silent and thoughtful, playing with pic
tured fire screen, each movement of her white
hand causing the rings on her fingers to hash
1osptain aaryr' cried Carroll, At the sound
Of tho wheels on tho drive.
Maude's color rose little higher, but she did
: not speak, not even when Carroll said something
| about book and left the room.
He came in unAnnounced-a man OF twenty
Ave, yellow-haired, handssme-a man any wo
man with unclaimed heart might have loved.
, Maude held out her hand, with laugh.
/ didn't expect you To- night, lawrence
He took it gravely, but did not sttempt to klst
} which checked him.
, "What dreasy day-lan't it ?" abe said, il
her softest tones, clssping her hands togethe
lest he should SEQ them tremble, apd looking q
him, her white lids drOopingA little,
: How beautiful she waA The soldiers fsce
! flushed little with pride q he looked At thiI
. queenly girl-his promised wife.
ut ID rather damp my darling" he repliet
I She played awith the rings on her fingers
9 looesning one, bright cluster Of diamonds, AM
half drawing it OF.
"This old house ia dreadfully dull am ut
terly miserable here utterly miserable
"Maude y her lover cried, in grave reproach
n Her eyes flashed a. she looked ct him proud
at must be dull, dear, know. Don't spen'
, the winter here. Lot it form our honeymoon
Q passed in sunny Italy, my darling"
Her proud lips quivered with pain; but sh
), II shall not spend the winter here. au
'- going abroad-to Paris have friends there
J. and shall zee little Of the world. do no
know my own heart, Lawrence"
Lawrence bit his lips with annoyance
IA II hardly understand you; you arc in
70 strange mood tonight"
70 She went on recflessly, twisting that brigf
70 "It was hardly fair to claim my promise 1
10 soon, Lawrence-I an fettered before hay
N known anything Of the worlds real life. The
Of may 30 golden chains to you but to me the
- are simply CALLING"
'r "Fotters do you call your words Of promise
40 have no wish to chain you, MAudo-Mi
40 Thornton, il you will, !" he returned hotiy.
u She rose up, playing carelesay With her ring
when no love binds the links together There
Id She slipped il on and held it ont, laughing Il
NJ vhile He clAsped her wrist and the ril
Az AZ What do you mean2 Are you playing vi
mo 1t has gone too far for joke"
re Loose my arm, Captain Gary-you hu
lAt me. tell you my promise has become gallil
IKE 1xs soqb bssq ssp Dui % not
'ss handsome-I have ten thousand year. A ca
lad tain in . marching regiment is not good part
IN "For Heavens sske, stop" !" he e1caim
= hoa.sely. = wont reProseh YOU Asnds-i. .s
lch worthy Of an honest mans love will cru
eir mine as I crush this bAuble |" He stamp
upon the glitsering diamonds with his heel ~
FOR shame You have spoiled ring wo,
the Rectors yearly income" she exclain
ILL lightly.
J" He caught the girls hands in his with no gen
by clasp and looked sternly In her eyes.
md "Aeaven help and pity you, Maude The
IN umphs you covet, the rank you may gain, ,
~ turn to ashes at your touch. / know You love
are Nay, let your eyes droop; know their secre
hat you have let me read it often enough. And II
nth l say, Heaven.forgive you for the words
have gpoken this night ANd for the solemn pr(
he fso no,, 10 - EoStIv hroknn /"
m Ie- room, his heart beating hercely with pain
tsr. anger;
and ,,,r, hsr Iu... .nd covsred ~: fscs srosn
a. Light >,
An Niss Carroll coming, found hes sobhang viii
A%sn % The companion knelt down, and put her ha
I ;ciA tsnderly round her.
40 "Miss Mauds, dear Miss MAude, what is
ther matter? Whore IL Captain 0axy2"
aoa Maude put up her hands with passior
~ ~ gesture.
noe, "Hs IL gone, Gar. He viii nsvsr come 1
~ any more. He doesn't love me, Car"
@ 'ss "Not love you !" echoed Carroll, In high
eot' dain.
SAINT N.rde snhhad ont ths whols vretohsA sho
war, thn vhimered voras hshind fha Ianrel fe
ng "a her own har&woeds 70 Lavrsnoe.
ibid you tell him what you bad board i"
lin ar.hSnu hotiv ssNo indeea %
been WT9.ss, vcr o,o1,x u hava An.,n ~ Nj. n
dter, MAN. 4 hssrt hsS ~, hroken ~ kses,in-
t&,nAv {uhk kaw all IN