The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-11-10
~ sent Cor You. Why. ycu should

he able 10 guess, Mr.. Nargray.
She was standing. her hand upon
the back Of her chair, her face white
and still, her eyes, dusk and solemn,
on his face. The angry spark rs well
as the hopeful one was gone there
was left only an earnest searching for
the truth.
There's bound 10 b. scene"
thought Mr.. vargray, giving himself
up to the resignation Of despair. CAS-
well to have it over first as last and
be done with il, so here goes. Con.
found the thing! III had only wait
ed little longer and kept clear Of this
messl
There can be no question Of my
business here, in any event. he said,
aloud, in desperate haste to have the
unpleasant matter over. "The truth
Is, there has been mistake mis-
take on both sides, let me hope-be-
tween you and me, Rose. II never
meant to do such a cowardly thing,
I'll swear TO that; but one can't resist
fate, you know. I don't know how
to ask Of you the boon | have come TO
crave. II is the behavior Of a william,
and you will despise me, but-but-
you hold my promise Of marriage, and
| come to ask absolution from it."
"Your reason for asking it, Mr..
Vargray
"Can you not guessi Do you not
knowi You drive me to saying it,
then. thought loved you, but !
have discovered my mistake; | have
found one whom I love with all my
heart, with all my being" A thrill
of imprisoned earnestness was in his
words, and she shrank little under
the pain of them. Forgive me if
you can; it's all up between us, but |
would like to be your friend, if you
will let Inc, Rose?"
"You have your freedom" said
Rose, Silly.
Mr.. Vargray breatbed sigh Ct re-
lief, for all his assumed confidence he
had not been sure of gaining it so read
lily; he had expected tears, protesta
tons, upbraiding, and, in truth, was a
trifle disappointed at their absence.
II knew you would do the generous
thing, Rose. 1t is like you, and you're
sure to find your reward some day in a
lucky fellow hundred times worthier
of you than ever / was. Ican't thank
you; I'd only make a mess Of an at
tempt. Its like new lease on life
you've given me, and it's a load off
my mind that you've done it so willing
". You really aren't much hurt over
it, are you, Roses"
Her solemn eyes, with their unfath-
ENABLE iptentness fixed upon him,
were full of sombre gloom, deepening
at that.
"You might have spared me that,
she said, bitterly. 81 fancy no wo-
man would quite care to be Tilted in
cold blood. / am hurt-cruelly hurt
by this. How could l help but be ?
That is all, so you will pardon me if !
put an end to this most painful inter-
view"
She moved to leave him, but he de-
tanned her.
1--WE shall be friendsy" he asked.
She drew hack, swift CLEAN flash.
ing athwart her white face.
Never. You have done me such
a wrong, east upon me such an insult,
as few women would forgive. And j
am not one of the fewl As surely as
heaven hears me, Clement Vargray,
will be revenged for the pain, humil-
iation. the degradation you have forced
upon me here. You have your free
dom-let that suffice. Ii is needless
to ask who my successor will be, |
suppose. For once, Rumor has told
the truth; the stories | discredited,
which connected your name with Faus-
tia Dunbar's, were true, / presumed"
mo more than most rumors, do me
that justice, at least Miss Dunbar is
nothing to me. You will think more
kindly ofme when you have seen Net
ia, Rose; you will not wonder j lost
my heart to her."
Not Miss Dunbar !" thought Rose,
when she was alone again, and the
tight tention which had pressed upon
her heart seemed suddenly to relax.
81 can almost find it in my heart 10
forgive Clement, il it is not she; /
could have murdered her as soon as l
could have borne having her exult
over me! Is it in punishment of my
wickedness that | have lost him ?
And, oh | loved him, loved him J"
The bright head went down ; the
face, all pallid and convulsed, was
hidden the bitterness of utter desola-
ton swept over her; in that moment
il seemed that it must abide with her
till death.
lTo M CoSIINUED.I
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shocking Scene at "a Grare.