The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-05

prehend his Joy or his sorrow. Could this
lovely, humble woman no held IN hrs arms
be indeed the imperiOus Mistress EuDhe-
mir, hi. queen and tyiantf and II 30. VIII It
had so changed herr He could not see how
his loyalty aud honor had struck her us theY
never had before, in the fierce light OF the
fnOt that he woul de rather Than Let
light word be hrenthed AGAINST her rnine
how, i'll the knowledge that she had
slowly attained, that he was not IN truth
her slave, she learnt he W is the man she
loved and honOrcd above all others
lilo would have wished. had IL been pos
sble, to emf " the supr, me happno OF
that hour without n Thought of the future.
To him the inCt was clear that lie must
fight perhaps meet his death in so doing;
II WINS not n thing to question.
But TO her IT was difl crcnt, and she strove
with ull her might to make him rsliIqul
the due. Snc beat her poor brains for ar
guInonts ngainst the p nc ice. wishing she
had not kiUpcd those of Sir Charles Gran
dison on the subject. she impiorrd hlm
with tears, spoke of his others grief, of
her own. But, though her words cut HIM
TO the heart, his purpose held firm; and
when at st she said 10 more, only olung
10 him. los king INTO his face, her brsecUh-
ing eyes nllOd with tears. all his word
were:
Sweetheart, ! cnnrot reason as you
can, but one thing Is rtlin--l called L,rd
Wrcford IA liar; he has right to demand
satisfaction for my words; and cannot
deny 1t to him."
Z" But you can ietract."
"l,ctract thcmi No, dear; the words
were not against yOu-had he spoken so OF
you, we had fought there and then-but
against all women; aud should be base rs
himself If by retractIng my words owned
his rs true"
Aud she. looking Mt his steady eye',
knew that no speech OF hers would move
his Will. and loved him the better for the
owledge-knew that The man she had
lI ltnfs aln i'm hFar II
III this, ut least, that even her washes could
not move him from what he thought the
right. Then the thought OF how soon she
might lose him III lde her break into pas
sion of tears such as she had never shed
before.
But soon, ny n strong effort, she reoov-
cred herself feeling ashamed of her weak
ness when William was 50 calm.
u will DO brave" she said, trying to
smile.
81 know YOU will. and 1t gives me oour-
age to ask one thing of you. If things go
wrong you will comfort my motherY
"She will hate me when she knows / was
the ciuse," was EIphemla's thought, but
she only said
81 will do all can. poor lady; but what
will that beY
Much" he said tenderly. L" For you,
my sweet, what can ] say2 nm u poor
fellow, unworthy of you, and yet dare
believe my loss will cause you pain. God
comfort you, dearl'
And bring you out of this safely lido
not believe you will die; cannot think
but that you will live"
Perhaps may" he said quietly. You
have nude me wish To 1--we. Last night |
cared nothing for my LIE; now nave
you"
He bent his head, and their lips met in
one long kiss.
There was no time for more; hating
step was heard descending the 4 iirs. ana
William made sign that he wished silence
before his mother.
So when NJ adam Templeton entered the
room she found her SO and Mistress wal
wyn seemingly engaged in the contempla-
ton of the portrait OF Dame AnhlDei
Templeton; II fair, sad lady, whose blue
eyes looked pitliully down on them, as
though she knew their secret.
Mad IN IemplCtOn. "a gentle old lady.
loved Euphcmla. albeit certain degree oil
fear mingled with her affection Tor the
high-spirItcd girl but Ehphemin was al
ways gentle TO her. and Madam Temp eton
was unfeignrdly glal to see her. ana dis
cussed the point patterns that had been
the ostensible reason for Mistress wal
wyn's visit with n placid interest, talking
over the mysteries OF points and
"wheels." bars " and "edg s. till poor
Euphemia felt her brain whi1 At the com
tra>t bet weeu her own bitter thoughts ana
the subj 'ct on hand; nevertheless. thi7
trivial talk was less trying than more
personal conversation would have been.
Breakfast was served. and Euphernia
tried To drink chocolate and talk cheer
fully, all the time feeling as though she
were in some horrible dream. The sun
| light streamed into the room, and through
| the open window came the pleasant sum
! mer scents IN sounds. II was all so en-
tirely bright, she felt Il rs mockery oil
| her pam.
! And she must sit Quiet. eating and drink
| ing. laughing and talking, opposite the
man she loved; pOWerleSs TO prevent the
cvIl that hung over hun, OF which she was
| the cause; powerless to prevent his
| mothers misery or her own great grief
Mistress Euphemia and Mr.. Tenpoton
| had not another opportunity of speaking
| together alone. and both felt this was not
n time to tell their love to any third per
son. even his mother or TO let any stranger
| intermeddle either with their hearts DIT
terness or joy.
SO when, shortly after nine o'clock, VIII
! liam rose and ordered his horse. saving, IN
answer to his mothers inquiries, that N
had business near Exeter. aud That JacB
| Radley was to call for hun, that thri
might ride there in company, Euphemia
voice was steady and her eyes free from
| tears, rs she went on working ut a ne"
lace stitch, and explained II to Madam
| TempletOn.
A loud ring was heard AZ the hall door
and William has iened to II. lie knew VIA,
ii was: his friend jack Rldley who had
promised to act rs ms second.
When he reintrrei the room he bore MI
aud his en- treaty that she wOuli excuse hi
dlsmountug, as they were III haste. lis
face was quiet, the eyes ana mouth grave
and tranquil. He had a hope of lie now
In ms inmost soul he half believed hr could
not die now that hc had gained that which
made life worth living for.
He kissed his mothers hand then turned
to Euphemia, and the loving look m Whicn
| their ewes met was as fun Il farewell Us the
! most passionate Caress could have been
then bent to kiss her hand, and 80 was
| gone.
Euphemla saw him and his companion
ride down the garden path, saw
them through the trees rs they can
tered swiftly along the green lane beyond
! rs the tramplng of their horses feet died
away, II suck terrible fear crept over heI
heart. Could it be she had seon him fol-
the last timer
She could not bear the stiffness OF the
room. She could not benr TO look AZ
Madam Templeton, working calmly III the
sunshine unconscious of the terrible blow
that might SO soon fall upOn her The
| poor girl felt she needed swift motion, the
III. hing Of the breeze in her face the
quick cutting through the air that only q
rider can know; anything that would
carry her away from herself; and she or
cred her horse, in spite OF all Madam
Templctons entreatios tor her to stay.
IF the worst COMES she thought I,
I bnraplf will Ina with her Wl,nt.Vpr IL