The Morning herald., 1877-04-24

Despard finding his parpose thus unex-
pectedly taken away, remained 10 the vii
lage and waited. There was one whom he
wished to zee again. On the following day
Frank Brandon arrived from London. he
met Langhetti with deep emotion, and
learned from bis brother the astonishing
story Of Edith.
Onthe following day that long-lost sister
herself appeared in company with Mrs.
Thornton. Her form, always fragile, now
appeared Trailer than ever, her face had q
deeper pallor, her eyes an intenser lustre,
her expression was more unearthly. The
Joy which the brothers felt at finding their
sister was subdued by an involuntary awe
which was inspired by her presence. Sne
seemed to them as she had seemed to 9th
ers, like one who had arisen from the
dead.
AT the sight Of her Langhetti's face
grew lradiant-all pain seemed to leave
him. She bent over him, and their wan
lips met in the only kiss which they had
ever exchanged, with all that deep love
which they had felt for one another, She
sat by his bedside. She seemed to appro.
pirate him to 6erself The others ac-
knowledged this quiet claim and gave
way to it.
As she kissed Langhetti's lips be MUIR
INJURED fainitly:
knew you would come. 80
Yes, said Edith. We will 60 together.
Yes. sweetest and dearest, said Langhet
ii.
She looked at him fondly.
The time of our deliverance is near at
hand. q. t..
Near, repeated Langhetti. Yes, you
have already by your presence brought
me nearer to my mortality.
Mrs. Thornton looked pale and wan !;
and the shock which she felt at the sight
of her brother at first overcame her.
Despard said nothing to her through
the day, but as evening came on he went
up to her and in low voice said, Let us
take walk.
Mrs. Thornton looked at him earnest
", and then put on her bonnet. 1t was
quite dark when they left the house.
They walked along the road. The sea
was on their left. ...
This. is the last we shall see Of one an.
ether, Little Playmate, said Despard after
long pause. l have left Hobby forever.
Where are you going?
To join the army.
:. The army.
Little Playmate, said Despard, even my
discovery of my fathers death has not al
tered me. Even my thirst for vengeance
could not take the place Of my love. Listen
Il flung myself with all the ardor I
could command into the pursuit Of my
fathers murderers. I forced myself to an
unnatural pitch Of pitilessness and yindic-
tiveness. l set out to pursue one Of the
worst of these men with the full determi-
nation to kill him. / found him dead on
the road. After this all my passion for
vengeance died out, and was brought face
to face with the old love and the old des-
pair. But each of us would die rather
than do wrong, or 60 on in wrong course.
The cnly thing left for us to do is to sepe-
rate forever.
Yes, forever, murmured Mrs. Thorn
ton.
All, Little Playmate, he continued, TAX
ing her hand, you are the one who was
not only my sweet companion but the ide-
al of my youth. You always stood trans.
figured in my eyes. You, Teresa, were in
my mind something tperfect-a bright
beirg unlike any other. Whether you
were really what believed you .mattefed
not 80 far as was concerned. You were
at once areal and an ideal being. I be-
lieved in you and believe in you yet.
I was not q lover; was devotee. Ny
feelings toward you are such as Dante de-
scribes his feeling toward his Beatrice
Ny love is reverential. l exalt you to a
plane above my own. What lsay may
sound extravagant to you, but it is actual
fact with me. Why it should be 50 l con
not tell.
We part, and I leave you; but l shall
be like Dante, l suppose, and es the years
past, instead Of weakening my love they
will refine and purify it. You will be to me
a guardian angel. a patron saint-your
name shall always mingle with my pray
ers.
I don't know. what to do, said Mrs.
Thornton. Whether you idealize me or
not, after all, you must know what l real
ly am
Would you be glad never to see me
again? :,
The hand which Despard held trembled
violently.
1t would be happier said she.
Would you be glad if could conquer
this love?
want you to be happy always, Lama,
she replied
She was weeping. Despard folded her
in his arms
This once. said he the only time, Little
Playmate
| Cho ,uo,,t ,,non hia hraaat