The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-07-27
CHAPTER XIV.

tcNe'"s Wy ps'oe" WIZ 10y
net lowered about Mr.. Beverly almost
as his shadow. | was unable to rid
myself of the suspicion that he wish.
ed to avoid an explanation, aud at
this conviction every pulsation Of my
being fhrobbed with indignation.
Know the .ruth | would and without
further delay. Hedged in by conven.
tionalities and gay circle of guests
it was not easy to effect such a meet.
ing as this would be; but l could no
longer endure thu vapid pretences Of
the past week; the false smiles and
shallow articles. /, therefore, wrote
a note requesting or rather demanding
of Mr.. Beverly an interview, the time
and place to be arranged to suit his en-
gagements, but babe him bear in
mind that my demand was imperative.
never knew whether it was by his
contrivance, or by accident, but on
the next day the whole party made an
excursion to newly discovered 1ndi-
an mound on the Fort Semple road.
1t was easy enough for me to frame
an excuse for remaining at home; but
how he could be so complacently
dropped from the circle was not a lit
tie mysterious, unless so designed.
When the fluttering garments were
out of sight we turned to the parlors
and sat down on low velvet divan
strikingly like the luxurious comforts
Of Lisle Grange where We two had
sat in times now gone forever. He
was a trife embarrassed at first, not
knowing how far my forbearance would
extend. relieved him at once, by
saying firmly, dewitt Beverly, it is
time that we put by this triAing and
face the truth, whatever that may be.
| wish distinctly to know every act Of
your life bearing upon your pledge to
me since we parted"
He Redeemed almost angrily, but
controlling himself, said,
"Helen, this is new character for
you. You speak severely. Why
condemn one who is ever ready to dc
your bidding at your lightest wish?'
Have | said that l condemn? II
. speak in a new character, it is be-
cause am no longer the plastic school
girl who was as wax in your hands. II
is because ] will have done with thi;
/ quibbling and know the truth
Your demand is too general for q
' lucid reply. Question me and Ill an
swer. Since you come as judge,
give me the right to defend myself"
He said this with an aggrleved all
singularly unlike the man | had low
E ed, but singularly like the character
/. he had recently assumed.
"In the first place then, what wa
the cause of your silence during thu
!. months that preceded the death of m,
r dear fatherY"
p "And can you ask me that? Yor
, who permitted me to lie for weeks on
a bed of suffering without line t.
comfort mey'
e 1t was my turn to be surprised, 80
, do not understand" | said.
y 81 was out boating on the Rim
and met with an accident which dis
I abled me for many weeks. When
!. recovered l wrote again and again bu
y never heard from you
What spirit of unbelief crept int
my heart? | could see no reason o
O plausibility in the excuse he offered
7 and yet, If he did not love me VIII,
G ieign to do so?
o At the possibility of his suffering
# and believing himself neglected a soft
u ening memory of the past came owe
me.
, IL never for day neglected you
u Could you know how the anguish Q
: the weary days ! spent in the sic
" room was aggravated by your una'
countable silence, you could never n
&c proach me with neglect"
g "Helen, let US bury the past" b
+ sail, seeing my mood soften; "sinc
Is neither was TO blame in this miscarry
r ing of letters, We will forget mutua
e reproaches, AMI remember only gu
'e love"
& "But this is not all, ] chung to yo
n and trusted you throughout this. Sine
s. the circumstances which east me on
Is upon the world more than a year ha
u passed. Can you explain how 20
Q have never sought newly you MOI
J. come upon me surprised. at pbanp
r meeting instead of bending all you
energies to discovering the woma
n who had promised to be your wifes"
n 81 have already told you, Helen
" how did search for you. | had II
ii clew. l could learn nothing"
g at is marvellous 10 my mind how
l. could be so utterly lost in land o
g free communication like this. A
e least explain il you can Why Gu!
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