The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-08-03
TURN ED ADRIFT
nv MRS rroESIA DUNLAP rorrs.

the motive OF that eccentric young N
dy's silence. You know she never
acts according to approved rules. He
len, let me entreat you to put by thu
doubts that cloud your love for me
and be again your sweet, confd ing
self What more can I says What
can do, can do no moroccan l.
than affirm the unchanging love
pledged your You arc my promised
wife. Your parents sanctioned ouI
union. Tell me then that you will
soon give me the right to call you
mine in truth"
There was a ring Of earnestness in
his voice; but my heart was still un'
satisfied. There was only affirma-
ton, no proof, in what he said. His
explanation savored but poorly Of the
enthusiastic lover. Yet, on the other
hand, how could lightly cast him
aside with no criterion for his actions
but the ouspoken wooing Of the COL
lege.boy that he. was two years ago.
With no proof of per6dy beyond a
certain intuition that he was changed'
I unused deeply upon what course
would be wisest to pursue.
"If you love me, Helen, let that be
your guide" he said, seeing my indie
cision.
IF / love your" l echoed, 81 am
beginning t, think that we do not, Ell
Their Of us, know our own hearts. Let
us close the chapter Of the past and
begin new probation. Let us sound
the depths Of our affection and see
what it requires. Since our last part
ing a blank remains too vague to con-
meet the future with the past. We
will begin afresh and test the worth OF
the feelings we profess"
He assented to this proposition with
so little remonstrance that my vanity
was not flattered, and I was more than
ever satisfied with the wisdom Of the
compromise.
We then drifted more easily into
"reminiscences Of the old days in Vir.
pinia when our home-circle was full OF
happiness. Lisle Grange was far in
the country, the village Of Warrenton
being our nearest post office. We had
had few associates among the citizens
of the little town. Our valued friends
we're visitors who came from time to
time to rusticate in the grand old
woodlands Of the Old Dominion.
Thus relieved from the vexed ques.
ton of our mutual fidelity my CON-
panion became fluent and entertaining
as only the cultured man Of the world
is capable Of being; and when thu ex.
cursionists returned no emotion save
the transient interest Of ordinary 30
cial intercourse marked our bearing.
While the guests dispersed them
selves to The various games and amuse'
ments which Mountain Hall SO gener'
ously provided, l retired to my room
and wrote TO Major Hadyn as ! had
promised. One sentence in the letter
conveyed my perplexity; Gan unde
fined barrier rises up between Dewitt
Beverly and myself which he either
can not or will not remove. l wish 10
be Just to him and true to myself.
More than all l wish to do right. II
you can still prosecute inquiries ! give
you full permission to do so; for whom
have l but you, to assist or adviser
From this date arose a silent strug'
gle between Guy Garnet and myself
impossible not to feel. and yet equally
impossible to acknowledge. That she
loved Dewitt Beverly rs much as she
was capable of loving. was apparent
to all; but that she should possess any
power over him was to me only anoth
err phaze of the inexplicable change
that was too surely alternating the lin
gering allegiance OF my vow. To me
he persistently kept up the show Of
affection which our recent compact
gave him the right to manifest; but
frequently detected the passion thai
deepened and darkened his eye when
it followed Guy Garnet's movements,
and resolved to watch and wait. How
amid these tolls Of treachery, as af
forwards knew them to be, the noble,
chivalrous soul of my guardian stood
out pre-eminent in its spotless integ
rity.
Every day revealed some fresh de-
vice Of these two To wander away
from the gay circle that still remained
at the Hall. Every day detected some
more laLored proof upon his part Ia
lull my suspicious.