The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-01
about to spring forward, when ! discovered
that Stephcnic was seated in the alcoyc OF an
inner room beside gentleman. ttt.tt


stood lrrcsolue. 4 curtain OF blue silk
fell across the. upper part OF the figures, but
upon il their shadows lay, as they sat against
the sunny window beyond, and plainly out
Lined Slcphenie's beautiful head and Capt.
Langdales profile
did not mean to be a liS,ncr to their con
versaton but as demurrcd about going for
ward distinctly heard Stephcnic say;
"Iloyc you utterly, with all my heart. am
not ashamed to say this, because you will new
or see me again
She continued talking, but her voice fell 10 q
low monotone, and realized my position aud
stumbled backward out of the room and found
myself in the street, going dizzly home. Like
lsome hunted thing | rushed 10 my room and
Ibid myself from all eyes
remember throwing myself upon couch
and then starting up and walking the room,
looking at my pale face in the glass, taking up
books rs if to read them, doing all sorts OF I'M
intentional things in sort of mechanical way,
trying not to think of the revelation that had
come to me, because it seemed | should go
mad if did But haunting voice was cry
ing in my ear. "Stephcnle-lost Stcphcnie"
mo, no, she is minc,' | cried, in despair,
l"I have loved her so long and so well, and she
is my only daring What conld do without
lhery Oh, God, what can do! Z"
For the truth would not be gansaid and
must be faced. With mine own ears | had
heard her say to another man, IL love you, "
and what may have murmured in moments
of Impotence, | knew in my soul that Ste
picnic St Jean was no coquettc.
Capt Langdale had been ordered to his regi-
ment, and she had probably returned home to
bid hun farewell A soldiers life is always in
peril, and in the moment of parting Stephen.
lie had confessed to him what had never sus.
pected,
Heaven knows that | had no reason; and
had good cause to think differently. She had
never plightcd her troth to me, but by word
and look and sweet privileges she had accept
ed my love, and had such utter faith in her
truth that the possibility of her deceiving me
had never occurred to my mind The warm
est and tcndcrest intimacy existed between us,
and yet she had never given her promise to
marry me.
Sick at heart, realized it now, reviewing
the past = the hateful light of Of my sudden
discovery. | was n lawyer, and in the long
hours of that utterly sleepless night studied
the case untiungly as if it had not been my
own.
1t was not matter Of mistaken identity.
Leaving out the consideration that my heart
would never in this world mistake Stephcnic's
voice, distinctly saw the outline Of her bust
and her dress, revealed below the curtain, was
very familiar to me.
Ii was of creamcolorcd silk, trimmed with
black lace. On her foot she wore pretty
black satin shoe, with a silver buckle; and
the nstcp showed n cream-colored stocking,
embroidered with silkcn buds and vines.
| The dress and the stocking, with its cmbrol-
derry were all of the same tint, and the whole
costume revealed but two colors-cream and
black As she sat within the blue curtain, the
artistic effect was very beautiful
| All, no. it was Stcphenie peerless among
women and in heartsick misery | at length
gave up the lost cause.
The gray dawn was stealing in at my win
dows, its sweet breczes bathing my aching
temples, when | sat down at my desk and
penned my farewell letter;
"STEPHENIE-l cannot trust myself TO see
YOU again | am weak as IA child, and worn
out with such suffering as | pray you may
never know. inadvertently, Yesterday heard
YOU confess your heart to Capt Langdalc. |
heard you say that you loved him. Then you
do not love me! God only knows how utterly
| believed you did, and what fcrycnt gratitude
and happiness there was TO me in that belief.
OH my darling! how could you let me wreck
my heart on the shoals of your mere careless
likingg | was only congenia friend, a
pleasant companion. Your heart was his; and
yet-iarewcll'
This passionate incoherent letter, directed
to her, then called my valet.
Pierre, pack some trunks We will go
down to Black Rocks for the summer"
/ The man stared.
Pardon, monsieur it is very dull down
there No cunning, no fishing and no young
adiesr
And consequently no waiting maids toryou
to ogle." ! answered, with dreary attempt at
ease and lightncss of spirits.
But the fellow still looked at me.
Monsieur looks very i'll. | will bid the
doctor call on you, and, if he consents, We will
20 to that horrid place tomorrow"
/ NONSENSE | shall be well enough after a
bath and some breakfast. Don't be impertl-
nent Pierre. We start on the ten o'clock train"
! Black Rocks was not frequened by fashion
able society; this was my only reason for
4 choosing it, The Neptune house, where took
up my abode, was large rambling, old.iash-
iOncd inn, not in the least in the world like "A
modern seaside hotel.
4 Nv valet of course arranged all the con
vcncnccs of my life; consequently did not
know the darkskinned old woman who one
day presented herself at the door OF my apart
ment, with long, covered basket upon her
arm NV man was busting coat upon the
back piazza.
There's some one at the door Pierre" |
SAID 10 him as sat at me WlnuoW Will II doom
which was not reading
1T is the washerwOman. She Is very nice
llaundress, Monsieur"
Yes" said indiflercntly. PAY her"
i He received the curiously-covcrcd basket,
settled the bill and the woman departed.
Pierre prepared to arrange my linen by open.
ing a bureau drawer. turned page OF my
book IA he withdrew the white cloth from the
basket, when my attention was again arrested
by his ordinations:
Mon dieu! Laccs, ruilics"
What is the matter, Pierce"
These are ladies' things. Here is wrap
per with fluted ru,ileS, white skirts, and-ha,
!, ka!-embroidered stockings Mees Betsey
Mees Betsey, come back
He dropped the basket ON the floor, and
rushed after the old woman. glanced with
in, and saw "A mass Of snowy lace and embroi
. lderies. beautiful ms bed of lilies The cloth
linz was too dainty and eyDeneiyc to belong &c