National Republican., 1877-02-18

sole stirring still from the concomltants Of rip.
ping waves and star.llt night. Was 4 any won.
der that these numerous chances OF meeting,
combined with eyerdangerous idleness and peer.
less summer weather, should work q spell more
over the hearts q two people as youns
and Uor all bis soldier life and gay lair face, for
sll her rare beauty, and pride greater even than
beauty as frcsh and unstained by the contact OF
the world as Cyril Granger and Ethel Garsiord !
Little enough she knew of thatworld, sheltered
shrinking repfobation, Of its evils In the old
country house In Wnrwickshlre, where year by
year she had led the peaceful busy life Of an Eng.
for Cyril, an only son with plenty Of money, a
soldier who had seen fight, and man OF eight
remsrEabe in his degree, being publicly % Spoken Uas
Of as one who had never iiirted with woman,
never cared for woman's beauty, never striyen
openly admitting the imputatlon.
- remember my mother" he said once to q
70 and kneel at her feet II you will, and kiss the
dust she walks on. Why not? There is nothing
so lovely under heaven rs woman pure Of ati
is, where wifi you ind her, nowaiays?" When
he saw Ethel Garsford he said to himself "Shc
Is found, and straightway fell down In his heart
And Ethel, recognising by the untausht in.
stinots Of wemanhood that there was something
~ .he t m h osk az M Mbs
gazed into hers, different from anything she had
ever before felt or seen In any other male acquain.
Gagged bird before the master touch OF his unspo.
ken love, and said In her SOUL There is no one
like you In the whole wide world. Surely It Is
not wrong to love and admire anything so brave
and, noble when after q few days may never see
II again" The while he was wondering, "Does
os az ss anS soT
calling me friend; and how much longer before
Ig I%ny tell her love her and ask her to be my
Now, when It comes to this, that two peoples
pulses beat faster when their hands clasp, that
the touch Of dress makes them thrill and trem.
word sends them red and white in moment, the
answer to this "How long /" may be counted by
days not weeks, ss nor yet months. 49,, ,,.
waters OF tie Channel were laping and
gurglIns and beating with lazy, murmu.
Psr Thers bensh hat runs rOuna tho fs
ther end OF II, rooted with glass and divided by
thin wooden partition from the damp soa. breeze.
Between this partition and the waves there Is q
narrow path. and on this path with arms folded
on the bulwarks oycrhanging the moving water,
Of air that might be stirring, were 0yrIi Granger
and Ethel. sested on the covered bench, though
ssy out Q. sight and Md at ths opposite corner to them
had strolled of to speak toa friend near the band.
No one else chanced to be behind the barrier. To
all intsn,s and purposes these two were as alone
breath Of wind stirred the suitry stiffness OF the
air, no single star lit the deep Elue-back curtain
voices, the faint quiver OF the planks to a thou.
sand feet the myriad lights giimmer,ng in the
far. OIL town, and repeated in the black mirror at
around them; and over all the music noated, now
loud, now low, now rising high, now dying away,
6nt but ever sweet and thrilling, and idealsing that
life into poetry and romance far beyond itself.
ut Is like being on the deck of a steamer an.
chored at night of some southern city," said
EyriL E Like ths night your brother saved my
Dear George" said Ethel. softly. George
was always dear to her her home idol and earth
% mn laI I0l,a Ia.
was distinct throb Of gratitude added to her
appreciation OF this act
"And 4 Is a mirlcle that he wasn't drowned
went on; ."ior he could swim as little as MYSELF
and yet he never hcsitated, but went over the
.OfcOurse he didn't think Of himself Who would
t6ns aSs WA WAS worth DO you think could
noblest, truest--Ahi i am so glad You are
friends, cried the young lady, coming down from
her burst 81 enthusiasm to pleasingly inconse.
moment. He had been silent for some time be.
lore. Speech was not always easy to him now,
when the only words on his lips were three,
seemed madness and presumption to utter; and
s she was too happy In the mere existence Of the
Il fell to that softer cadence, stirred him beyond
bis powers of restraint. He looked up at her.
unplucked rose in the Garden Of Eden. lie
looked down, and her little ungloved hand lay
white as snow upon the brown wooden barrier
clasped his own, hot and trembling as with fever,
around % th ths SLIM cool fingers, and uttered her
She looked up, and their eyes met. There was
no anger in hers, only . sweet, virginia. surprise
and culver Of agitation about the tender glow.
ing lips. Before he could add word voice on
the other side Of the thin partition Immediately
,sThe girl { a Miss GarsfOrd. never saw the
CHAPTER IL.
Then you never saw an awful scamp. Iwond.
cred this afternoon when l met him walking
with that gentle licking girl What she
letdancer wife In the background
"Wile :" with world oil assent.
"Oh yes, he married her l know, and Jolly
little thing she was, too. He's stopped her act.
lodgings in Tslington; but she's back at the
surrey surrey every other night behind the scenes, or
Mice lot, those fellows of the -th!" said the
"And this one nicer than the rest. Heai |
over heels In debt before he took up with Zitelle
at all. Bless you, we hold dozens Of his accept
anses ! wonder what old Garsiord toouid say II
,,"Klek him out ofthe house, probably. 1t isn't
likely, however; for the fellow'sa most consumat
hypoerite, and reads the Bible to hts father just
after singing a post obf, ha ha. ha"
There was more said but they did not hear 1t.
III tHen they nuu stOOu spell-DOunu by those
hrst words only she had drawn her hand away
and clenched It with the other against her breast
as II TO keep down some emotion struggling for
utterance; and he, after ohe hasty movement as
u to withdraw, resigned himself with n half
despalrng shrug. Had not those first sylabcs
told her the worst Suddenly she started.
turned her head, and looked Mt him full and
bravely.
"Come away. How is It people live, and speak
such Hes" she said herccly. Their eyes met
again; but there was no answering hcrceness In
his; nothing but great shame, great grief and
embarra ssment. Her whole face altered in u
moment, blush SO burning as to bring the tears
into her eyes, crlmsoning 1t even TO agony
"Mr. Granger, II Is not true-dny ofHl' she
said In tone half Indignant, halEappeallDg, q
tone which In the still watches of the night he
hears even now.
Ethel" he stammered eagerly, "don't Judge
too harshly. wish You had not heard but II
you would let me try and explain"
mortal paleness in its place. ~ do not think any
explanations would be lifting, Mr.. Granger. II
And then, before he could stop her, she had
turned and left him with decision and dignity
which did not admit OF delay. Cyril uttered Il
hasty word, and went of as swiftly In an opposite
direction, as II looking for some one.
Captain Garsford had accompanied his friend
home, and was strolllng back along the Kings
the hrst glance that something was amiss.
"What is the matter?" he cried out hastily.
Has my father had one Of his attacks again"
"No; but come to my rooms ana III tell you, "
said Cyril, with equal agitation. ~ was looking
%Noihlng wrong with my father or Ethel: Tell
It here, then"