Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-12-12

NoEStbSA-4laNe OCSu llN0 D1OtnBF anu
sister
Frequently they met after that. L
was an unusually gay season at Spa
1eld, and entertainments sbounded &C
In the morning drinking
the water, or making believe to drink
l.; in the rnCo1 saunterlng in Il e
gardens or on the parade; in the even
ing at the rooms, or at private parties;
two or three times did Mr.. Edbury
and Miss Chasdane meet, and lingeI
and converse with each other.
Robert EdOury's time was his own.
and he stayed on. He could have
staid forever. The two or three
weeks sgjOurn be had intended had
more than doubled itself. For he had
learned to love her passioaately; and
all the world might see it for aught he
cared. She, too, might see it, If she
chose; but whether she did or not, he
could not tell, judging from the grave
and sweet dignity with which she met
him and bore back his eager atten-
tions.
At length there came an evening
when he was determined to put his
fate TO the test; TO go on in this un-
certainty was worse than torment.
They had not been much disturbed by
Robert Stonor; paroxysm of his com-
ni4int had confined that gentleman to
his own home.
And so Robert Eibury went up to
the old gabled house, before which his
horse had haltered that first night, and
sought an interview with Miss Chass-
dane. She was quite aInne. The long
French WindpV by With she sat was
flung wide open, aud the low red sun
light, streaming in over her, lighted
up her fair, gold hair and the roses in
her dress.
How beautiful she is!' he thought
a. he took her hand in his. 'What il l
should not win her after all? But |
will make hard fight for it,
Jessie looked up inquiringly into his
face. You are very SILENT she said
and then, catching the earnest look in
his eyes,she hlushed violently and
drew away her hand.
Il love yOu.' he pus'iUnately broke
forth in a low, ,tremulOus tone, break
ng his emotional silence. Il have
come to you this evening to risk my
ate by saying this, to win or lose all.
Jessie, you must know how l love you;
low ! have loved you all along, from
hat very first night that IspOke to
you, neither of US knowing the other.
Will you not give me some hope of
owe in return? Do rot send me-
rom you an utterly broken and dis
mani
Jessie was silent for monochrome
Ong, cruel moment to Robert Edbury
then the small sweet face was turned
o him with gentle dignity. He knew
lis doom beforehand, ere she spoke
he words.
You must know how useless it WAS
o speak to me of this, she said. YOU
Knew, surely you must have known,
hat was engaged to my cousin Rob
.rt StonOI.'
Engaged to him?'
Yes: we are eng ged.'
Neither spoke for ii time. The scent
VI the flowers, blooming in the lonely
rounds on this side of the house, away
rom the dusty and busy highway,
seued to mock them with its sweet
iess; the clustering shrubs and trees
waved gently in the summer evening
)reeze.
He could not speak at once;the sense
# bis bitter loss was too great. The
citing sun streamed in upon him,
ightlng up his distressed face. 1t
eemed to him that the great old
ashiOHed clock in the hall ticked out
he jeering words
Lost! Lost! L0si!lr
'Engdgcdp he SAID at length, with a
Ong drawn breath. L did not know
t. But engagements where no love
:, have been broken many times be-
ore nown
Hush" cried Jessie DO not speak
ike that again. 1t would kill him.
Iou do not know what you are say
ng'
Kill himp
'If he.heard it, l meaut He say he
rusts me-
And you are sacrificing yourself for
im!-fUr fancy! Hear the truth,
.essie. You care not for Mr.. Stonor,
Xcept as a cousin or brother. Elk.
mine your own heart, and it ill tell
'Ou that you do not. You care for me-
Iany half word, a half look has
it to me. Yes, my darling,
is Robert Edbury you have learned
0 love, not Robert Stonor. Your
lushes, my love, are betraying it
ow. YOU
what Was that?' shrieked Jessie.
A low, smothered sound, half
rosE, half cry, had come in from tn e
pen window. 1t was so full of pain
hat man would not care to hear it
vice in a lifetime. Before either
Ould rush out Robert StonOr stood in
De opening.
1t was figure never to be forgotten.
lis handsome fair face was distorted
nth either pain or anger; his pale lips
embed; his left hand was pressed,
18th the old familiar gesture, upon his
cart.
False, false that you aren broke at
myth from his bloodless lips, as he
eiz-d Jessie with his right hand. You
I'D me you did not care for Robert
.dbury! You told me-
a pause, a stagger, and with fright
Il shiver he fell on the carpet. Rob
It Edbury broke the fall partially, but
AS not quick enough to quite save
i'm from it. Jessie few from the
)om for assistance.
Robert Stonor herep cried the be-
ildered Mrs. Chassdane. Il thought
9 was confined to his chamber at
ome.'
He had been confined TO his cham
ar. but, alas, he had crept out of il
lat evening and come up to the house
see Jessie. With the fond hope of
uprising Eer in the usual evening
'on, he had gone round the shrub
ary, intending to enter by the win
wv, and heard all.
On the floor, there as he lay, his
cad raised on a cushion by the hands c
Robert Edbury, he died. The med
al men said he could not, in any case,
Ave lived many months, if weeks, but
1t thai the agitation had killed him.
1t was many long days after that,
hen she had risen from the sick bed .
which this shock OF sudden death
I'd brought her, that Robert Edbury
me to say farewell TO Miss Chas--
me. =
The interview was brief, studiedly
ief, for, with the shadow of the dead