Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-04-04
NaAEDR ED.
BY CONSTANCE MAITLAND.


'-SuE lifted up her eyes,
And loved him with "A love that was her doom, -
read Mildred, from that sweetest OF
all Tennvson's sweet 1dyls; and as
she paused Il moment npon the sng
scstivc words, and the conscious
blush mantled over cheek and brow,
our eyes met in one quick glance
and each, as if by INSPIRATION, learn
cd for a truth what had hitherto
been only "a suspirdon-that we
lo2ed, both Of us, Randolph Duha-
mel.
"Miidrcd 2"
6Constancc !'
And, like stays at bay, we looked
each other in the face for one long
moment then, with sudden flush,
which, dying down, left Ter face a.
white as ashes, Mildred said, ''Con'
stance, what are we TO d1?'
"There is nothing for Us to do,
L answered, turning away with bit
terness in my heart 'nothing, but
to keep each others secret"
There Was pause, and she said
again, with slight trcmor in her
voice, "Cunstancc, whatever hap
pens, do not let this come between
our friendship"
''Therc is no rcason-' be-
gan.
eyes, there is,' she answered,
quickly, and with flashing eyes
"a moment ago, when you saw |
loved him, there was a cruel hatred
in Your heart. ] felt it. 1ou
could almost have Killed me. Com
stance =
She was right for one brief Sc
cond | had been in sight Of heaven
and my own conscience, q murriefer !
But repentance came, aud with ii
an inward CRY for pardon l caught
my cousins hand.
ooh. Mildred," l said, forgive
me Ncthiny, not even he, shall
ever again come between our love
Heaven keep me true
And again and again, since that
day, | have thanked heaven for the
promise then exchanged between us
On that same evening was Mrs
Murray's soiree dansanie, at which
we were both engaged and, Will
what cl1cerfalncss we might, Mil.
drcd and | dressed and went.
There is Il dim fceiirS Of vague
ness mixed with my recollection q
the earlier hours OF that bau. A
confused sensation of lights and per
fumc, Of music aud dancing, and ;
cloud of forms and colors, in which
Mildred and | seemed to be fol
ever tossing to fro, now apart, nov
together, yet ever with strang'
current of sympathy flowing cease
lessly from one to the other, ant
keeping record in each of the other
heart beats. Aud then Rrndolpl
Duhamcl's dark, clear cut face cam
between us. and in the intoxicatiol
of his presence, MilLIcd-all wa
forgoiton.
] know now how fully the hap
piness of a whole lifetime lived an
died in that one short hour; knC
how the lights in the dazzlinS bal
room grew faint and pale before tn
: animated glow of his dark eyes ho'
the hum of sound hushed into s
lencc as his voice only found and
cnce in my ears; how evcrythih
, turned into wcarisomc insIgnli
i, cameo, and sight and sound becan
!. cold and dumb before the rreScn'
e of the mar | loved and my tool,
: heart kept beating wild neasn
t to the words, "I love you, Randoll
e I love yon-I love yon ~ until
l. almost feared it might break IN
, voice and bctray my secret. Al
:, thcn-then came the awakening.
;, | remember how the cool air
+ the conservatory blew over my che
,c like chill as we turned IL amu,
d the dark plants. remember,
/, we passed, the white look of Nj
= area 5 lace 6S ollC StOOu uJ thS 81
of some tiresome partner; and l
I member how, like a heavy bl'
y npon he heart, came, in their +
!, !, significance, the words he was sa
ing TO her.
"Randolph Duhanel is engaa
t to Miss Fanny Powell -
l dropped his arm and looked
D. him. There was glow over
dark cheeks and smile upon
y plant lips, that gave conhrinat
- to the story even he spoke.
y eyes, Miss Constance. |
n bringing you into this quiet pl
to tell you. Will you not wish
". JOY -
And with dead weight VIII
il all had been so light before, | t'
the proffered hand, and murmu
n. some low words of congratulate
"Homc, home - ! repeated, r
81 lessly, to myself.
w Oh, to get home and think
think ! How would thinking |