The Van Buren press., 1878-06-11

lie walked nomeWafu, nail DenumDeu,
resolving the subject drearily. Had
he indeed gone beyond his depth una
wares? he asked himself Was Miss
Prue mistaken, like the rest with regard
to his feeliagsY Had he misled her, in
his blind selllshness? Ought he to
marry without love because "folks'
talked? As he drew near the Vaughns'
in the failing light he perceived two
figures family outlined woman had
just closed the garden gate and stood
within, a man departed, yet fingered
with the others hand shut in his own
the tall hedge had hidden Mr.. Devens
in a minute more he would be in sight
He wished neither to listen nor to en-
counter his rival, nor to surprise then
love-making. lie took step backward
still behng the hedge.
Tomorrow, then" said the mascu
line voice, with tender intonaton, 81
shall be the proudest and bappiest-'
Devens found himself actually bending
all his faculties to hear, but the end Of
the sentence escaped him. Il should
II0e glad 10 invite a handful of friends to
NAlhSoo my oetNSoot PuiouSN tuO st"N
voice, "if you do not object
II Object" said Laura's silver treble
- who owe you SO much and can re-
turn so little
GOOD. byeo A little silence followed
then-could Mr.. Devens believe his own
ears The jackanapes had kissed Laura,
and she had not rebuked him. He
turned hot and cold alternately; his
heart seemed throbbing in his throat
he glanced toward the gate where she
still leaned; he longed to take her in
his arms and calm her love, in spite of
the strange mans audacious kisses.
Then he remembered Prue, and what
"folks" had said. Had he not put his
own happiness beyond his reach p In
teaching Laura lesson, had he not
learned more than he cared to know
himself2 He was like a child crying for
the moon. He had better go home and
marry Prue. Then he moved forward
swiftly rs leopard; had reached the
gate and placed a compelling hand upon
Laura's before she was aware of his
neighborhood.
That man-who left you just now
who kissed you-who is he: You arc
going to marry him." he gasped, as If he
challenged her to deny it.
Aud you are going to marry Prudence
Bender" returned Laura's tense tones
Let me wish you joy" The hand thai
held hers dropped like lead he hung bis
head like one convicted, and walked way
without word.
Looking drearily out of tho car win
dow on the following morning on hei
way to Boston, Laura's eyes fell upoi
Mr.. Devens making his way toward thu
refreshment room, having just left the
cars. She fanced that there was some
t'.i" 8 -sreoSo sea !.i~ appearance; was ht
i'll Could he have been watching? dc
had haggard, addressed air, as if he
had been up over night, be had not
found time to adjust himself to the
hour. and he walked unsteadily. Pre-
sently the train gave an admonitory
luroh MIR. Devens would lose it, she
thought; no, he was coming, quickly
but not surely. His foot may have been
upon the step when it painted and rolled
forward, and broke up suddenly with a
noise like the crack Of doom. 1t seem
ed to Laura as if the heavens had rolled
together as scroll at that instant; she
knew what had happened without hear
ing word she was on her feet, cropping
her way out amidst the excited throng,
which seemed to part instinctively to lei
her pass. She did not know that she
had called his name tenderly, wildly
with the terrible solicitude in her voice
which only love lends. She knew moth
ing till she found him lying like death,
broken beside the track, white and
speeches. and mutilated. She crouched
beside him there, whispering tender words
as if he could understand, as il they two
were alone, and not the spectacle of q
curious crowd.
- was desperate, Laura, at losing you,
were his first faint words. 81 believe
l took something to drink at the inn
in Chester--iust to forget about it all
The frst-and the last"
There is this day an unfinished por
trait, turned face to the wall, in the studio
of MIR. Raphael Smith. "The lady ney'
or arrived for her last sitting he explains
Her husband would have purchased it
but the artist declined to sell an unfinish
ed painting.
II meant the portrait for Christmas
present, dear, to yon," said Mrs, Dovens
"that is why | went to town 50 pri
vately for my sittings-why ! made such
secret of it,"
"And the wretched fellow prolonged
the sittinys in order to make love &c
you.'
81 remember the very day when
received the postal card from Cousin
Jack - her name is Jacqueline, yot
know, but we call her Jack for hreviiy--
telling me what day to go up for my hrs
sitting. Mrs. Bender brought it, and
thought YOU would be in that evening
| supposed you would drop in at any mo-
ment and make up; and thcn--afterward
Il had engaged the portrait, and wha'
excuse could give for Withdrawing
And presently it grew interesting
with Raphael at your feet, will swear
that heard him kiss you at the gate,
and vow that he should be the hap
pest
"No, sir; he only kissed my hand,
and said he should be the happiest artist
alive when the picture was flushed, and
begged permission to show it to his
lriende and fellow students.
"Hut pardon, Mrs Devens, what was