Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-22


Lily lay in hammock on the piazza
her hands lying Iistlessly in her lap, moi
a shade OF color in her cheek.
The thought came to me that the child
was bound for the land of shadows.
"She mus! have help soon." said Ste-
phenie.
Yes" answered.
saw them of in the morning train
Kitten with her cheek on Stephenie' S
shoulder. l carried the picture they
n before my eyes all the week-my
MAJ -.a -, generous brunette support
ing the L.. = s'rength of that pale, fair
faced child. A. had never loved her
better in all my life than in this new
phase.
A week and day Stephenie had said /;
therefore had no expectation OF seeing
her when, at the end OF FIVE days, | en-
tered the drawing-room OF her fathers
house to find an opers-glass l had left
there.
had told the servant at the hall door
what my errand was. and that knew
just where TO look for The glass. But on
the threshold OF the apartment my steps
were arrested by the sound of Stephenie's
voice.
A rush of delight went over me. l
was about TO spring forward, when | dis
covered that Stephenie was seated in the
alcove OF an inner-room, beside gen.
tlenisn.
l stood irresolnte. A curtain Of blue
silk fell across the upper part Of the hg-
ures, but upon it their shadows lay, as
they sat against the sunny window be.
yond, and plainly outlined Stephenie's
beautiful head and Captain Lsngdale's
profile.
did not mean 70 be listener 10 their
conversation, but as ! demurred about
going forward l distinctly heard Ste
phenie say:
"I love you utterly, with all my heart.
am not ashamed to say this. because
you will never see me again"
She continued talking, but her voice
fell 10 low monotone, and realized my
position. and stumbled backward out OF
the room. and found myself in the street,
going dizzily home. Like some haunted
thing rushed 10 my room and hid my
self from all eyes.
l remember throwing myself upon a
couch, and then starting up and walking
the room, looking at my pale iaee in the
glsce, taking up books aud opening as if
TO read them, doing all sorts of inten-
tionsl things, in mechanical way trying
not TO think Of the revelation that had
come TO me, because it seemed that !
should go mad if did. But haunting
voice was crying in my ear, "Stephenie-
lost Siephenie!''
mo. no, she is mine!" l cried, in
despair. Il have loved her so long and
so well. and she is my only darling
What could do without her2 Oh. God
what can do?'
For the truth would not be gainsaid,
and must be faced. With mine own ears
had heard her say 10 another man, 81
love you," aud what l may have mur-
INJURED in moments of impatience, | knew
in my soul that S,ephenie 81. jean was
no coqueite.
Captain Langdale had been ordered to
his regiment. and she had probably re-
turned home TO bid him farewell. A SOL
dier's lie is always in peril, and in the
moment of parting Stepheuie had con-
fessed to him what never suspected.
Heaven knows that had no reason !;
aud had no cause to think differently.
She had never phghted her troth to me,
but by word, and look, and sweet privi-
leges she had accepted my love. and l
had such utter faith in her ruth that the
possibility OF her deceiving had never
recurred to my mind. The warmest and
tenderest intimacy existed between US.
and yet she had never given her promise
10 marry me.
Sick at heart, realized it now, review
ing the past in the hateful light OF my
sudden discovery. was a lawyer, and
in the long hours of that utterly sleepless
night studied the case untiriugly, IS if
it had not been my own.
1t was not matter OF mistaken identi-
". Leaving out the consideration that
my heart would never in this world mis-
take Stephenie's voice, distinctly saw
the outline OF her bust; and her dress,
revealed below the curtain, was very ia
miliar TO me.
1t was of cream -colored silk, trimmed
with black lace. On her foot she wore a
pretty black satin shoe, with silver
buckle; and the instep showed cream
colored stocking, embroidered with silk.
en- buGs and vines.
The dress and the stocking, with its
embroidery, we're all the same tint, snd
the whole costume revealed but two col
ors-cream and black. As she sat within
the blue curtain, the artistic effect was
very beautiful.
All, no D.! it was Stephenie, peerless
among women; and, in hear,sick misery,