The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-06-12

A wide, paved, yet muddy square,
set round with dingy warehouses;
heavily laden teams rolling by with a
sound, like thunder; the confusion of a
hurrying crowd, mainly men, and dis
tantglimmer of ships masts. Captain
Marx Arnold, on the way to board his
ship. the Mermaid" lying at the ad-
jacent wharf, observed an elegant car
riage, with pampered horses. waiting at
an funfteq uented corner. BE scarcely
gave it a second glance, yet afterward
he remembered the sum ptuous cushions
and gold,monnted harness, the, low-hupg
lampsland ebony eoaehman. i no
20 MARX u ;1si 57ra3 sa. ma ,esliK
IA faint odor of tuberoses, cinging
black drapery outlining female figure,
the light touch of slight, gloyed hand
upon his arm, He stopped and looked
into a womau's veiled face. +, ~. 81 {.
sysai Mark, do you know me?'
h" Yes," he replied gravely, II know
you. Madeleine Preston" s ,5..,l
He spoke unhesitatingly, yet with a
strange composure, considering that he
had not for sixteen years met this wo-
man who had once been the dearest on
earth to him. He was by far the. more
composed of the two. Z iJe 5ihhzS
Il should have known you anywhere,
Mark-though you have alteredGa1-
tered" she faltefed. Her voice ceased
suddenly. choked with tears. He saw
her trembling. His face only grew
little more set.
Mark, I wanted to speak to you
once more. know you pass here daily.
l have been waiting to see you"
He bowed and waited. He was not
without feeling, though you might have
supposed SO. .T
g You are going awayp
Yes," he answered. 81.
You are going away on a long voy-
age. We may never meet again"
He looked up at her face now, for his
eyes had been pent on the ground, and
saw that the opce exquisitely- y-molded
face was too thin for beauty, and mar
BILE pale. 5i 5iRe
81 wanted to say to you, MARI, - she
went on with an effort, "that it is better
as it is-as it was. l was never worthy
of you. T did not know how unworthy
until of late, since / have learned of all
your brave lonely years devoted to duty.
And hope you have long ago found it
out" ~ =
She looked up at him. he did not
speak. -
"Since it is true," she said, very
pleadingly, you cannot, of course, feel
any pain, or any hardness toward me. +"
And now Arnold made an effort to
speak: e.. IL.
What is done cannot be undone.
The least said about it the better"
The words were cold, yet the tone was
not unkind, and for the first time he
met her anxious gaze. i,'. a . 81,
Yes, yes, l suppose so," she re-
turned. HI was shallow, foolish, short.
sighted" she murmured, and stopped,
lost in momentary thought. Z" Mark,
since you have quite forgiven me-
she paused-'' hope you have.'' . :,
Yes, yes.o if.r
"Will you not try to think OF me
kindly? For, Mark, I have named my
little girl-my only child, the dearest
thing on earth to me-for yo,s-Rose
Arnold Do you rememberf You
used to say that if you ever had /
daughter, she should DE named Rose
My Rose is SO sweet! Come to see hel
us, Try to love her little. She ha
no father-you have no child. Let he
be your little girl" -
His lips stirred to faint smile
| IT. A., b;s -bro,.,s ,,,rxol IL a d,-l- f~a,-
and he bent searching look upon hi
companion. g- slG
{" Markp 4a. H
1t was sharp, indignant cry. Sh
swept aside her veil. ,g,,. ,,....,,
",Do you suspect me of maneuverin,
toecatch you now? Look-I am dying! 7
i Her face, fully revealed in the col,
light, was set with the seal of COZ
sumption. 5 -,
|, He saw; his countenance changed
softened. Watching it, she grew, ,calr
again. 5.ri . r
81 have not been incapable of de
ception, know. l cannot blame yo
for suspecting me of anytime" sh
said. !" But where Rose is concerned,
am true. Will you come and see her ?
al sail in a few days; but if l ca
get time, Madeleine, will"
/ Thanks" l4& s-
She was much pleased. She had mad
some slight signal, and her coachma
4 was driving nearer.
Pray, make little effort. 1t wi
please me more than can say,"-pleae
ingly.
The wheel of her carriage ground th
curb. Cato had jumped down an
opened the door. ''sti--,. -.
Mark Arnold did not dream that
hurt her because he merely stood bac
and lifted his hat in perfect civility.
So humbled and sincere was she tha
she would have been deeply grateful fc
the touch of his hand. But slightly b,
wildered, and panied more than he care
to show, he let her go from him with u
further expression of kindness.
She drew down her veil and took he
seat. The carriage glittered out {
sight, and Mark Arnold, little shaker
yet with cold heart toward the woma
from whom he had just parted, wei
aboard the Mermaid. But he had give
L., n.on,;ao onJ - ooo,,x.ol - L: