Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-07-16
CIIAMELEON-LIKE.

cat your service, Sir Wilfred." From
the gay worsteds she was sorting, she
looked up with mischevious expression
beftting her words, yet underlying it a
goodly measure of the rare tenderness
that only woman's face can wear.
Hers seemed a strange face for lover
to frown upon but frown he did-un-
handsomely, emphatically.
"I am in no mood for jesting, Saidee. 3"
he continued, glumly, "nor probably
will you be, when tell you that what
we have so long debated must be decid-
ed between us now"
The sunny smile died from her coun-
tenance; the rare tenderness seemed but
the rarer for its gravity.
81 am sorry, Wilfred," she answered
softly; az so hoped you would see its
impossibility and agree with me"
He could but read how she loved him,
but he read something else now in look
and tone-something that momentarily
banished the frown and paled his hand
some face. With passionate impulse
he arose, and, crossing over to where she
sat, took her hands in his, and gazed
down into her brown eyes long and
steadily.
"Saidee, do you care at all for mePn
he asked, finally.
"Do l care for you, WilfredP" she
murmured, reproachfully, yet with the
rapture of his touch reflected in her face
"Do care for you? Oh, how can you
ask me that, when you know that there
is only you-only you in the whole wide
world for mel"
His hands fell; he turned away from
her impatiently, with bitter smile.
IF am all the world to you, Saidee,
you certainly have a strange way OF
showing it. Your words are pretty, but
they do not weigh at all with me. II
you would have me believe you, come
and promise to obey me as a woman
should the man she loves"
He extended his arms toward her as
he spoke; there was look on his face
she could not mistake. She knew it
would be the last, last time, but still she
took no step forward; she simply stood
terrified, appealingly gazing up at him
Wilfred-"
He was frowning again, now deeper
than before.
81 know what you would say, Saidee,
he interrupted, "and it is only a waste O.
words. AS l said before, your words
have no weight on me; it is enough fol
me that you are ready to have me &C
away alone. And, as now, l shall 60 to-
morrow, we might as well say good-by.
She had not taken her eyes from hi'
face, and he still looked back at her
steadily, relentlessly. At his last wore
she shivered, death-like pallor spread
over her countenance, and she answered
brokenly:
Wilfred-"
He did not interrupt her now; he ben
forward with conscious eagerness for he
words. His own were honest, but h
felt certain of their effect; he did no
doubt that, in this decisive moment, h
would gain her to his will. She woult
surely not let him go; she was about t,
yield to him, to say that there could b
no good-by between them; that, soone
than this, she would abjure all and fol
low him. And so he bent forward for th
answer, eagerly, with certain hope.
"Wilfred, if you so will, you must &C
but ! can never say good-by to you"
That was what she said, brokenly, ter
derly, yet with the gentle firmness ths
had so startled him just now.
"If you so will you must CO."
A moment he stood regarding he
shaking with pain and disappointment
a momentary passion swayed him
fieeting, way ering impulse, but he quicl
ly crushed them down.
Il do so will, Saidce," he reptile,
with scornful emphasis; ''and since yc
object to good-by, let us make it goo
afternoon"
This was their parting, so he left he