Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-01-22

her. But he was to grace her ball
tonight.
She had arranged that it should
take place on Christmas Eve, when
released from college duties, he
might be present. The evening was
late, however-the guests all as
he came, and Their
she noticed he looked pale and
haggar.l.
"You are working too hard" she
said softly to him, as they had
gained few quiet moments in the
conservatory. "WEy do you not
take better care of yourself l'
Just then, ere he had time to
answer, his uncle's voice broke in
upon them clear and distinct. He
was talking to an old and valued
friend, unconscious of the listners
in their retreat.
eyes," he was saying, "she is
very beautiful. 1t is my dearest
wish that she should become my
nephew's wife. / had this end in
view when l sent for him, when l
saw them together l felt snre it
would work itself out. He's fine
fellow, and they are admirably
adapted to each other. He is
making splendid record at college,
too, and any girl might be proud
to win him, now that his early
rustic habits have worn away"
Unconsclously the eyes of the
two under discussion met. La those
of the man was an awe-s'ricken
glance, as though he had for the
first time unbared TO his view his
own soul, and was appalled, at what
he there discovered. In those Of
the girl was a wistful, appealing
glance, as though she would say:
ooh, remember my position !!
Keep silence no longer Do not
withhold the words which seem
forced upon us, and for which my
soul yearns y
Could he withstand their plead
ing?
"Four years! It will not seom
very long, and you will come back
to me-"
Had some one spoken those
words, or was it only a memory ?
His face Was ghastIy as be rose
to his feet and otfe' ed his compan-
ion his arm.
Il forget 1 an monop ,lizing the
belle Of the evening"" he said, light
ly, though i'll his owu ear his voice
sounded harsh and changed.
Que moment she faltered; then,
wrapping herself in the mantle of
her pride, she swept into the light
aud radiance of the ball room, her
glove hand just resting ou his sleeve,
smile upon her lips. and only
shade, perhaps, of apallor on the
beautiful cheek.
Back to college and to work. 1t
was this alone, thought John Ar
mold, which would save his brain
from madness. Through the long
vacation he pioddcd on He wrote
his uncle
Next year is my last. 10 do You JUS
tice. you must let me stay at here and
work.
''It should see her, I should be-
tray myself and my HONOR" he a6-
ded, to himself.
Then a sudden idea possessed
him. He would cut short the time
Of their probation aud see Mary.
Her letters seemed changed. Per-
haps she was not happy.
Ah, when he saw her his old al
!egiauce must return, and he would
forget this unnatural dream which
now appeared to have enveloped
his life. lie almost thought it dis
sipated when, in that first glad
moment of greeting, be held his
Mary in his arms, and saw the
rose-fush deepen on her check to
vivid scarlet.
She had drawn herself away, as
though in sudden shyness of the
elegant stranger, so unlike the lad
who aad bidden her farewell three
long years ago. She glanced down
too, at her cotton dress, SO simply
made, then at the texture of his
stylish outfit. But these were mere
exrernals-these she could conquer.
What else was there yawning be-
ween them, a black aud bitter
gulf?
She did not know, she would not
think; she put the truth resolutely
away from her, ,aEd he, holding fast
to his honor, helped her all he could
until one day. she missed him, and
strolling into the wood in search oi
him, found him at last, ,prostrate on
the ground, his frame cnnvulsed
by sobs, a letter crushed in his
hand.
He did not seem to know she
slipped it from his cold fingeis, anc
read it through-aye, to the very
end. The letter ran thus:
'sVera is very i'll, my boy. so i'll that W,
have shaved off the beauf:fill hair vOy