The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-01-08
[From the New Quarterly Review.l
THE STORY OF A LIE.
CHAPTER VII.
THE ELOPEMENT.

die. Some kind of instinct, or per-
haps the distant light footballs, re-
called him, while she was still good
way off, to the possession of his facul-
ties, and he half raised himself and
blinked upon the world. 1t took him
some time to recollect his thoughts.
He had awakened with a certain blank
and childish sense of pleasure, like a
man who had received legacy over
night; but his feeling gradually died
away, and then was suddenly and stun
ningly succeeded by a conviction of
the truth. The whole story of the
past night sprang into his mind with
every detail, as by an exercise Of the
direct and speedy sense Of sight, and
he arose from the ditch and, with
rueful courage, went to meet his love.
She came up to him walking steady
and fast, her face still pale, but to all
appearance perfectly composed; and
she showed neither surprise, relief, nor
pleasure at finding her lover on the
spot. Nor did she offer him her hand.
Here [ am," said he.
"Yes," she replied; and then, with
out any pause or any change of voice,
Il want you to take me away" she
added.
"Away?" he repeated. How?
Where?"
To-day" she said. II do not care
where it is, but l want you to take me
away"
For how long? I do not under
stand" gasped Dick.
81 shall never come back here any
more" was all she answered.
Wild words uttered, as these were,
with perfect quiet of manner and
voice, exercise a double influence ON
the hearers mind. Dick was con-
founded; he recovered from astonish-
ment only to fall into doubt and
alarm. He looked upon her frozen
attitude, so discouraging for lover
to behold, and recoiled from the
thoughts which it suggested.
'To me?" he asked. "Are you COM
ing to me, Esther?"
Il want you to take me away she
repeated with weary impatience.
''Take me away-take me away from
here"
The situation was not sufficiently
defined. Dick asked himself with con-
Germ whether she was altogether in
her right wits To take her away, to
marry her, to work off his hands for
her support, Dick was content to do
all this; yet he required some show of
love upon her part. He was not one
of those tough-hided and small-hearted
males who would marry their love at
the point of the bayonet rather than
not marry her at all. He desired that
a woman should come to his arms
with an attractive willingness, if not
with ardor. And Esther's bearing
was more that of despair than that of
love- It chilled him and taught him
wisdom
Dearest" he urged, tell me what
you wish, and you shall have it; tell
me your thoughts; and then can ad-
wise you. But to go from here with
out plan, without forethought, in
the heat of moment, is madder than
madness, and can help nothing. [ am
not speaking like man, but | speak
the truth; and I tell you again, the
things absurd, and wrong, and hurt
fuk"
She looked at him with lowering,
languid look of wrath.
$50 you will not take me?" she
said. "Well, | will go alone"
And she began to step forward on
her way. But he threw himself be-
fore her.
Esther, Esther!!'' he cried
''Let me go-don't touch me-what
right have you to interfere? Who
are you, to touch me?" she flashed
out, shrill with anger.
Then, being made bold by her vio-
lence, he took her firmly, almost
roughly, by the armi and held her
while he spoke.
"You know we'll who | am, and
what | am, and that [ love you. You
say l will not help you; but your heart
knows the contrary. It is you who
will not help me; foi- you will not
tell me what you want. You see-or
you could see, if you took the pains to
look-how [ have waited here all
night to be ready at your service. |
only asked information; | only urged
you to consider; and | still urge and
beg you to think better of your fan
cies. But if your mind is made up, so
be it; l will beg no longer; | give you
my orders; and | will not allow-not
allow you to go hence alone"
She looked at him for a while with
cold, unkind scrutiny like one who
tries the temper of tool.
"Well, take ME away, then" she
said with sigh.
Good" said Dick. Come with me
to the stables; there we shall get the
pony trap and drive to the junction.
Tonight you shall be in London. |
am yours SO wholly that no words can
make me more so; and, besides, you
know it, and the words are needless.
May God help me to be good to you,
Esther-may God help me! for / see
that you will not.
So, without more speech, they set
out together, and were already got
some distance from the spot, ere he
observed that she was still carrying
the handbag She gave it up to him,
passively, but when he offered her his
arm, merely shook her head and purs-
ed up her lips. The sun shone clearly
and pleasantly; the wind was fresh
and brisk upon their faces, and smelt
racily of woods and meadows. As
they went down into the valley of the
Thyme, the babble Of the stream rose
into the air like perennial laughter
On the far-away hill, sun-burst and
shadow raced along the slopes and
leaped from peak to peak. Earth, sir,
and water, each seemed in better
health and had more of the ShreMd