Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-15

Then. from rehesrsing the things which
had taken place, he rehearsed them
merely for the delight of keeping her
image before his eyes, her voice about his
ears.
Four delicious evenings passed away in
the same manner, and then came bad
news, they were leaving tomorrow for
Torquay. She told him, with smile, the
doctors had said no time should be lost
They were TO go, and at once, the east
wind now blowing being most injurious.
He was greatly grieved they were going so
soon. When were they likely to be back
again in London2
ave do not know. We cannot say.
perhaps never"
"You must not say that. Surely you
will come back again"
"That will depend in a great measure
on how we get on at Torquay."
"Yet you-you will surely come back to
see us once again2 am sure Mrs. Brooks
would do anything she could for you. She
il the most kind-hearted woman in the
world"
For an instant the habitual faint smile
left the face of the girl, and her eyes half
| filled with tears. Her lips trembled, and
she said, in low, unsteady voice, ~ am
sure she would be kind to me. Every one
is so kind to me. am sorry have to go
away"
"But you will come baak, won't you p
he pleaded.
She looked up suddenly, with the
brightest smile he had ever seen on her
face, saying perhaps l may, I'll try.
Now good-by."
ia mapt hoob ~, tie ola ooursa az Man
vile Square. Some other people came and
occupied the rooms where she had been.
Day after day Edwin Oolthurst watched
the summer ripen and the green deepen
in the foliage of the SO uare. Day by day
he dreamed of her return, and of delicious
evenings spent within the charm of her
voice, the magic of her presence. As he
drove 10 and out of town he conjured with
her image until all the recesses of his
memory were filled up with pictures of
her. He would have given anything he
possessed to write to her, to get single
line from her, but although the period OF
their acquaintance had been long enough
for him to fall in love, il had not been long
enough to warrant him in asking to be
allowed to write. The summer waned
and the autumn was at hand Still no
word came from the guests of June. The
rich green of the foliage was here and
and there touched by the first foreboding
finger of decay. Morning found hoar-
frost on the ground, and evening brought
a chilly dew. Old people avoided the in.
closure after shutdown, and the delicate
side of the square. The buxom housemaid
had married the bakers man, and stood
no longer at the head of the area steps
with arms akimbo. The birds were get.
ting ready for winter and saving up their
songs to keep the cold out.
1t was in the November OF last ear,
when the first fine sitting of snow fell out
of the sulIen sky, that letter came 10
Mrs Brooks. 1t had black border. was
not in the same handwriting as the former
one, and ran AS follows:
Dear Mrs. Brooks; As you will gather
from the edge of this sheet the worst has
come. hoped against hope for days and
months. 1t is heavy trial, but Gods
, will be done. | hope to be with you OF
Thursday next when l can tell you all
Yours sincerely HELEN GAY.
, Mrs. Brooks looked at the mortuary care
and put the card and the letter back into
the black.bordered envelope, saying t.
herself, "rhey were both Helens. Poo
/ thing! we must be good to her. Poo
! thing"
When Colthurst came home she tolt
I him the news. He read the letter slowly
then said: 1--WE must do all we can d,
for her. Yes, poor soul!'
a He took up the mortuary card, read it
stared at it, stared at Mrs Brooks, droppe,
it, staggered to his feet and cried 5000,
!, God it is the girl who is dead :"
mo, mol"
. tYes. Aged eighteen"