The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-06-09
"A Peculiar Position"
VIII,
CONCLUDED FROM MoNDAY.l

from Arthur to say he was called suddenly
to London on business and wished to return
as suddenly, taking Angel with him. "Could
she manage to come away at once, with a
few of her things, leaving the rest to be sent
aftrwardp" The letter brought to Angel a
kind of relief; here was the moment come at
last for which she had so eagerly longed of
release from the Grange and all Its associa-
tons.
She decided to go that very afternoon, be-
fore the rest of the party broke up, and
while every one, i. e., Leslie, was away, Wis
ting some ruin at distance.
Her aunt approved-even offered her own
maid to do the packing while Angel went to
put the finishing touches TO a picture she
had been working hard to finish under Les
lies instructions 1t was painful work, and
she soon decided to leave it undone; so seat
ing herself on the edge of the cliff, she
opened Arthur's letter. She could see the
path winding along at great distance be-
low, and presently appeared two figures
walking slowly arm in arm. Angel knew
them at once-Leslie and Celia, both too
much absorbed in conversation to see her as
they approached and came to a stand few
feet beneath. She could not hear what they
were saying, but both looked very grave
Angel vaguely wondered, as she watched
them, why they kept their engagement so
otCTcL3 surely llcy SHOULD ne LOO PROUD ana
happy to think of concealment-beside, what
reason was there for it? How long they
stood talking! Would they never move on?
At last Leslie takes both Celia's hands
and bends his dark head down very near Ce-
lia's blonde curls.. Angel shuddered and
turned away ooh, it was too much; she
never could bear to see thatp'
When she looked again Celia was walking
back toward the house and Leslie was stand
ing watching her as she disappeared, and
then he turned slowlyup the path where An
gel was sitting.
That had been anything but a pleasant
t9te-a-tete for Celia; she had been exposed
to terrible temptation, and had yielded (let
us do her justice) not without feeling of
utter shame and dismay at the thought of
what she had done. Leslie had brought her
out here to ask, as last chance, whether
she was sure beyond all doubt, that Angel
was really going to be married directly.
He had been SO stupefied by the sudden
ness of his discovery, and blinded by the
boldness of the deceit, that it had only lust
occurred to him how curiously vague all Ce-
LAS information was; everything had been
limited, nothing absolutely told him. Not
for one moment did he suspect the truth +;
he only felt it due from the girl who had
told him so much that she should tell him
more. Why, Angels future name even was
unknown to him. And somehow he could
not quiet the wild, foolish hope that sug-
gested perhaps this was all some horrible
mistake and things might even yet be set
right"
Celia had one alternative between telling
deliberate lie: to tell the truth and abide
by the consequences; but what would those
consequences be? Celia's whole nature
shrank at the thought! No, she could not
do it; better tell lie! it could not harm An
gel more than she had planned to harm her!
So she yielded to the temptation, and told
the unsuspectingl Leslie long story of An
gels supposed engagement, binding him at
the same time solemnly not to hint to An
gel what he knew. OF course he promised !;
what good would it do to speak now? He
had heard she was leaving to-day, and knew
there would be no chance to wish her good
bye unless he went now, when he was sure
to find her in the old haunts where they had
so often painted together. He found her
there, seated thoughtfully, with an open let
ter before her.
She looked up as he came and prepared
for the last interview that even to the end
he should never guess what she felt.
'sYou too have come for last look?'
''Yes," said Leslie, trying to speak steadi-
ly- 1T is hard to leave any place full of such
pleasant memories" sf
"Not so hard when you have still pleas
anter ones to make elsewhere"
"True; hope you will be very happy,
Angelo IRE
81 mean to be-" she answered bravely
though her voice shook, and she dared not
trust herself to wish he might be happy also.
ut is only to wish you goodbye that I
came. As that is never a pleasant process,
and worse still if prolonged, I will say it at
once: Goodbye, Angelv"
stGood -huo Mr. Eo,,ov Che 60 =. 4r....-1
in dream till he turned away, and then she
cried involuntarily:.
"Oh, goodbye, Leslie; Leslie, good-byer'
He turned back eagerly and seized both
her hands, his heart suddenly beating with
wild hope.
Have you nothing more to say, Angel?''
Angel hesitated. What had she to saw?
Was he not already engaged to another?
She would not help him to do Celia great
wrong; he could not love them both and he
was doing great wrong in speaking as he
did!
what should she have to say?'' she
looked reproachfully at him as she asked the
question.
"What, indeed! Forgive me, Angel, l
was mad-only-oh, Angel, don't quite for
get me in the midst of your happinessv'
"More likely you should forget me in
yours! Goodbye" said Angel coldly, with
drawing the hand he still held. And then
Leslie turned away and all the sunshine
went out.
So Angels day-dream was over, and
through the six long years that followed she
fought her way bravely, and came out of her
troubles victorious-a quiet, contented wo-
man. To her ailing brother she was de-
voted, and in tending and caring for him
certain bitter episode in her life became dim !:
and at the end of three years Arthur took
fancy to settle in England. Angel returned,
without the feeling of pain she once would
have suffered, and settled down to rather
lonely life in London, quite content.
And then the sunrise came, only when it
came Angel did not recognize it, for it was
ON foggy, steaming November night, and
she was in great despair. Her brother had
broken blood-vessel, and lay unconscious
on the floor; there was no one in the house
to send for help; she must herself fetch the
doctor, and Angel stood in. less than five
minutes before his door, only to hear he had
been suddenly called away, and would not
return that night.
'Then it will be too late-all to late: he
may be dead even now, before l get backr'
cried Angel her voice sharp with despair.
Angel had not noticed as she came up the
steps that she brushed against tall figure.
turning away from the door, disappointed
also at not being admitted; but he paused
outside to listen. and to offerhis help should
the case be an urgent one.
"Will you allow me to help you--if 1 can
be of any service? am friend of Dr. Sand,
and in the same profession
A very few words and they were walking
rapidly back to Angels house, so rapidly
that the doctor put his hand gently on the
girls arm.
Excuse me, but you will be unfit to help,
should 1 need assistance, if you go at this
pace; and l want to askyou few questions"
They were passing underneath lamp
post, andhe was looking straight into the
great troubled eyes that were turned to him
as he spoke. What sea of memories that
sad, patient face brought back! Six years
since he had seen it, he recognized it at
once-the one love of his lifel
There was no theatrical exclamation
calm, methodical DIR. Fame, who, though
still young, ranked so high in the profession,
woo M oh 10 La IL e.