The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-11-03

an old friend Of her husband, Mr.. ia
Desmond.
y Then she retreated to her guests, leavil
y Sydney to follow, nor noticing the quic
L crimson stain on the lovely cheek Whie
had Haunted itself at her words.
g Il might have spared him, ;, thought Il
L girl. Now, to do SO only one thing
wanting, and that is my power"
: And, taking q last glance in the miro
) at the charming vision it reflected, at th
face men called beautiful, at the fgul
: whose Partisan toilet donned to night i
: all It's first freshness, it was small wonde
that at the improbability Of the latter a lii
! tic, ineredulous smile touched the rich, re
Hips.
1t still rested there when Mr.. Desmon
relieved her father of his charge, aud drey
/ hel arm within his own.
''Ne have not had much practice to
gether, Miss Collins" he said, as he Lex
her to the further end Of the room; 'sbut
rather think no one will be the wiser say,
ourselVes.'
u should imagine you danced WE'LL
she replied, inditterently, sand / can eas
lily give you the figures Mr.. Raliings anC
, | had decided upon; or should be happy
TO receive instructions III any new ones a
your hands,
: You have not asked me why I have
not been to see you" he questioned. lit.
tie later, as he kept time to one Of Strauss
most charming Waltzes.
Ills arm was about the slender waist: he1
little hand rested on his sleeve. his ewes
for a moment met hers, but her laughter
had gone, and in its stead was newborn
| tenderness.
She stroye to answer lightly, but the
words refused to come.
II dared not come,o he whispered.
A little later she could have laughed at
| the the singular influence the simple utter
ance had possessed over her.
| was not this man acting part, and did
she not know it? It was she who must
hold sway, not he; but even as she thus
| decided, she felt that she was toying with
flame which might scorch those who ap-
preached it, and yet burn on calmly and
| undimmed.
81 have q message for you from Ellis, .
she said, when she bade him good night.
will you not come home tomorrow to
hear it ~
He bowed assent. She had put his COM
sibie. li15 - suen 10fn 'n@' refusal was lnp0s-
The next day found him in her presence.
1t was but forerunner of many days to
follow. But nothing no longer spoke or
limited OF danger to either; they talked Of
themselves, the past, the present. On the
FAsayr
but the passing lightness OF a bird wing.
Three weeks had passed, and Mr.. Des-
mond spoke Of leaving them. On the even
ing before the day fixed for his departure
he came to bid Sydney good-by.
You have made me break the first
promise I have ever broken,'' he said to
her. 81 had promised Ellis to be best man
at his wedding, but I telegraphed Yester-
day to have passage taken for me in the
steamer which sails for Europe fortnight
from to-day
Are you going to Europe?" she said
slowly. ssFor how long?''
Until ] have conquered myself,o he
anWered. He sprang to his feet. 'sGood-
by Miss sydney!' he said lightly. s'God
bless you and dear old Ellis in your new
ife.''
She, too, stood up, and strove to make
reply. Tears were not common visitors to
the deep blue eyes, now that she would
tain drive them back-they came yelling
up from secret fountain, falling so thick
and fast she could not wipe them away as
they fell, nor check the sObs which racked
tile slender frame.
InstllctlVely he opened his arms and
drew her to his heart. She felt it madly
Ueat rs III hoafse tones, but in every fond,
endearlng accent, lac murmured her name.
Suddenly she Wrenched herself away. The
tears were checked. She stood pale, trem-
bling before him, but with the fixed light
Of resolve LII her beautiful eyes.
Il heard that no woman had ever touch
ed your heart" she said. II determined
60 try-you see the result. For YOU is
scored another vicJory-for me defeat. /
wish my humiliation 70 De complete, there
fore make my unnecessary confession.
Now, good-by! But do not add the bless
ing; 10 not deserve that
- on tried to touch my heart," he an
sWereu. '.For once, Sydney, let me speak
the truth. The first hour | saw you It pass
ed forever into your keeping. Honor, 10y
atty TO my absent friend, have led me to
play my poor part at disguise; but you
nave Wlung from me my pltifully-kept Sc
cret. Sydney, is it our fault that we have
thus learned loves lesson? My love, my
darling, what is all the world if it debars
lis from each Other?'
1T is not Of the world we have to think, =
she said, ssit is Of Ellis. Shall he be made
a sacrifice Of on our altar? No, no Jack
Let lis be true to him and SO true to our
selves. We will utter no sophistries. The
way is clear. Life will never be quite !
dark, dear, now that [ know that you, too,
loved and lost. But Ellis shall not be the
one to suffer from a girls Wanton expert
ment. This sWearro
And on the pale girls face was some
thing Of the expression the ancient mar
tyrs might have worn.
Go - she added. II am not very
strong. Leave me my faith in myself, and
in that in which Wooed and won me. |
Should you stay, you would not be the
man to whom / gave my heart, but anotI-
er, base and ignob1e, from whom e would |
withdraw it. Hush.'' she entreatejl, dis het
was about to speak not q single word
Leave me my dreams.'
A shudder shook his frame, then he
stopped from his great height and let his
lips 4 moment touch her brow.
The next minute. she was alone-alone
heneeforth, through the long, weary years
to come-alone even as, three months later, |
on the eye preceding her wedding, she sat
by her lovers side and listened while he
told he1 OF the morrow and the bright fu-I /
Eure= of which il was TO be the threshold.
s'1roo bad Jack disappointed me- he
added, presently. 6 Do you know i fancie1
YOU and he did not glliIesh hif III fopefbnr