Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-03
EoRIGINAL SERIAL sToRY.l
THE WAYS0F' THE WORLD.
BY JUNIUs HENRI BROWNE.

but her lip quivered the tears started to
her eyes, and rolled down her cheeks, drop
ping upon her clasped hands.
Snow you're crying again. Women
are always crying. hate crying"
so, no, Philip, dear, Pm not crying. 1
don't want to annoy you. See, dear, I'm
not crying;" and she made an effort to
smile through her tears. "Sse, see, Pm
happy now. May kiss you if 1 don't
cry"
He resigned himself to her caress.
The sunshine came back to her face, as
she moved near him, and took his hand in
hers. "Has anything happened to dig-
turb you, Philip"
"Yes, great deal"
Nothing that have done %
Indirectly, yer"
"Please tell me what it is, Philip; SO
that 1 may not do it again.
81 can't tell you now; may another
time"
1T isn't very bad is it? You know l
don't want to be bad. I'd do anything to
make you happy, Philip; you who are my
prince and king"
She resorted to many feminine tender
nesses-she kissed his hands, and put her
pretty head on his knees-to drive away
the shadows, as she said. She partially
succeeded after a while for he could not
resist her delightfully."- kittenish ways. She
recited very archly her various occupations
during the day how constantly she had
been thinking of him how she loved him
more and more every hour, and inter-
spersed SO much sincere and charming fiat
terry with her talk that she won him to her
somewhat by presenting rosy portraits OF
himself.
While sitting on his knee, and toying
with his brown whiskers, worn in the NUT
ton.cutlet style, shesaid with some serious
ness, after much POPULARITY, "May ask
you question, darling?"
Anything you like, Christina. -
"Wen, and after pause, during which
she twisted the lowest right button of his
coat nearly off, "well, when do you think
it will be-"
''When will what be 2" and he lifted her
head, which she had bent to hide her
bushes.
She put down her head again, and said,
while she gave the button another ener-
getic twist, :" You know what"
81 haven't the least idea, Christina. %
"What we've so often talked of, though
not lately, Philip"
"We've talked of many things
I-I-mean our-our marriage, dear
est, and she nestled her head on his breast
Nonsense, Christina. %
She looked up suddenly, with an altered
expression, "Do you call cur marriage
nonsense p
"It's nonsense to talk about it.
"Why, Phillip. what do you mean
Answer me fairly, when DO you think We
shall be married ?"
"Never p
"Never? Never? You don't mean it,
| Philip Royden, and she sprang to her feet
" You're jesting, 1 know; but it's no sub
ject for jesting. don't wish lin changed
tone) to press you, dearest; but it would
be such relief to me if 1 could get some
idea of the time. You said, you know
that it would be but a little while and It'll
four months now, or will be, day after to
morrow If I could only know when, Il
| be so happy in counting the hours tina
brought it nearer. Maybe you can't tel
exactly but you can say about how long
I am sure. VIII you, Philip: Why dom
you speak 2"
"Let's talk of something else, Chris
tina"
81 can't talk of anything else until yol
have recalled that dreadful word never.
You didn't mean it, did you, Philip"
"Didn't 1? thought l did,"
"Philip Royden, look me straight in tn
face, and she went up to him and put he
hands on his shoulders, and answer me
Did you mean never when you said it !?
Her intense, almest fierce manner, dis
peEed his sullenness, and he replied "No
didn't mean it, Christina. Well be mar
ried as soon as it seems best"
"God bless you, darling! l knew yo
could not break your solemn word, AM
she burst into tears. Still weeping, sh
added "That was horrid jest, Philip
Please do not jest SO with me again tn
subject is too sacred. On my deares
one, I've trusted you SO absolutely.
have believed in you SO entirely, that tn
mere thought of deceit would drive m
mad. How could I doubt you for q me
ment, my noble Philip, my prince, m
husband ! Oh, Philip, Philip love yo
with my whole soul, and 1 know you ar
worthy of my love p
What an actress you would make
Christina. 1 am glad you are calmel
Our marriage may have to be deferre
longer than 1 had hoped. My fathe
does not grow worse, as had been antic
pated. He remains about the same. Yo
must be patient, and trust me to the end.
81 will, Philip, believe me. Put off on
marriage, if it is for your good. l wi
not complain. 1 am not selfish in m
love. You will, am confident, do wha
is best. Nothing can shake my faith i
you but yourself-and you, Philip. ar
truth and honor themselves"
! - am glad, Christina, you have
favorable an opinion of me. I ought t
deserve it."
"You do deserve it. Never until tt
night has shadow fallen on my faith
) and that would not have been but for tha
terrible Jest. When you told me you di
not mean it. Philip. the old happiness cam
back to my heart. I am very happy now
You might stay and comfort me, after tn
fright you have caused me-.
I'm sorry cannot, my good girl bu
l must go. My watch tells me it is hal
past TO- and have an engagement-a bus
ness engagement-at H."
I uTs ~ en- l.+a 1,s sbo .,I-ad IaoI-,,c, =,