Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-10

SA@i" Suoh hS1C auSu tildt, lelt TO derSeii,
she would never diuvlge her secret.
Again" he said, 81 will trust my in
stincts; they will not, believe, lead me
astray.''
He had chosen an evening when he had
cause to think Miss Royden would be
likely to be alone. He was aware that her
mother would be engaged in some OF her
church duties, and that Barigues would be
in Washington. As to her father and
brother, they rarely stayed at home after
dinner; and when they did stay, seldom
entered the drawing-roonl The evening,
happily, proved to be disagreeable. There
had been, as so frequently happens in
New York winter, partial thaw during
the day, with more and moist snow, about
shutdown, that melted nearly as fast as it
fell, rendering outdoors very unpleasant.
External nature seems to be on my
side" thought Goodwin, as ne drove in a
coupe through the slushy streets. +" /
hope human nature will be Also
The yellow custodian received his card
for Miss Royden with slight dinlinution
of his normal dignity, which might have
bsen interpreted into faint degree of sur
prise that any gentleman should select so
very bad night to call on a young lady.
Subtle insight might have detected in
Hector's grandiloquent manner delicate
suspicion that call in such unfavorable
weather was significant. But this would
have escaped any ordinary observer, for
the mulatto plumed himself on his pro-
| fundity, even more than on his given name.
| The pride he had in his name arose from
the opportunity it offered of intimating to
persons of color darker than his own that
he had been so called because the hero of
Troy, which he supposed to be on the
Hudson, was one of his immediate an.
cestors.
Mics Royden did not keep Goodwin
waiting. She said, as before, 'I am glad
to see you," and he had no doubt of it
but she had the air of self-repression,
which he had repeatedly noticed. She
added, sit was kind of you to come to-
night; it shows that you are no fair
weather friend, Mr.. Goodwin
This was accidentally. the cue he would
have asked, and be availed himself of it.
"I trust Tn friend who could be tested
by all weathers, without falling off. l de-
liberately chose this evening to call, be-
cause / thought that l should be apt to find
you alone"
She moved uneasily she looked trihe
disturbed-any one else might not have
perceived this-and she said, g Your
thoughts are OWNERS. But two ought to
be pleasant company, when they are not
unpleasant to one another"
"Will you let me cay, Miss Royden, that
I had purpose in coming? You will
pardon my candor; you will not think me
impertinent. if l ask you any question you
are not prepared for"
st cannot believe you would be i'm
pertinent under any circumstances with
evidence of much confusion; but l can
hardly-hardly understand"
"My object, you would say, Miss Roy.
den. 1 am entirely conscious of being in
an awkward, very awkward position. Let
me lay aside conventionalitY. Please for
get that am mere acquaintance, and
one of late date. Be kind enough to regard
me as friend in the stric.est sense. l
seek only your happiness
'tSeek my happiness, MIR. Goodwin !?
Who has told you that my happiness is in
danger? Surely she paused with
flush.
'I will be plain and direct. My sympa-
thy with you has told me that your hap
piness is in danger. beseech you to be-
lieve that you cannot have a better friend
than Oscar Goodwin, and that he is anxious
to prove it now. Do not let me lose this
opportunity. Time is precious. Let me
ask you enc question"
Her hands twitched nervously her gray
eyes glistened her lip trembled with emo
ton. siAsk it."
care you engaged to the Count de
Barigues:"
"By what right -
81 know what you would say. ask
the question by the right of friendship, by
the right OF a man who would help woman
he esteema beyond aught else in the world.
O, will you, will you trust me-"
Eyes and give you proof. I am en-
gagged to the Count de Barigues."
'And with your own consent %
"With my own consent"
"Of your own free, untrammeled will?'
"Have I the right to reply? If am
acting for another, ought to surrender the
confidence of that other?'
81 cannot tell. But will change my
form. Do you love the Count, Miss Roy
den ?"
"Love him p and she shuddered.
"Do you care for him as good, noble
woman, like yourself, ought to care for a
man she is willing to accept as a husband:"
'Oh, Mr.. Goodwin, l cannot bear this
interrogation Oh, do not You cannot
know how you torture me y and her hag-
gard, suggestive face showed the truth of
her words.
81 am cruel-very cruel-Miss Royden,
when I would be most tender. 1t seemed
necessary for me to know whether your
engagement to the Count was the result of
your own feelings, or of consideration for
some one else. had thought of course
of action dependent entirely On your an
swer. Pray pardon me for the pain have
SO unwillingly inflicted. Remember that,
however I have erred, have been trying
to help you for have been haunted with
the belief that you needed help. My rude
blunder is due to my mistaken zeal" He
rose to go.
"You are not going she inquired
anxiously, rising herself, as if she would
bar his egress.
at was my intent, Miss Royden. l
have panied you deeply, though unwit-
tingly, and the sole but poor reparation l
| - ,ar, of NV r,rauapoo