The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-09-29

JACK irst told me That after the voyage
upon which he was just about to start he
was going to be married.
81 hope Aunt Ann and Hetty won't
take it unkind that | haven't told them
all about it from the first" he said
doubtfully; but, to say the truth, Miss
Heath, find it difficult thing to tell.
1 want them to be quite sure that i
shall never be any different to them;
and that l shall always be the same
Cousin Jack. am so afraid they will
fancy-all kinds of things
81 don't think they will fancy any
thing that is not true" put in, perhaps
with more warmth than wisdom.
''Do you mean to say that you think
so meanly of me as to suppose l shall
forget those two dear, gentle women,
just because l have II home and Il wife OF
my own :.
NO. / said, looking up into his
brave and bonnie face-"No, you will
not forget them; but it cannot be the
same-it never is"
We paced up and down and talked to-
gether long while after this. 1t was
dusk and gray when we went in, to my
own lonely room. Jack to supper with
Mrs. Deacon and Hetty. Once alone,
sat down in the dark, united my BONNET
strings and flung them back, uniastened
my shawl and let it fall back over NY
chair
l was sitting choking; felt like the
veriest coward that ever drew breath.
| had task before me from which l
shriveled body-the hardest task that
l,.,1 nj
ely the only creature loved on earth.
And yet it must be done.
The womanly pride and self-respect of
n sister-woman is dear TO any woman
worth the name. Jack must not tell this
thing to Hetty. The girls secret was
safe SO far. 1t should he my work TO
keep it so.
1t was the following night. Hetty
had come to pay me visit. had been
listening to the account of grand his
torioal picture in which she was to figure.
/ let her talk on till the room grew
dim aud shadowy with the coming OF the
summer night, which was but picture
done in grays ut its deepest, and had no
black shades at all.
l let its misty blue-gray veil fall on
my girls sweet face before | told my
sorrow tale-before | redeemed the
pledge made to my own heart the night
before.
She played up to my hand herself.
You and Jack had long talk last
night, Patience
"Yes. Sit down here in tins low chair
by me while tell You what it was all
about
Hetty was between the window and
me. The perfect profile showed like u
silhouette against the dusky gloom out.
side"
"We were talking about you"
The silhouette was turned away from
me. Hetty's voice was faint and breath
less.
about me?"
Eyes. Jack was telling me about yon
when you were little girl how he used
to carry you about; how dearly he loved
YOU
"My task was even harder than |
thought it would be. / dared not touch
Hettys hands-those meek hands-long,
slender, helpful, folded in he. lap, for
my own were cold and trembling.
HE was very, very good to me, al
ways"
eyes; and | am sure he always will be.
He told me last night that he felt you
had stronger, deeper claim upon II
mans tenderness than any other woman
could have"
because l am different to other
women?'
Eyes: Sc. apart, as it were; sacred !;
doomed to certain extent to stand
alone in the world, without those nearer
ties"
HE meant that l ought never to
marry ?"
l could not see Hetty's face. l saw
the folded hands clasping each other
closer and closer. Once ! felt shudder
shake the poor misshapen frame that
made my dearest girl different to other
women"
Said not rightly that my task was
hard?
"Yes; he meant that your life was
different to others.
Eyes; had forgotten"
A long, deeply drawn breath told me
my arrow had gone home.
"And so, Just because he holds you in
such reverence, such tenderness; Just
because lie is so ready to fear you might
fancy he could change to you, it is hard
for him to ll.you-"
She turned her face white in the gray
CHASTITY light-fully toward me. Her
ewes wild wide. full of fear. met mine