Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-09-22


$50 to Mr.. Welleston's room and
bring him here, please. Bring him here
to me. Tell him so. He must come r
Charlie went on the instant. She
stood in the center of the room, wait
ing, her soft. shining wraps falling away
from her fair, round arms and neck, her
flowing hair and dropping flowers re-
lieying her delicate face like the back
ground of cameo, one hand grasping
her heart as though to still its pain, and
4 her whole frame quivering with sus-
pense. 1 heard Charles step return
ing, and not alone. I half rose. She
made one swift, sweeping step toward
me and laid her hand on my shoulder.
No, nor she said "you must not
leave me. Oh, as you love your hus-
band-and you do, you do-beg God to
be merciful to me r.
| And then she turned to face them as
they came in together.
There are times in life when silence
is worth infinitely more than speech.
Charlie often thinks so, and was per-
fectly prepared to have him close the
door and stand leaning against il, with
out one word or one look. Mr.. Welles-
ton, as silent and magnificent, stood
near him.
He was very tall and always graceful.
but tonight there was splendor and
imperial pride in his bearing never
saw equaled. He, too, was pale, and his
lips were set so close and stern under
his dark mustache, I almost trembled
for my poor girl. What was she about
to do. What had she done or left un-
done in the far past?
You are going away ?" she said, sud-
denly breaking the silence.
"Yes," he answered, briefly.
And why? Am SO hateful to
you ?"
He looked at her, and my heart rose.
Love, passionate and tender-only love
was in it. She went step nearer.
"Geoffry," she said, " do not break
my heart See, can suffer in suspense
no longer. When I heard the servants
say, as was coming upstairs, that you
were going, / made this desperate re-
solve. I know the story of these dear
people, and their faithful sympathy for
all who suffer. They will keep my
secret and comfort me, If you cast me
of. And why Z? Only because of this,
and this" touching her jewels with
rapid, scornful GESTURE only because
my father prospered, and sought to
leave his poor child above the ills of
life. You know--you know if I was
poor indeed, nothing could separate
us"
As she bent toward him I saw in her
sweet face the expression of truth the
poet has put in words
Every atom of my body feels the hunger Of
my heart"
How she must have suffered before
that last step was takenl The loneli-
ness, the unspeakable anguish of the
months spent SO close to our happy lot !
"Geoffry, do not harden your heart
Your pride has cost us SO much, and we
were SO happy. Oh, am not the same,
the very same was before this hateful
fortune came to me? Think Of It'll
And with it all twice told-a thou
sand times told-l could not pur-
chase one little thing that makes
you so dear to me- We have known
each other so long, Geoffryi"
Was the man iron and stone? He
turned from her and folded his arms
tightly upon his breast.
"Then it must be SO" she said, In a
tone of such utter, hopeless misery, it
seemed strange voice. " Well, at
least, know this ! did not follow you
here. I knew you were in Philanel-
phia. and near me, for 1 saw you pass
1916 often and often. But I never
dreamed you were in this house when ]
came to it. When Mrs. Jarvey told me
of the boarders the first evening was
startled, but thought dared to hope
the will of God had thrown us together,
and it would be no harm for me to try
for the only prize life holds for me. j
was all wrong. Go now, and forget
everything of the present, as you have
of the past"
She covered her face with her hands,
and I saw the red blood dye her fore.
head above her white glove-tips. But
she had spoken SO fearlessly, yet with
such modest dignity and reliance in
the justice of her cause, could only
admire her. Mr. Welleston raised his
proud head and met Charles eye. II
ever there was volume of meaning
In a look, he saw it then.
Margarite r. he exclaimed, turning
and holding out his arms as he hurried
to her.
She had conquered. The barrier was
down and for ever. Charlie and
slipped away into the hall-window il
the dark, and stood clasping each other
and whispering our delighted com
ments.
1t was all as clear as the MONDAY SUI
now. They had been lovers before hel
fathers death, when he was in tht
early flush Of hopeful youth, and she
child, too timid and guileless to NEE
his sensitive nature upon level above
the mists
Her good fortune and his evil day.
must have fallen upon them close to
gether, and he had evidently started
away from a shadowy spectre mockint
his pride. What days were befor,
them? We knew they would never re
gret the bitter draught In the swee
wine that lay beneath it.
After awhile our door opened slowly
and they both looked out, a little shyly
a little archly.
Charlie grayely advanced, and / fol
lowed, until she caught me in her arm
and hid her face upon my neck.
Oh, wasn't it dreadful in me?D sh'
whispered, appalled,.
"Not at ALL" answered from m,
heart. "God defend the truth r.
i Welleston," said Charlie, 81 sup
pose old Starbuck came to the scratcI
4 on that bill, after all, didn't he p
"Well, yes-after a fashion. Bu
they had to put the screws on him ono,
ortwice.'
| And if those two men did not 90 a
it as hard-headedly as though business
and not love, could make the Worl,
go round"