The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-07-14

another name, she said, "since the
sport was often very like the boys and
the frogs, and the pleasure all on one
side. Sit down, and tell me, to begin
with, what became of the dark little
beauty left you raving about ?"
"She-" Mark paused, looked doubt
full, caught her eye, With its subtle
CLEAN of mirth and answered, hurriedly,
"She is married, 1 think. Yes, 1 am
quite sure it. But I have not heard
of her for year."
"Yet I thought that really, the love of
your life.' Has it not found you yet
No - as he shook his head in comical
depression. "But must spare you.
How easily one falls into old habits,
and takes up another's life where one
laid it down. Tell me all about yourself
before enter upon the object of our
meeting. Tell me everything, as you
used"
She asked it easily enough, but he
found it impossible to comply. The
pale face and the dark eyes, the smae
white hand and its dull heavy ring of
barbaric gold were the same he had
studied in his hours of idle chatter and
there was something more here than of
old. The self-possession, the sense of
power exerted and acknowledged, the
graceful poise of the stately little figure,
the perfect yet unique, taste of the
simple, yet costly toilet, were new to
the Selma Birney he had known and
counted a "frst rate friend" He was
used to women, spoiled and petted by
them as he had ever been, but tonight
there was an unknown field before him.
and he knew it. To pour out as he used
all sorts OF condolences, rhapsodies, con-
fessions and excuses, was thing impos-
sible, indeed. There was in his hostess
a hidden power that moved him to
strange new desires and aspirations,
that appealed at once to the higher ma
ture he had almost ceased to think of as
his; that awoke him to earnestness and
self-respect in way that thrilled him.
In the conversation that followed he
was at his best. Skillfully, steadily,
she led him on from one topic to another,
never directly touching upon his own
life, but drawing out his opinions, fash
ing light into his thoughts, putting into
words half-formed resolves rendering
clearer and clearer fair, yet stern, aspects
of duty against which he had often
closed his eyes. And always, it was
himself, not his companion, who, ap.
parently prompted speech and ennobled
thought. An exhilaration of mind,
such as he had rot known for years, pure
and exalted, grew upon him, and was
evident in his sparkling, fearless eye,
his animated words, his full soft resonant
voice. Miss Birney sank into the en-
brace OF her bamboo chaise-lounge and
watched him eagerly, breathlessly, de-
spairingly, with glowing eyes and culver
ing lips. When he ceased there was
silence. Miss Birney reused herself and
sat upright.
81 promised not to detain you," she
said, in a slow, clear voice, that be
knew must be the result of an effort for
self-control, and at which he wondered.
Il must keep my word and proceed to
explain my motives for requesting this
interview. You do not know them, anG
you will, doubtless, find them a surprise
and shock. L intend to be perfectly
frank with you. Let me ask one favor
of you. Do not speak to me until I
have told you al. Promise me that~
81 PROMISE" said he, gravely and
briefly, awed by her manner, her pallor,
and the pathetic sadness of her eyes.
She bent her head moment on her
hand and he saw it trembled. Then
she raised it suddenly, looked him full
in the eyes, and said:
'ln less than three months I shall be
in my grave. Unless I am restored to
health by miracle there is no hope
OF escape, no hope of reprieve. have
known IL now three months and two
weeks, and am used to the thought al
most l have made all arrangements as
lar as is possible. L am gathering I'D
the loose ends and frayed-o out purposes
day by day, in the effort to leave my
lifework perfected as far as it has gone.
There is not much to regret in taking
leave of all. Except for the happiness
L never had. L cannot mourn"
She paused, as though choosing the
words wherewith to proceed. Mindful
OF his promise he sat silent and horror
struck studying her face. Her ewes had
fallen, and he saw a sudden faint, swift
color flash into her pallor as she
thought.
"The happiness I never had" she
softly "Mine has been the
3addest life possible for a nature such
Is mine, [ have stood always at the
gate Of Paradise, dumb and chained,
while others passed in before my ewes
% waste the fruits for which 1 hungered
md thirsted, to trample on the beauty
hat mocked for ever my longing eyes,
% destroy wantonly the temple upon
which I prayed night and day to be al !
owed to labor in its building up. I have
been poor-yilely poor-so poor, 1
wanted the plainest necessaries of life, |
md yet my tastes and my desires could !
'nly have been satisfied by the most |
perfect, the most refined, the daintiest
If arts productions. That was mortifi-
.ation of flesh and spirit. It was a long
lrawn agony. And it is only ended |
When it is too late. have been ill and
n pain so many years, that 1 forget the
,ery sensation of rest and ease and all |
he time have been sternly, unhinch-
ngly, rigidly forbidden the quiet and
he absence of toll that would have
made my burden lighter. 1 have the
ondest nature, the most passionately
ender heart, and it has never known
me thrill of happy love. Maddened,
defiant, have reached the
cry verge of that world, respect for
which, or, rather, the proud determine
ion that ii should respect me, would
AVE kept me silent as long as held
ny part or lot in it. There is nothing
ow to hold me back from asking for the
ma tbino on aartb ,,raoious 20 ~ l.