New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-02

three miles off, and daresay the fresh air and ex-
ercise do me good for though my hand trembles rs
drop the missive into the worm-eaten slit of the
rustic post Office / feel better already when IL Is
done; and as / turn slowly homeward TAU 10
counting the hours that must pass before u is IN
Dicks hands, and again those other hours before
can get his answer If he writes by return can't
hear till the morning of the day but one iouowiing;
but he may not he able to write even so quickly,
and on the other hand If he comes instead OF
wrting-ah. God grant it that would be good IN
deed-he might be with me as early az to-n9rrnw
afternoon. With that thought 1t is Impossible TO
be utterly down hearted, and reacn home with my
mind braced to wait, if not cheerfuly at least with
patience.
And do wait. wait patiently indeed. out with
daily essening hope, daily failing heart; Tor DICK
does not come nor is there any answer to my poor
tear blotted letter. Suns rise and suns set Inc
daisies ope their red-tipped petals to the morn rhe
wood sorrel folds her emerald leaves at dusk / ne
swallows that dipped and shot like living arrows
through the sunlight of the early day HE TO thelr
nests beneath the caves at night nnt neither 10y
day nor night comes there any answer to my prayer
or pardon. Gradually gradually the bltter truth
creep, into my heart that those words, yours lalt
fully meant, no. what my foolish trust OeheVed,
but the brief signature of stern Formally; DICK
has left me- His love, tried perhaps before 10
stretching snapped before the forced merriment OF
that foolish laugh and because he had hot tIe
Heart to say so he has held his peace and gone gone
for good.
1t is astonishing to see how little the family seems
20 think of his departure. To be snrethey know
nothing of the cause. How should they unless
told them and that, somehow, ] cannot bring
myself to do After all, the most of them are only
children, and they did not mean to mart me; DC
sides. while there is any nope of his coming or
writing | would not have them guess we had quar-
relied at all and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IL Is 700
late Words may cmbltter, they cannot neal q
broken heart; and so | held my secret close anu
only vince in silence when / hear them talking
lightly of Dicks going to Capada; OF wheh
Francis, to tease me. asks II ever expect 10 Sc
him back again and what will bet that he doesn't
find a new flame on the voyage out. Even Ilttie
Teddy invests in toy-boat to play at Cissy DICK
sailing away. and father calmly says II was g91u
thing he went. He thought the lad an inter 1901 10
refuse such berth the first tune II was oieteu
and though 1t was pity he hadn't time 10 come
and saw good bye, il would never have done TO FISK
osing t by farewells that can be sald just as wen
on paper. That is all and after while even iva.
sort of talk dies cut and except Tor M occaSl"hai
ouestion or remark, Dick might almost be forgot
ten and notices how pale and silent nave
grown or how resOlutcly shrink from even the lew
ga cites which crop up in our quiet neIghOorhoou.
.Ceciiv was always quiet Cecily likes staying
nj home What q much more soclabe glrl kltty
is that is what the family and the llttle worm
outside say; and 1t IS true enough Ih,re IS ohiy
one thing want now. and that Is to be let alone 10
drudge away at those household duties which once
came between my Dick and NE, but which are al
have left to help me 10 carry on my cross from
day TO day, and to keep me from that sorro"
crown of sorrow, remembering happier things
It's spring again now: the second spring since my
lover left me. Twice already have the ilelds Detn
red with pOppies, and the deep woods brown win
FILLING leaves. Twice have we dressed the cnufcn
with ivy md holly. and hung big bushes OF mlstle-
toe i'm the vicarage hall. Francis has passed long
ago and got his commission Tom Is AT huguy'
and the mother of the twins has come home from
India and taken her offspring away and now IL is
spring once more, and instead of being IN the coun-
try 10 watch the ferns uncurl their hurry green
fronds or to wade anlle-dcep among the lush
grasses of the watermead0ws for Tue marsh mari
COLDS golden blossoms, / am making my way
slowly. and with the nervous ar OF country slrl
unused To noise or crowds. through the narrow
streets and diney squares of OF tine most closely
nac districts the heart OF London. / nave
come mp to town to buy summer dresses Tor hitty
and Maude, and on other domestic business Dut
these duties have been achieved: and now. before
| 60 homo again, am bound on an errand when
though | would not dare own 1t TO anyone (tor IN
deed know it 20 be both vain and foollsh has been
pressing on my heart ever since lett nome WIN
warming persistence to which. even though 1t be
unmaidenly. cannot choose but yield.
It. is to visit Dick lodgings, where he always
lived when he was in London; and the address OF
which | have known by heart tins many year
Perhaps they may he occupied by other people, III
which case my Journey will have been in vain ;
but if not feel If 1t would be comfort 10 me
..fterwa.d Just to have breathed tho AR ne
breathed. to sit in the cnalr where ne must nay9
sat and read my letters many time ami oft and
have no fear OF meeting him. He Is IN Canada still,
that much / learnt only little while ago from
line IN a Montreal paper. sent me by TREND VINO
knew us both; and perhaps | have faint idea in
INV mind that the landadY (Dlck used to say she
was kind, motherly old woman may tell me
something more OF hlm. -
I 90 there accordingly. and make my little excuse
about wanting to see the rooms for friend-l hope
II is not very wrong to say so-lnd even manage 10
gcJ out his name as the person who once recon-
sesame however, Tor Mrs. Brown beams with smiles
on the instant and begs me to walk upstairs,
which fortunately the rooms ale vacant ard Just
as they was when Nr. Meredith was there hissel,
for times and again he'd said 70 her Now. Mrs.
Brown. don't Won 20 doing nothing to these rooms
Tor cOmfOrber they couldn't be, and IL ever re,
turns TO London it's back 10 them shall come and
nowhere else" And, by the way, maam, If so be
you're friend Of that dear gentlemans PERHAPS
YOU can give me his address. Therea letter Deen
laying ere for him ever so long 1t come about SIX
months after he left, inclosed III note TO " the
owner of the 'ouse." saying as whoever posted IT
bad dropped it into gap between he post-boX amt
the inside of the WALL and there it had stuck, no one
finding IT till few days before. My son SAID ~
how they ought to ha opened it, an sent 1t back to
the writer: but maybe II como IRON some Iittle
country place tney didn't know ana twasn TOT
me TO take such liberty Besides I've been think
ing all along as Mr.. Meredith might turn up any
dav I'm sure when he went away he looked that
miserable as shouldn't ha wondered 10 seen HIM
home by the next mail, and-but, dear heart mss
how deadly white you be Is It the stars as was
too much for youi lit zee down minute. do &c
SIT down while | run for glass OF water. You do
look Ill to he sure.
DO II But | cannot answer or protest / am
standing here in Dicks own room. the room where
he sat and worked and wrote many and many q
letter to me in the happy days of old the last room
perhaps in which he ever ate meal or rested before
me sailed away from and England together; ana
yet | cannot look at it, | cannot thlnk oil ~
haze has come before nv eyes. and nunbness
over brain, for there on the table before me lies
nv letter the very letter, botted with tears and
soiled and crumpled with age, which posted with
my own hand two years ago, ana whlch-ah see
il ali now, how could | think hun so hard, so I'M
forgivng, who ought to have known his nature
better (which he never received at all.
must be very weak, or the shock is too great :;
for a, Mrs Brown leaves the room sit quietly
down and faint away. -,
IL is only for n minute, however The sunbeams
which were shining on pot OF yellow crocuses IN
the window have not moved a hairs breadth: and
family on the clear cool air car still hear the
bells from some distant church which were Gazing
The neonle 10 a saint, ,iov service when | came H.
Even Mrs Brown has not returned with the water;
and there is a buzz of voices downstairs hers ana
some Of her dodgers perhaps who nave delayed
two to rally my scattered senses and steady my
shaken nerves | have been bold enough IN coming
h4ro 81 oil | vhn hade my lover 90 without one