Morris tribune., 1882-07-06

edy.D
Miss Bohun laughs.
Even that" she says, "would be bet.
terthan nothing. This place has grown
so dull since the Stewards left, and those
men at Coote Hail."
"Leok here, Dorothy, throw It up,'
says Mr.. Disney, leaning over her chair,
and bending his head until his face Is
very. near hers, ''for my sake"
Well, if you can bring me some fever
XII take it; but don't see where you'll
get it for there's nothing of the sort in
the parish, and I'm convinced that moth
ing else could save me from this thing
Then you are quite determined not
70 give it up" says DinseS cold1y,
drawing himself up to his full height
Il neyer vas determined in my Life,
says Miss Bohun, with soma Just indig-
nation. Il am remarkable for never
saying mo- to anybody. You yourself
haxe frequently told me that had the
sweetest nature in the world, and It is
quite too late to alter Lady Rodney's
arrangements now"
mo doubt you are right, as you al
ways are. I'm sorry / can't be present
ON the nineteenth, but it Is impossible,
as shall have business that shall detain
me about that time"
|'Very pressing busness?"
eyes, very pressing business"
"Ah" says Miss Bohun.
When Disney had been absent two
days his thoughts undergo q decided
change
To have left Dorothy in the manner he
had seems to him now to have been
not only an unmanly, but a most un-
worthy action.
There is oply one way out Of It. he
will write to her, and humbly apologize
for his conduct.
The mig hit passes wearily enough, and
the morning brings him no relief He
is still indescribably miserable, and sinks
INTO the belief that there is no balm in
Gillead for his uneasy spirit.
The next day he grows even more des-
perately, and finally decides that to-
morrow, come what MAY, he wal-met-
aphoricallp speaking throw himself at
her feet, and implore forgiveness.
How slowly the tain seems to move,
and how intolerable seems the delay at
each station to Disney, as the next morn
ing he travels on his way to Brompley.
One half-hour more, and he is filling
the guards demands fer the shattered
remains of the mutilated ticket, and
awakes to the fact that he has actually
arrived at his destination.
Hastily procuring his luggage and
engaging the first car convenient, he i'm
mediately proceeds to the hall. Arriving
there, he dismisses the man, and, giving
his luggage to the inestimable Williams,
he enters the house..
being back again, and how
h-
othy's sins grown in his eyesI After all,
how could she help itq He is sure she
hated having to do it. And hosv could
she refuse Lady Rodney, after promis-
ing to play her part2 And, besides, how
many women act in private theatricals,
and why shouldn't Dorothy, who is evf-
dently fitted by nature for that sort of
sport3 And when one comes to think OF
it dispassionately, there are few things
$50 innocent as little tableaux and lit
tie drawinS-room pieces, and thaH
In fact when they are married, he
doesn't see why they shouldn't have
private theatricals once month. The
green room at Kingsmore Is Just the
place for stage footaights and drop
scenes, and so on,
He is getting positively enthusiastic
over the theatrica1s, which subject has
carried him as far as the drawing room,
when it suddenly OCCURS to him that
Miss Bohun is not there, as the man has
Fed him to suppose.
No doubt she is in the conservatory
which she 80 much affects. He pauses
He thinks he will give her pleasan
surprise, and, cautiously moving aside
the curtain, that he may not too rudelJ
break in upon the reverie that is doubt
less filled with him, he gazes upon the
little perfumed paradise beyond.
At first the light dazz1es his eyes. He
draws his bteath quickly. and then
what Is it he seese In the distance
stands Dorothy-her features eloquent,
smile fond and tender hovers round
them.
At her feet kneels Ponsonby, his
hands tightly ciasped, his whole attitude
betFaying devotion the most intense
Even as Dinsey watches them, strick-
en- to the heart by this cruel picture
WHICH he has so unwittingly intruded, q
passionate outbreak Of words comes
from Ponsonby's llps.
Darling" he says, "I appeal to you
for the last time and, implore you to lis
ten TO mel Do not beseech you, let
the adoratfen ofanother-t'"Th "Thaf's me, u
Disney says, between bis compressed
ips)-"bhd youto the undying love ]
oHesl On you are centered allmy hopes
OF future happiness! Do not sentence
me to lifelong despair, but say you
will be rnine!"
Disney waits with msddening impa-
tlsnee and beating heart for her reply.
u comes very nervously from Doros
thy's pretty lips.
Her head & bent ,modestB, and her
hands lie pAssively in Ponsohby's.
How can answer your" she saws. In
distinct but wayering accents. Sand
yet why should I not unburden my
mindf Truth Is always best. My heart
has long been in your keeping, and il
you wish 1t, it is yours"
It is too muchf Sick at heart, Dinsey
turns away, not caring to listen to words
evidently not meant for him To hear.
The dreadfal awakening has comet All
by this sudden and painfully unexpected
blew, and Dorothy; his love, whom he
has believed as true as the angels, is
nothing more in his eyes now than q
Prachced Mft and heaYtless woman OF
the worldl
HIS first thought is to return TO the
city; his next to remain. Has he NOT
beard somewhere Second thoughts are
best" Yes; he will remain, and see It
ott TO the bitter end, and when this
loathsome play has come TO an end, he
will tell her what he thinks of her, and
how she has willfully broken his heart
and ruined his life.
At dinner he is compelled to meet
her; but everybody being present, his
exceedingly cold greeting passes unno-
ticed by ali except by Dorothy herself.
She cannot mistake the change in his
whole demeanor. Where is the tender
pressure Of bis hand to which she has
been accustomed? Why did he come at
all if he is s6n filed with bitter thoughts2
There Ii some faint comfort in tho re-