The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-04-11
EDALIA WEEKLY BAZOO. TUESDAY, APRIL H. 1882

seemed to round out the sentence viii
unuttered meaning. The sight o
Jack in the distance came IS q re
lief.
"He wants me-" said Cecile.
| "And so do [ want you, said Van
dorm, "for the present and the futur'
and unto eternity, if God wills it.
A sudden, white surprise held he
motionless. Then. after moment:
81 thought you knew" she faltered
81 thought all the world knew | an
to marry Jack"
The eagerness left Vandorn.
Forgive me. Had l suspected it
| would have spared you the avOwa
of passion which have tried tc
check"
There was nothing awkward in bis
acceptance of the situation, and they
walked back to the house together
Cecile would have avoided her fiance
if she could she scarcely felt equal
to his reproaches just then; but Jack
would not be put aside.
ats life or death with me, he
said, doggedly. "You can take back
your freedom if you want it"
Her heart gave sudden bound
but she saw there was no more to
come.
"My uncle has married again, and
all my expectations in that quarter
are cut of. / was poor enough be-
fore, heaven knows. Now"
at is not poverty l dread for you,
Jack. 1 should think you in much
greater danger, and in greater need OF
me to keep you balanced, if you had
succeeded to sudden wealth"
Something repressed behind Jacks
dolorous visage flashed forth.
"Then admit the necessity. queen
of my destiny" he cried, triumph.
antly. 1.-THE same mail which brought
the i'll tidings brought good, also. The
old aunt who always quarreled with
me so ferociously has gone of the
hooks and left my name first in her
will. No more waiting now, Cecile.
You are to name the day and make il
soon."
Rumors of the coming marriage
rung in Vandorn's ears as he went
his way to the coast where he had
passed some pleasant days the pre-
vious year. He fancied, in the lone.
illness there, he could fight down his
pain, and 60 back victor to his work
in the world. 1t was a mistake, OF
course. To have thrown himself bod.
lily into the work at once would have
accomplished his object better.
Tramping over long reaches of icy
marsh-land, he came out of trance
of forgetfulness one day, to find the
March sky grown gray and dripping,
and his path leading through bog
where he sunk ankle deep with every
step. He would have gone back il
he could, but he was hopelessly be.
wildered. In this plight, it was NO
small relief to see figure approach.
ing him; a figure which was hope.
lessly obscured by a gossamer cloak
and umbrella which threatened to
turn inside out with every blast.
"This way" she called, as she came
within speaking distance. land
here, take the umbrella; brought
it for your benefit. Now, follow"
This was Madeline North, the her.
oine of the story which he had told to
Cecile.
81 saw you through the glass,
said she, when they emerged at last
upon the 6rmer footing of the sands.
"There seemed every probability that
you would pass the night in the bog
unless I sailed out as q rescuing maid
en-. Well, if you are grateful" as
he uttered his thanks, "pro7e it by
coming up to my castle and relieving
my loneliness"
He went. He had fancied rather
a masculine presence under the
shrouding gossamer, but this girl,
slender and plant and tall, had no
hint of the Amazon in her appearance.
He was attracted by her. He WON
dered as the days went on and they
became the best of friends, whether
the time might not come when this
brilliant, fearless creature could sup
plant the rose fair image that fingered
In his heart. He was answered in the
same moment. A colored photograph
fell from the leaves of book which
he was idly turning; and the pain Of
utter, irreparable loss mingled with
the wonder at seeing Cecile's face.
"Do you know herr" asked Mad
cline, quickly. pardon me, is she
the women in the case ?"
Sho bod fofbonnod hia ccorof apd