Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-13
two. Do you think should enjoy those two
hours. knowing that? What puFgatory they

would mean"
They would, indeed" he says reverently,
gazing at her fair. loving face with unaffected
admiration. He does her full Justice and un-
derstands perfectly the loyal at ct;on that could
md no happiness in q pleasure secured at the
expense of beloved object. Then he wonders
why Julia, who has more money at her com
mand than she quite knows what to do with
has had no thought for the poor little cousin In
the cottage; and then l am AFRAID he. thinks
bitter thoughts of the woman he ought to
marry.
you must come to see me the day after the
ball and tell me all about IT. she says lightly
secondhand to hear of it win be better than
nothing"
Eyes, I will GOMEZ he says absently-but it
Is plain his thoughts are roaming, and that he
soft evening scene that surrounds him.
The morrow passes; the day dies Night
comes on apace and covers everything. At the
Grange the iddles are sounding, bright forms
are moving to and fro; the air is heavy with the
the ball is well begun; the music grows sweeter,
fainter; fans are waving gently.
Down in the cottage girl is standing in a
white gown at one of the open windows, and is
gazing eagerly and with sad straining eyes at
certain lights that two miles away can be seen
distinctly through the still haze of the summer
night.
Yes, he is there of course; and happy and re-
CARELESS Of everything but the moment 1t is
most natural. Is it not? What Is there else for
him to think of She herself. how dearly she
would like to be there too! She chances at her
gown and tells herself that almost she might
have gOne-and then she shrinks within herself.
and refuses to confess even to her own heart
that it would have been agony to her to have
appeared badly dressed before-before-oh
many people!
She signs impatiently, and the tears gather in
her eyes, and blot out the lights shining gayly
so far away; they blot out, too a dark figure
that. advancing rapidly through the few shrubs.
enters the second open window and, crossing
the room. is at her side before she has time to
recognize him.
1t is George Norwood. of course-a little
flushed from his run, and with his hair slightly
RULED, and with the gladdest light possible in
his handsome eyes.
Monica, moving backward. involuntarily
SEXES the curtain with one hama and stares at
him almost afflrghtedly. Her attitude reminds
him of that happy moment when first he saw
her. Before he has time to speak she RECEIVERS
herself and says with a poor attempt at cold
ness:
what has brought you here?"
You know" replies he calmly; "an over
powcring desire to see yOu--to hear your voice
again. Your face was In every corner smiling
at me-yOur voice was clearer than the band
and called me necessarily. have GOMEZ"
He sinks into chair with all the air OF a man
who intends to make it his resting-place for the
remainder OF the evening.
.'Where is Julia3" asks she, reproof in her
voice. unmistakable gladness in her great
cleaning eyes. She has got heavy spray of
scarlet geranium in the bosom of her white
gown. 1t rises and falls nervously, as she
stands before him. trying vainly to be stern and
angry
81 don't know-I don't care Dancing, 1
"Go back to her. won't have you here.
Go back to her at once!"
Il won't" says Mr.. Norwood.
But desire you" excams she with little
stamp of her foot.
'Of course, if you turn me out. shall have
to CO." says George Norwood. without showing
the faintest symptom Of an intention to depart;
"but l certainly shan't go to Julia-rve had
enough of julia
Monica's breath comes little quickly; she
lifts her hand to her soft rounded throat
"You ought to be with the woman you mean
to marry, she says slowly.
II entirely agree with yOn," says Norwood
with the utmost vivacity but that wouldn't
drive me back to the Grange Ishail never marry
Julia"
You don't know what you are SAYING" says
Monica shrinking still farther from him.
II do. Quite well. ought to have said it
before, but tonight l have made up my mind.
If you refuse me I shall never marry any
woman-neyer! My darling, don't shrink from
me; say you love me; say it-Monica, say it."
''N0-no You must be mad" saws the girl
him away from her. 1T is 10000 a year.
You shall not do this thing. In the morning
you will think"
Gas l do now" Interrupts he "And as 1
thought yesterday morning, and every morning
during the past week-that / love you better
than my very life-to say nothing of filthy
lucre"
The pressure of the hands that repuse him is
not SO strong now. Emholdened by this sign of
coming weakness, he goes on with renewed
spirit:
1--WE shall be poor, you know; but you said
once you thought f700 year quite enough to
live on. You can't go back of that now. You
said also that it would be disgracefu! and con-
temptible act on the part of any man to marry
one woman when he loved another. You can't
get out of that either, and l am not going to
look either disgraceful or contemplate in the
only eyes l worship"
The hands have grown quite reasonable now.
and indeed have slipped from his chest to his
shoulders.
Monica, I am yours whether you like it or
not You must try and make the best of me-
promise to be good husband to you till death
us do part''
''Do not talk OF death" she whispers trem-
ulously.
"No? Shall! we not pray that we may die the
same day, and be buried in the same grave?
But. living or dying, my own darling, every
thought of my heart will be yours
The hands have slipped a little higher up. and
now with faint but heavy sigh that is almost
a sob, she twines them round his neck and LAYS
her soft cheek against hts
(YOu must imagine a good many asterisks
here. and then we go on.
''How was Julia lookngi" asks she presently.
They are now sitting close together-very close,
indeed-upon the patriarchal sofa that certainly
has seen better days. But it 1t were satin and
down they could not be more contented with it.
Very handsome" replies he with the most
satisfactory Indifference. "Icily regular, splen-
didly null' sort of business No soul, and too
much flesh. My angel, you have saved me. To
think that only for you l might have married
her; should, to moral certainty, you know, as
didn't know what love meant them
At this juncture there is no mfstaking he
knows what love means now.
III you should ever be sorry about this" says
Monica nervously.
Nonsense darling; you know you are miles
too good for me- ] hone you will never be
sorry, that's all;-MOnca' -wistfuIly, ''are you
certain, positive. that you really love me?'
IL am as sure of it. as that we are sitting
here. says Miss Norwood solemnly
further demonstration that they now really
know what love means!
DO you know, I'm awfully hungry" says
George presently, without the smallest shame |
or recollection that people in novels never eat |