The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-03-31

removing her wet mantle, and sitting
down on the leather sofa. The recognition
| had been mutual but women, as general
thing have more possession than the
sterner sex.
"I1et me recommend this chair" said
Seton, laying his hand upon the one from
which he had lust risen.
mo, thank you; 1 prefer sitting away
from the fire.
II am sorry the room should smell 50 Of
tobacco" observed Seton, after pause,
'sbut you see, I did not expect the pleasure
of visitor"
She smiled a rather forced smile by w ay
of answer, and Seton folded elaborately
and put into an envelope a blank sheet OF
paper.
''The country is very beautiful around
here,' he observed, writing his own name
with great care upon the envelope.
awe have only been back from the con-
tinent six Weeks,' she observed, after Il
pause "Mamma has taken house near
| tulSClAiltlSl. as NA p "f~i ~ t'CN Ma
oaks this morning, and | was caught in the
rain and induced to ask for shelter here.'
"And how is Mrs. Clarefield?"
"Mamma is quite well, thank you"
Then, after a pause, care you stopping
| here.''
| "HarCly,' said Seton, with an assump
ton of gaiety in his tone, ''but I'll ,ell you
all about it. Myfriends kindly took it ILL
to their heads that was sticking too close
| lv to wolk-that | wanted fresh air and
exercise-so they bound me over on my
word Of honor to walk FROM London 10
Hastings in a week II acquiesce in very
thing now, so. Of course, acquiesccd III
this, ndsthis is my first day of hard labor
and imprisonment"
"But you used" began the lady. then
she coloreN 4 little aud seemed unwilling
to finish her sentence, you used 70 be so
fond of walking"
Bat man changes good deal in three
years. hereplied, YEARLY.
1t would weary you, reader, to set down
! here the dreary commonplaces with which
these two tried to begui!e the time for over
an hour. At last they took refuge III
silence, while. the wind roared, and the
rain lashcd the window, the dusk came on
prematurely, and Seton, looking out on
the cherries prospect, shivered IA with
the cold. Then the lady roseIvery quietly,
stirred tie tire into d blaze, and resumed
her seat on the sofa.
"N0 you shouldn't, really" said Seton
not turning rouhtl, However, and with a
look OF pain Oh his face. 1t it wonderful
what suffering some small commonplace
Il suppose tie carriage will soon be
back, said Alice, presently, and speaking
with:an effort; "our coachman drives very
fast"
eyes: your term OF Imprisonment will
soon be up," rejoined Seton, resting his
arms upon the mantelpiece, and examining
with critical interest photograph before
him.
Chow the time passes,' said Alice in a
low voice, as if speaking to herself. Then,
with sudden energy, Il cannot tell when
we shall meet again. Before we part, an
swer me one question. You are looking
worn and weary-are you happy?"
Now he stood before her, and through
the freight his eyes flashed on her as he
said, in low, harsh veice:
''From your lips that question is an in-,
suit"
"Of which we need not fear the repeti-
tion," she rejoined with cutting formality.
s'No, it can't end like this,'' he went on.
''Do you know, ever since you have been
here | have bitten my lips through and
through =, keep them from speaking OF
the past: This meeting was not of my
seeking, and it seems to me unmanly to
take advantage ofthis opportunity.
awe are sometimes SO much mistaken, .
she said, hurriedly, but her words We're
hardly audible, and he continued:
s'Alice, you have treated me badly. On
that day, now three years ago, when
gave you my love and believed in yours,
was frank with you. | told you how wilc
: and irregular my life had been. and how
full of faults | was. You reclaimed me-
you transformed my days-you made life
pure and fair; and then, because some
thorn in my love hurt you, yon threw il
away, and left me to perish miserably.' >
She would have interrupted him, but ht
: silenced her with gesture and went on
"And now, when We meet after three
years, you ask me if | am happy. II
l loved you once, | shall love you forever
Do look happy?''
: ''I think there were faults on botl
. sides" she said quietly.
d Eyes, there were,' he replied; 'but
was reading your last letter only to-day
Oh, how terribly bitter it was!'
ii ''And have you forgotten your answe
! to that letter." she said passonately, he
voice quivering and her breast heaving.
II don't remember it word for wort,
:, he answered quickly: II know it wa
: written on the impulse Of the moment.
: ssBut have it by heart" Then YER
slowly: ssYou said if your love, III L
heart and strength, was little exciting
4 mine was cold and tideless; in fact, nc
love, only a cold, sluggish affection. 1e
almost thought was right, and that "