The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-12-15

AAlCA eL4O uAAACG1 W UG 4Ou1AeA E1ACah01IS |
in her lovers sight brought her to a |
standstin before the mirror, and she
scrutinized herself carefully and critic
ally. Would he think her looking
older or palmer, she wondered. She
turned away at last in doubt, for it was
difficult to Judge of herself. She need
not have feared, for she never looked
prettier or sweeter than now, when
happy expectation was breathing a
bright flush over her cheeks, and her
eyes were shining with light kindled
by the purest love and faith.
Presently, as she could not sit idle,
she called for Jug of water and some
vases, and began arranging the bunch
of ferns and wild flowers she had gath
cred In the woods. First the loveliest
and most fragrant were chosen out and
tenderiy made into little bouquet
for Headley, and she had not done
much more than this when the sound of
the visitors bell fell upon her listening
ears. A moment later the servant an
nounced-
"Captain" (Beatrice's breath came
and went quickly, and she caught hold
of chair to prevent herself from dart
ing forward) "Erskine."
"You, Richard !" stammered Beatrice,
all the tensions of her face slackening;
81 thought thought am very glad
to see you-I-I hope you are quite
we'll"
Captain Erskine had never been
talkative or ready-witted man, and now
he found himself in q predicament
worse than any he had encountered in
the Afghan campaign. Beatrice's ill
concealed disappointment and feeble
attempt at a cordial reception might have
struck him as comical had he not come
with o previous knowledge of some
thing which rendered it intensely pa
thetic.
Il am quite well, thank you" he said
awkvardly. ''Is Mrs. Latham at home?
I should like to see her."
"She is in the wood so is everybody
except me. Please sit down and tell
me oil the news. Is Capt. Headley
well?'
"Yes," said Erskine; and then there
was pause, during which Beatrice be-
came nervously aware that something
was wrong.
"You are telling me the truth ?" she
said, uneasily, and Erskine again said,
eyes. yes"
Then what is it?" asked Beatrice.
IT would rather tell Mrs. Latham" !"
said Erskine.
'Is it anything about Robert" de
manded Beatrice, quickly
eyes, but / cannot speak to you about
it. It is bad news-painful news"
I'm what way? Why are you silent,
Richard? Do you mean that it is dis
creditable to Robert?"
Erskine bowed his head, and the poor
girl, in mingled indignation and dis
tress, entreated him to keep nothing
from her.
IF there is harm to be told of Rob, I
would rather you should tell me-" she
said, to1chingly unsuspicious of what
lie harm might be; II can forgive him
anything, but | could not bear the
| others TO know.
"You do not understand, Beatrice, :"
said the poor captain.
How can [ while you won't speak
oub" exclaimed the girl restlessly
when did you last hear from Head
ley?' asked Erskine, to gain time.
"From Gibraltar"
"Ana thege was nothing in the letter
to make you suspect anything wrong?"
"No."
'sThe scoundrelp, calculated Erskine,
under his breath; but Beatrice heard it,
and quick as thought started to her feet
and turned upon him.
GLOW dare yon! All, for PHYS sake
don't look at me like that! You are
torturing me-pat me out of my mis-
ery-tell NC the worst at oncep
The wild alarm in her face was too
much for Erskine, and he hlurted out
the truth
"Headley was married this morning
almost Immediately we lam ded."
The room swan round Beatrice, and
with long, choking sigh of anguish
she swayed and staggered back against
the mantelpiece. 4 crash followed, fol
the hand she had stretched out vaguely
for support struck the specimen-glass
into which she had put her little
bouquet for Robert, and it fell shiver-
ing to atoms on the floor. Beatrice
perceiving in the accident significant
sequel to Erskine's words. felt as though
her heart must break with the glass
yet the shock of cold water dashed ove1
her probably saved her from fainting
for she instinctively laid her cold, we
hand across her dizzy brow and eyes
Erskine, too, in despair seized the jug
of water on the table and made he1
drink some out of tie iower-vase.
"I am all right now" she said family
"Go on. [ must know more"
At this moment the sound of voices
at the bottom of the garden indicated
the return of the nutting party, ant
Beatrice quivered from head to foot.
ooh, cannot face them ALP sh1
exclaimed, wildly. Just one word
Richard-how do you know this ?"
81 YVES told of it; then 1 met hin
and he confessed it.
The girl looked into his face for one
glimmer of doubt, but there was moth
ing to be read in it save the deepest
compassion, and bowing her head hope
lessly she fed to her room.
Erskine 8 meeting with Connie wa
robbed of al sweetness by the misera
bic news he had to communicate, ant
lie suffered the more acutely, because
III a measure, he felt himself answera
bic for his friend. Not only had h,
introduced him to the Lathams, bu
his promise to Beatrice had quickenet
his sense of responsibility, so that nov
when HeadleY had taken the final stel
OF treachery he hardly dared look Mrs
Latham or Connie in the face
Headley's was d pitiful case Of veal
impressibility. While the war last4.
he had not been tempted to forge
Beatrice, but when on the voyage hom
he was thrown into constant confpan
ionship with q girl who simply made u
her mind from the first to bring him 4