Daily Republican., 1883-11-05

uNols. outy III tuIh way ml&uC bn
guard herself from Major Varley an
at the same time appear unchanged
1 Painfully conscious Of her secret, sh
}, imagined every one reading it, and sh
Q strove jealously and by every means 4
+ her power to hide 1t.
70 She WAS always In state of fever
ish unrest /; to think, maddepad her
q Only In excitement might she find ces
,, sati0n from thought and freedom from
J. self. The anguish of her heart wa
y known only TO herself aud her God
d She was too proud to wear her hear
h upon her sleeve for DAVIS to peck at
Q Truest love Is always proudly sensitive
q and never seeks to fiaunt itself befor
= curious eyes.
9 1t was the last day of August. !
s had been one OF rare beauty, but now i
: was drawing to close. The sun wa,
' sinking behind the distant hills, flood
D ing the sky with gorgeous colors. Lake
0 of fire, rivers of molten gold, hills o
purple, and mountains of snow OF
. tiame-tinted bases, floated in the Yves
= tern sky. Figures fantastic formet
Q themselves from clouds, mingled and
wandered away into the blue ether. Nc
Italian sunset was ever more beautiful
J The land was full of the glory of tn,
dying day.
l Mrs. Derne was sitting in a small
summer house at some little distance
from the hotel. She had been sitting
there for an hour
The sunlight streamed in through
the doorway, the wind blew lightly
: from the myriad-t nged ocean, the birds
, sang their goodnight and the sound of
far Oft IN usic tloated in the air.
J, But she needed none of these. For
once she was blind to the beauty of the
setting sun. To all external sights and
sounds she was insensible. She was
conscious only of dull, heavy pain at
her heart, of pain that she felt would
never cease. The words of an old song
tloated through her brain.
would the grave could hide me,
For there alone is Peace"
Her head was thrown back against
the lattice work, and her face shone
startliugly white against the masses
Of her eb0n hair. Her eyes were clos
ed, the jetty lashes resting upon her
cheeks. Her mouth was contracted In
a spasm of pain and her hands we're
locked tightly over letter in her lap.
A feecy shawl. Of zephyr had drifted
ronnd her. A painter, wishing to por.
tray silent sorrow, would instantly
have chosen her for his model.
| A footstep sounded on the gravel,
and a shadow darkened the doorway.
Mrs Derne opened her eyes, with a
start, and rose, the letter tiuttering to
| the floor.
A moan of anguish broke from her
Major Varley.
She took a step forward, staggering,
and sank down on her seat.
The Major came hastily up to her ex.
claiming: "Mrs Derne, you are i'll
What can do for you ?"
"No'hing, she faltered, "I only
feel faint. You need not mind me.
GOOD Heaven, not mind you! ;"
cried the Major. Why, you are as
white as that shawl at your feet. Helen,
do you think | can staud by and see
you suffer and make no sign? You are
killing yourself and me p he went on
excitedly.
Then stopping, he raised the letter
from the floor and returned it to her
lap.
alt is from my husband, said Mrs.
Derne, her voice singularly hard and
clear. " He will be here tomorrow and
in week we leave the Ocean House.
There was a moments silence--an
Ominous calm-iikethat which precedes
the breaking of a fierce storm.
Major Varley came c.ose to Mrs.
DerDe and caught her hands in his, 80
tightly as to almost cause her pain
His face was white and strained his
breath came in quick gasps, and his
chest heaved spasmodcally,
" Helen," he said, "it is useless for
us to longer battle against fate: she is
stronger than human will. We love
each other, why deny it? No, do not
turn away your head, but look at me
| love you Those are three words
never said before by Louis Varley to
mortal woman. When men reach my
age without having loved you may
know that the flames once started can
never be quenched, that life itself will
sooner give away before it. To me you
are the embodiment of all that is pure
and beautiful in woman. There Is no
face in the world so lovely to me as
yours; no voice SO musical mo touch as
thrilling. With you am happy, SUI
premsly happy without you am mise
rable. There Is not an hour of the
day that l do not think of you. ! tell
you, Helen, that life to me without you
is void. You must come with me
away from this place! Think
how happy we may be together for all
the rest of our lives No parting,
Helen no parting again.
Helen Derne sat white and helpless,
her eyes fastened upon the face of the
man before her. The crisis of her life
had come. Her lips moved, but emitted
no sound. She tried again and her
voice startled her II was so hoarsr and
"When stood at the altar" she said,
" these words branded themselves in
words If fire upon my brain: Until
death do we part. For veal or woe
welded George Derne, and not until
death do us part am | free. To for
sake him would be d sin. You are
strong and am weak don't tempt me
further
Varley loosened her hands and walked
away 10 tue open doorway. he stOOu
there, looking at the water for an
instant, then he turned and came back
to her side.
Sitting down beside her, he gently
placed one arm around her slender
waist and drew her head to his breast.
She made no resistance she no longer
had the energy.
In low, firm tone, Varley again
spoke.
" Helen, the marriage ceremony says
Those whom God hath joined, let not
nan put asunder.' Helen, they say
iod is love had love aught to do with
your marriage? No, u thousand times, IL
10, Then do you consider yourself f
,ound in the eyes of God? George L
Derne does not love you, and do. 1t y
would not grieve him to lose you, but 1t | a
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