The Magnolia gazette., 1883-05-10
CHAPTER xIII.-coSrryuro.

RNftN W Ut MfduuH, Eu.
CHAPTER XIIl.-CoNrISuEo.
He addressed the envelope. and after
placing the letter in it. was about to
close IT, lie paused, and the paper
tlembled little in his hands Her fin
gers would open this. and he seemed
TO be touching them for the last time.
Sic would Id this paper in her haniss
she would think angrily of his bodnes
in sending il to her, and she would
never know the weary sickness she had
left in his life. The words, too, would
seem TO her abrupt and Gallons. He
had not even said good bye. or given
the slightest hint Of what comfort il
would be TO him If lie could only know
by and by a long time hence. no doubt
that she had learned to think Of him
with little less disdain But now she
would
lie started, hastily closed the en-.
velope and put a stamp on it for in his
present humor there was kind Of re-
lief even in the petty act OF sending Il
letter hy post instead Of BY messenger
so that She might understand how
thoroughly he had accepted his dis
missal
More folly" he exclaimed. bitter
ly, as he Lung the letter down. II
must get out OF this sentimental BROOD
ing somehow; what does she care how
may be suileringP how can she know It?
and why should She care il she d d? Nv
father is nearer the mark than think
he really belieyes--I am hopeless
idiot.
Setting his teeth close, nc began to
pack his portmanteau with vigorous
haste, thrnsting things in anyhow and
anywhere. lie che ked his reckless
performance several times. and mental
" seized himself by the shoulders say
ing:
"Now look here, my man, this won't /
d.. You are TO be perfectly quiet, per-
tectly cool and you are TO do every
thing in a measured, sensible fashion.
That Is the only wa to recover your
balance.
Therpupon he tumbled everything out
OF the portmanteau again and endeay-
ored to pack Il with some attention to
nealness; but the result was not satis-
factory.
That letter haunted him il contained
all that he had 10 say-all that he ought
TO say; and yet there was so much that
his whole nature was craving to
express to heT-Craving to make her
feel and understand But it was non
sense OF the most unmtigated and un-
pardonable kind to think of it. WHY
should he bother herp why attempt 10
make her see his real position, when
every effort to do so would only supply
another proof oI his apparent bascness:
ana his eagerness TO satisfy her con-
vince her that it was her changed posi-
tlon which drew forth his dcclarationp P
She could not believe him: that was
enough, Every additional word in
selt-defense ut present could only de.
grade him the more in her thoughts. 1t
was best to stite the mad craving with
in him, or, ii it could not be stitied, to
endure it.
The letter should go as il had been
written alt is my last word to her. /
hope she will be sorry by and by when
she comes to understand the mistake
she has made. Probably she will never
know it is so easy to forget those we
scorn; it is only those we love who
trouble us
He was eager TO get away from the
place, in the vague hope that the hustle
and movement of the train. the strange
faces, and the feverish hurry of London
life would distract his thoughts Every
thing about Calthorpe kept the fact
steadily in his mind, that, however in
nocenti in intention. circumstances dis
tinctly gave him the character Of a
fortune hunter
Ugh he shrugged his shoulders in
disgust. There was still three hours to
pass before his train time. and TO escape
the house, rs well as with some faint
notion that so long as the letter was in
his hand he was still in communication
with her, he took it himself to the post
office.