New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-12

she had 30 hfss 1ntenied 10 tell he listened fn-
dark, harmonious pillows.
Before she bad ended, he had realized that he was
IN love with her. He had never Known anything
OF such love till now. His head was futtering in a
new, wild way; he coHld scarcely lind voice 20
answer her wien she at length ceased to speak;
But she had not told him al her past hfe: She had
reserved certain facts. And her own feelings were
entirely tranquil. Not the least responsive tremor
disturbed her.
Hoster nearly missed the last boat back to
the city, that evening HIS night was partially
| sleepless. and morning brought with IL
| mental preoccupatiOn that was surely perilous
to what tasks lay before him. Like
most men who have escaped the stress OF any I'M
portant sentiment until the age of ve-and twenty,
he in excellent condition for Just such level-
ling seizure as that 10 which he had now made COM
| plete surrender. He was what we call a weak
nature. judged by those small and ordinary Affairs
Of life which largely predominant in almost
every human career. II some great event were
| ever fated to rouse within him an
| especial strength this summons had not
| vet sounded, and he still remained for those
who had found cause to test the fibre Of his general
traits, person in whom conciliating kindness laid
soft spell upon them all His frieLds at college had
| been mostly of tough calibrc, OF unyieldng will,
| he seemed unconscIousy TO have selected them in
order that they might receive his But
they never encouraged in fostering the least
| contempt for him. Tho spark Of his anger
| always leapt out with the true fire.
prompt to resent any definite drsrespect.
Yet the anger sometimes cooled too quickly
| toward those whom he liked; there bad been
whore he would waIvs his own claims 10 be indig-
| nant, with too humble repentance OF past heat:
| Necessarily such qualities made him popular, and
this result esssned bv the fact OF bis being
almost rashy generous besides: His mental gifts
had never been caslef powerful. yet ne had cut no
sorry sort Of figure as student; and he possessed
an airy humor that seldom deserted for long time
| either his language or thought.
| During the wrek that foll1wed hs Introduction
TO Clare, he visited the hotsl where she was
guest every evening bot two. One OF those even
ings CHANGED to be ercsly rainy; he could not have
come to Coney Island without having his appear
| ance tnere SAVIOR markedly OF ths lutcrOus. The
other evening was the last of the week, he bad
! asked Claire TO marry bim thc night before. Soc
| had not Conscnoti, neither had she refused:
she had demurred He wss pfqued by
| her hesitation and affrighted Oy she
Thought Of her possible refu a. lie passed
| night and day OF simple triure Then, has sus-
pense becoming msupportable, be appeared once
| n few hours hal made him actually hagGara. HIS
| hand trembled 10 when she placed her own within
VI that she feared the perturbation might be noticed
| by others besides herself there the crowded
| piazza where they met.
I've come 10 get your answer he began. dog
YOU we're not SUR II you-you cared enough tor me.
Have You found out. by this time, whether you do
or no II .
"rhere are two empty seats. yonder. near the
railing of The piazza Shall sit theref" She said
:" If YOU choose. But I'D rather be down on
tho lands IA rather listeh 10 1t there, whatever
Ant Claire teia1,ed not 20 hear him. 10 Was her
| caprice to remain among tho throng. She moved
toward the empty stats that she had indicated. no
following In al sneh minor matter. she bad already
become he who dictated and he the QUO Who
The nisht lying beyond them was
| cool hut beautifully calm. An immature moon
hung in The heavens anf tug-d the smooth sea
with vapory silver that Its Outw ard spaces took
| IN unspcakzble softneSa. as though Nature were
putting the idea oil inhhty III her very tehueIest
terms.
The buzz OF voices all about them soon prcsSaced
." You asked NC e. DO your wife last nighS
Claire began, loohIng ~ HIM steadily little
after they were both seated. and not nsng any
special moderation OF tone because certain OF her
own vantage in the prompt detection OF wonld-be
listener. $ Before | slyc you any final answer to
that r-gusst-whfch l. OF course. feel 10 be great
honor-it ~ only just and fsr that should make
you know one VI Two facts Of my pasI Lie hitherto
' This was not the Language of passion. Perhaps
hssaw but 700 plainly its entire Iaea OF etVor iss
feit sis boson swell with hope.
"ifItI s anything y,u would rather leave I'M
told" he said, with magnaninty not Wholly Dorm
OF his deep love, " have not the least desire 10
CIa,rs shook her head You must know it" she
returned. IL prefer, demand that you shall
lie felt too choked for any answer To leave him.
IL she imposed this condition. what was meant by
,ruce for which he an strongly yearnsdf On some
men might have flashed the dread suspicion That her
words carried porteni OF an unpardona1nas isni,'
listers love clad it's object IN sancnfying pnrity
| Apart from this, moreover bis mind coud give
none Of that grim welcome which certain DARK
fears easily gain elsewhere. The sun bad long ago
KNIT so many wholesonle CLEANS into his being that
he had no morbid hospitality for the entertain
| ment of shadows 81 want to tell you OF how my
father died." Claire went on. with her face so grave
IN every line that II won new. unw9nted beauty
from the ehsngo. And want 10 tell you. also. OF
something that was done 10 after ms death, and
| of something that | myself did. not IN personal
revenge for my own sense OF injury. but with the
| desifu TO assert my great respect for ms loved
nsmory and 10 deal justice where thought justice
wac deserved" - =,
had deliberately pressed backward among Le
collections 50 holy that she seemed to hersct NE
S one tT' ,smS shs rscOusa taS whole
| bitter story of her mothers avarics, oil
her fathers Ignoble burial ANA OF her own resultant
flight The tears stood ID hIr eyes Ue,o.s sns n
| she saw that Holiisier had arowo very paie ana
| that his brows met In stern frown. Az the same
| moment his lfp trcmbed: and as he leaned f0rWaru,
took her hand INTO bis own. pressed II once, briefly
but foreby, aud thea released ~, she caush "Itnh
his gaze light OF profound and annistakaoie sym-
| parny
ct think your mother,s course was
pos. that could possibly blame you for leaving
| her p
Claire bad dropped her head. now, 80 that he
eoaId SEQ only the white curve Of her forehead be-
| meath its floss OF waved and god-tinted bar. And
she spoke 40 low that he could Just hear bef and no
moro. -.
| "Ye., thought you might blame me. was not
| sure Or IL not this feared that the way IN when
poor Father was buried mi ght. might make you feel
~ n bore A stainor at Ieast that the disgrace OF
| such burial, and of having q mother who conid
| commit so hard and bad an act must reflect IN
shame upon myself"
| IL they had been alone together, HOLSTER would
have ansv cred thus faint-voiced eslant speech oy
| ..f,.. latr