Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-08-30
BACK FROM DEATH.
By .ASSABEL DWIGHT.

az he watched her light figure whirl-
ing about the room in Charlie Castor's
arms, such a happy, spoiled child.
Surely she could not know how beI
conduct PANEL him, strong man as tt
was.
standing there in the shadow of the
heavy curtain, h. took in every detail Of
dress, face and figure.
The pure, white robe so fitting for
her girlish years, tloated about n slen-
der, supple FORM, the pretty feet glanc.
ing benea' h the lace tiJunce which did
not touch he floor.
But the tace-how it haunRd him in
all the after years Wild, and
witching, and mirthful, her short,
husky tresses tossed back from the
wide, low forehead in boyish, cluster
ing ourls. the big eyes bright with
nOcking laughter under their f.inge.l
lashes, the straight nose, the clear,
dark palor of the rounded cheeks, and
the exquisite lips, and wilful, dimplcd
chin.
"Oh, my little love =" he crie'l
.iercely in his heart. How can
you be 30 gay tonight, of all nights.
For on the morrow Carl Redmon was
to Join scientific expedition 10 the
northern seas.
He might not return for years. He
could not in honor bind little Barbara
Dare to a bctrothal which might ~
might not be- fulfilled, for who could tel
wi hat his fate mi ht be in that desolatt
country, where so many had given ul
their lives
Yet surely she must know that III
loved her. n. had called her his wifi
from her bahyhood
IL was understood between the twc
families that Barbara was to he his
and he hoped TO claim her il he ever re-
turned from this trip.
| Barbara WIS always willfnl, but
tonight sh" seemed more 50 than
usual.
| He had requested her not 70 waltz
with any ";h"r than himself, and there
she was dancing, aSno other girl could
dance with Young Casters arms clasp
ing the i'm waist, while his straw col
6red mnstache almost touched her TEN
pie AID he was laughing at his
nonsr' s zeal speeches
After the waltz, however, he claimed
her Il for promenade, and led
her out of the brilliant room upon the
wide veran,la, which overlooked the
sea.
1t seemed as if some perv-rse spritt
had taken possession of barbara,
for she seemed not at all inclined
to notes her companion, but hum
med in a clear sweet soprano, the notes
of the las, waltz.
1t was gay little melody, very popu
lar at thar time, and R,lmon :emein-
bered 1t atrerward many times with in
tolerable pain.
"Hush child :" he said sharply, II,
last g cannot bear that you should bt
80 happy
"What an ogre you arr ~ she laugh.
led ont, TO begrndge me my sun.
shine
"lt seems selfish, does it not ?" he
said pa. sing, aud taking both hei
hands ia his, and smiling sadly /; YET
God know little girl, l would keep
you from ali trouble only now, ON thu
eve of onr parting, | crave one token OF
r"gre' frlm you-is that strange" d.
not walt With Castor again tonight,
Barbara
She Ian he'd again, looking away
that lie might not see the mist in hel
eyes.
y" Not with Castor" she said, but
with Mr.. Harding
Rarbar, ! Is this a pretense, ol
me ."
Unluck,, words ; they touched hel
vanity,
A laughing group came trooping on
upon the veranda, and called he
name.
Redmon held her hand tightly in hi
grasp
" Answer me-" he said il. low sterr
tones
| The girl 5 dainty head crested itsel {
and for one Instant her dark eyes met
his defantly.
" Mr.. felmon torgets that | have
never yet rrolessed any affection fol
him !" she said, as with quick mo
ton she released her hand and Joined
the gay, chattering gronp, who drew
her back into the ball room, while Red
mon stood there fighting with his pain
the cool sea breeze blowing upon bis
hot face
He did not again join the revel.
lers.
Fifteen minutes later. he saw Bar.
baras figure threading the intricacies
of the lancels with II young NJ d., her
piquant face a bright and merry ;ss
lever.
He Turned away with white lips, and
saw her no more for years.
As for Barbara, she had nov doubted
that he would come to her On the follow.
ing morning to say farewell.
| In all her spoiled and prtred life, she
had known no sorrow until the parting
from one to whom her young heart was
passionate|y attached.
| He was seven years her senior, and
had borne all her whilns, and humore,i
and watched over her with tender
and deathless devotion.
Surely he would understand her
impnlsive nature too well to take
those foolish words seriously. He
would come once more for IL last fare
well.
But he did no..
The proui young heart, half wild
with this sclf-made sorrow, crushed
back all evidence Of pain. No tear
ful ave or tremhlinp lin hetravai