Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-05-11

! Die. W nen ne STOOD NJ the uOOT Ol Noi-
Onel Cuthbcrt's house he would have
been glad Of an excuse to turn away.
But Arkwood promptly rang the bell;
and they were conducted upstairs TO
the drawing-room.
Dark brown hangings which covered
the door of an inner room were drawn
aside and Miss Cuthbert advanced to
the visitors. Maurice became immedi-
ately conscious that there was NO dan
ger Of any severe test Of his feelings:
her quiet sclf-possessiOn assured him of
that. But she was very pale and her
countenance, although calm, indicated
that she had exercised much effort to
nerve herself 20 the performance Of sad
but unavoidable duty.
" have kept my promise, Miss Cuth-
bert, said Arkwood before she had
time to speak; land now, with your
/ leave, i shall ut once retire
There was no awkwardness in her
manner Of thanking him. no hint OF sur
/ prise mt his abrupt departure.
aihey were ALONE together
lie stood. hat in hand, head slightly
bowed, and conscious that she was
looking at him. But he was not con-
scious Of the sadness i'm the eyes, or Of
the ripple Of agitation which passed
over tia face. MI.
"Mr. Calthopcr'-- -
Hs raised hiS eyes: hc fancicd that he
detected q Slight tremor on the lips, and
that he distinguished a faint echo Of the
old swe,t VINCE Miich used0to sound so
unsteady in his ears in the little room
in CambenSell He had an experience
similar to that of the Sultan i'm the fairy
tale wha under the influence Of a great
magician. maginol himself acting his
part i'm the events Of q long life during
the brief space that he could hold his
head in n tub of water. The richly
furnished chamber in which they stood
asltransfOrIncd INTO me 1JO0r one Of
OF his old lodging; he saw himself and
Lucy a thoy'then were; the same feel
ings thrilled through him and a clear
vision Of all that had happened up to
the moment when he first saw Miss
Cuthbert passed before him; all in the
space which could only be- counted an
awkward pause.
Her scnsationswcrc the reflection of
his; but they were over~hadowed by the
remembrance Of that wild scene i'm the
bungalow.
Il beg your PARDON Miss Cuth
bert he said. and in spite of the effort
he made. his voice was not 30 steady as
he wished il To be-. ~, =
She turned her head aside for n
moment and then said. quietly '
hope You will forgive me for hay
Ing troWbled you 20 come. know that
the MEETING can DOT bc-agreeable to
YOU; and you can ri least Won
will understand that his painful tome"
lie was not comfortable; he was not
rcsolute; lac was not calm. If she had
only been man he could.have told her
bluntly that their position was such As
20 render their meeting most undesira-
hlei aud that what he could not UNDER
stand was why she should have been so
lugeni in dcsiSihg'h. But he. Almost
StaminerIst as De replied yaglIely;,rs q
1t would have been n well, perhaps
---indee,l- 4 enu not sep WHY svou should
he troubled with my presence at all"
There was another pause. her ewes
fixed upon him all the time: he remain
'iny-,Tuirr- stili, CHANGING vacantfS nj "A
window. Then she advanced slowly TO
him. holding ont her hand "a
"Mr. Calthorpe.r she said. i'm clear.
earnest voice, "it was necessary To see
you; wish To ask yOu 10 forgive me-"
He took the hand mechanically; his
brain was undergoing series Of electric
shocks which dazed his Intellect and
blinded his eyes. That passed and he
looked straight in her face, analyZinp
IT. searching eagerly in every shade of
expression for the answer To the ques-
tiOn--"ls she in earnest now?' The
very intensity of this passion made
him calm. At that moment he realized
what she had already graspel before
his arrival, that the situation was too
grave to allow Of any awkwardness be-
tween them They were standing k.re
To face with their whole future. and
their hands now elasped in them the
possibilities of their lives.
- do not know how to answer Won.
Miss Cuthbert,' ne said at lenDth:
unless it can he an answer to tell YOU
that life will be easier tolme than had
expected tito be mtilmow that | have
seen YOU again. and heard YOU speak
these words. They will enable me TO
remember You only as Lucy"
That wll suffice. aud | thank Won.
i wish youto femenber me a. Luck.
and that i why | am going to ask YOU
nov Co permit me To show YOU how /
came Ia make the the mistake.''
She gently withdrew her hand: there
had been no pressure ON his part or
hers. On ringing the bell. Mrs. O Bryan
appeared.
You may tell him to come now,
mother" l...s.. . .,
IL
prscnty the hapdla ,of de door WINS
lg ,I lhsElatiIt7iy, ,apd Teddy. the
fallcni his red hair. which used 20 be-
like 4 tangled mop, lay close and lank
on his hea'l. rs II he had Just come out
Qfg water-butt; his complexion was
sa4iow. and he had the manner Of one
who Is psniient against His will.
f'Come. Tcddyfl said bis foster-sis-
ter. kindly taking him by the arm: ..you
Sro to remefnbgr yoafr promia, to me.
and you are To tell Mr.. Claiborne how
10 all-haPPenesi.-- lie wiII-Bot a-.s you Ia
say much" :
WIN that she bowed TO Maurice and
returned a. the inner roanl. Al the
brown curtains cIosed kSlfiud her.
Maurice felt rs II the place had become
dark. -
Come Teddy. what is il YOU have 10
tel nlePP he inquired. presently.
Teddytmoved his shoulders as IL Civ
ing physical expression to an "UghH of
disgust with himself.
That letter" he muttered between
his clehched teeth. and in n tone that
was half sNlSy. half savage, yet indie
ative Of pain Of some sort.
What letter."
Teddy groaned and swayed his body
Ike one in q nightmare struggling TO
get frs0. % JS99I6G b.
OF The bne YOU wrote to-hcr. The
one You sent after leaving us-the one
she oughEto have lot. y, .q..t.n
"w6slSs FO6l iadsps id BE mot
receive the letter."
:. &c s1rQd 4 IL.
HI|g6t'it2bdt she 'dfdfrt.. and that's
IL. II. l. q -