Morris tribune., 1883-03-17

1 puffed into the air. She sang the sons
through; at the end, whether by accident
or by intention, do not know, the glass
fell crashing to the ground.
"Bravol hravol'' said her companion
"Excellently well sungl But you have
lost your wine."
He pushed his own glass toward her as be
! spoke. She took no notice of it. but
dropping into her chair, sat with her ell.
bows on the table, her chin propped on
her hands, gazing before her into Vacan-
| cy.
do you know what / should like bet.
ter than anything in the wortd?" she said,
suddenly turning to hsr companion.
WHAT" he answered.
"To go once, only just once to box
at the opera"
well, l will take YOU" he said.
you will2" she cried eagerly. "Oh
| when?"
Tomorrow night"
She sprang, to her feet again, clsppIng
| her hands, Tomorrow night do you
mean really tomorrow night"
Certainly mean it," he said: l will
| take box tomorrow, and call for you in
! the evening"
She stood locking at him, her hands
clasped as though in ecstasy. All at once a
shade stole over her face.
This Dress she said looking down at it
lis the only one have"
ooh, it will do we'll enough" be answered
carelessly; put flower in your hair. You
always look charming, you know"
"But l want to go to large box" she
| said, her eyes widening little as with anx-
iety, Sin the centre ofthe house, where can
see every one and be SEEN"
Eyes, yes, ] understand; but you will do
| very well. You can put a rose in your
hair" ...s
1.-The dead rose, she said with lalx.h.
What do you mean" lie said, frowning
| a little.
"Oh, nothing" she answered, "see, here
is some one come to speak to you
She turned quickly round as she spoke the
last words, and stood with her back to him,
| her hand pressed tightly on her heart The
little ina maid had approached once more
| to tell the gentleman that his horse and SER
want had arrived and were waiting.
Il must CO." she said with a certain alac.
rity. He paid the bill that the maid had
| brought, and rose.
"You don't mind staying here alone till
the train goes?' he said as he buttoned up
his coat and lew on his gloves.
OF in fhn loaS oh int haI D.l,
answered; cit is only half an hour, you
know"
Then, will be off at once l have no
time to lose."
He took his hat but still fingered a mo-
ment as though he hesitated to say some
final word. 1t was she who spoke it.
It'll tomorrow evening, then" she cried
in her clear childish voice. "You will call
for me2"
Eyes, yes; that is it, he said with an air
of relief, and putting on his hat. Il will
call tol you"
They walk up the path together-she with
her springing steps at his side. About half
way up the garden she paused, and without
any formal farewell apparently, allowed him
to go on alone while she stood one hand
shading her eyes, the other pressed on her
| heart, in way that seemed habitual with
her. He walked on up to the inn, but be-
fore entering it turned and looked back. In
stantly the girl started from her attitude,
waving and kissing both hands in sort of
Joyous adieu, till he had turned again and
passed out of sight. One minute longer she
stood, while sound of horses hoofs could
be heard retreating up the lane, fainter and
fainter in the distance. Then she turned
gropingly, as though blinded by the SUM-
light, she made her way to the table again,
and fell back in a chair as though she had
been shot.
thought she had swooned, SO colorless
was her face, so motionless her closed eye
lids and loose, hanging hands. went up
to her, and raised her head, which had fallen
back against the wooden frame work of the
berceau. She had not tainted, for she reused
herself at the touch and sat up, leaning for,
ward, her head dropping little, her arms
straight and rigid, her hands tightly clasped,
like one insa paroxysm of anguish.
ooh, can't bear it can't bear it" she
as if the words were wrung from her.
"You are suffering. Can help your" I
aid, trying to take one of her cold hands in
mine. But she resisted the attempt though
believe she was hardly conscious of my
presence.
"Oh, can't bear it" she repeated with
groan. She sat motionless for moment
gazing before her with blank eyes. Sudden
ly she started to her feet and stood with her
face turned toward the inn. Her lips moved,
but no words were audible. She made a
step or two forward in the direction of the
house. but her strength failed. She caught
at the table to support herself, and sank
back again in the chair in the same death
palor as before Unable to guess the cause
of her misery, could yet divine by the re-
action now, by this utter prostration what
the last hour had cost her. The wine still
stood on the table. I poured out glass
and held it to her lips. She tasted it, then
sat up and drank it eagerly. 1t revived her
if only to keener anguish; it gave her the
power and the will to speak.
II never wished him goodbye" she said
in heart-broken accents. II might have
said one word, and now it is too late.
shall never see him again."
She wrung her hands as in bitter regret or
self reproach. No one could see fellow
creature held by such mortal anguish as
hers without striving to find the clue to it.
"Who is it you will never see again?"
said. mot your friend who has just now
left your Is he not to take you to the opers
tomorrow night"
"Oh, the ope'a-" she said, clasping and
unclasping her fingers. HE was SO anxious
to deceive me, he forgot. There is no opera
now"
1t was true though also had forgotten it.
There was no opera at that season. In a
moment she began to speak again, rapidly
and excitedly.
HE thought to deceive me, but deceived
him." she said. He would never have
gu ssed that knew. He would have hated
me if l had made scene. He used to like
me, he said, because l was always bright;
and he will always remember me bright. l