Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-10-04

claimed, oh, Hugo, it cannot be
possible that you are to leave me so
soon"
I dreaded telling you of my de-
parture until could delay no longer,
Victorine, My heart aches at the
thought of leaving you; but | must
be in Paris tomorrow. Business OF
Importance calls me there. Give me
your good wishes before I go. | shall
think of you as ! journey forward to-
night, and picture yon in sleeping
here, undisturbed by battle and car
mage.
She did not speak With both
hands clasped over her heart she
stood like Il beautiful statue before
him, her eyes staring straight before
her, and her breath coming i'll short,
quick gasps
Must I leave you in silence, then,
Victorine: Will You not speak a
single word of farewell o asked Hugo,
as he took in warm, close clasp one
OF her cold, nervelcss hands.
Still she did not speak.
you are angry, perhaps, and per-
haps You have cause for anger, q
quick sigh escaping his lips.
Good bye, she said, hoarsely, her
face ayerted from his earnest gaze.
Only a single word, Fictorlns
Can you part with me so coldly after
all these long weeks we have been
together? All. | see that YOU really
care little whether go or stay. And
II shall never forget you, Victor
inc. or the tenderness with which you
nurscd me back to health again, |
remember what Il vision Of loveincss
YOU seemed to me when | opened my
eyes and saw you bcrcihg over me. |
blessed my good fortune in having
been found after my fall by your
father. Surely no other father and
daughter could have been so Kind --
| Nowhere else could | have been
nurs.d so tcnderlv. And after ten
weeks Of intimate companonsmT
YOU bid me goodbye as you would i
stranger Of yesterday,
Still shc did not move or speak
and the hand he held remained an
responsive 10 his clasp,
You may never see me again, Vic
torinc, he continued, Our paths lie
far apart, Let me hear you say that
YOU do not regret having known
me-
WHY should I regret it% sh'
asked, turning suddenly and facing
him, You have been here ten weeks
hut in that time YOU have told us
no,hing Of yourself save that your
name is Hugo L4scelles, You say
We have been kind to You, bnt you
have not rewarded our kindness by
giving rs yoar conf jence, DO you
think ! owe you lasting remem-
branre? Do you think that yon de
serve that | should carry your image
here LAYING her hand on her heart
The young man appeared to hcsl-
tate. then he said, slowly:
1T is as we'll, perhaps, that You
should forget me. Forgive me if my
rcticeuce has wounded you, dare
not attempt any justification. But it
grows late, Farewell, Nictorine,-
When the sun rises tomorrow ! Will
be far on my road to Paris,
Farewell she sad. coldly,
She heard him turn and walk
away; but she made no effort to re
call him, She stood where he had
left her, client, motionless, her head
bert forward on her breast; the long,
silkcn fringcs resting on her pale
checks,
1t was only when the sound Of his
footsteps had died away that she
raised her head and looked about
her,
Hugo Hugo She breathed the
words rather than spoke them,-
Gone gone! never in this life shall
we meet again y
She went into the cabin and lighted
candle, AS she did so she per
ceived il sheet Of paper lying open on
the table, She picked it up, and
found upon it few lines from her
father,
81 have gone away, and cannot