Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-18

forever, leaving you. You win feel vexed then,
Alison. at having made your intimacy with him
80 conspicuous"
che win not be leaving" she retorted. .when
he does leave 1t will only be to come back
again"
Her companion shook bis head. mo. that IA
not likely. Yesterday, Mr.. Tarbey called at the
farm; IN talking with my father he mentioned
incidentally That young Vavasour was only to
be with him this one term. The fellow may not
have anything especially bad in him; should
not wish to imply that; but he Is idle and heart
less, and, In pretending to make love to you,
you"
How dare you say he is making love to
me?"
81 say he is pretending to do it. Alison, YOU
must know it to be so-if you would but speak
the candid TRUTH
Every well, then! Pray, what If he Isl"
only this. That you cannot continue to listen
one or the other Of us, Alison, from this night.
You must choose between u.s."
rising.
do you mean it," asked Mr.. watkyn, rising
The girl did not answer. Her chest was heay-
Ing with agitation; Thomas Watkyns gray eyes
took tender light as they gazed at the pretty,
changing, uncertain face"
"AiisoD. he said, and his voice was wonder
COLsiucTdte, II nave Known you from
childhood; have loved you all your lfe
Twelve months ago there arose an understand
ing between US that you would be my wife :;
until recently never supposed that you could
nave any other thought. But you have filed
my breast with cruel fears; tortured it, my dear,
and cannot bear them longer. You must be
to me what you used to be, or give me up"
Alisons eyes grew sullen. Why could not
this Tom Watkyn let her alone? She did not
altogether want to break with him. What harm
was she doing in talking to Reginald vavasour?
Reginald was ten times the gentleman that he
was!-and his voice had sweet, soft lisp!-
and he wore diamond ring on his white hand |!
"Oh, my dear-my best and dearest-give up
this folly Let things be with US as they used
to be! Don't you care for me?'
contrary spirit, conscious all the while OF a
latent wish that Mr.. Vavasour had been buried
Nor e ~ >'' WIG p'''e'
5, Then lei. you decline to marry me, Alisons You
have not loved me as 1 love you!"
The sad, passionate fervor, nearly scared her
breath away the heartfelt sorrow, all too plain,
touched her with qualm. But she was In an
obstinate mood.
'.Mr yayasour does not hurt you. I wonder
you should concern yourself with him.
mo trif1ing," sternly spoke Thomas Watkyn
81 tell you it must be him or me-"
She would not answer.
vii you, give him up, Alison, from this
mo" What inward spirit Of evil prompted
her to speak that short, sullen word Alison
never knew; But it was spoken.
For long afterward the pain and pathos in
those two short words haunted her like wall
from the grave. Thomas stood before her. calm
and self-possessed.
will never trouble you again, Alison, he
said; quietly. "WiIl you kiss me once-ere we
say farewell forever? 2"
She felt awed at the sternness, the reality that
was stealing upon their interview, and trem-
bled at the thought Of losing him. But she did
not believe it would come to that in the end,
and she was too proud and willful to take back
her answer unsolicited.
s with n playful si air half sauc half defiant
kissed her with long, lingering kiss, such as
we give the dead. 81 O'''s.i'@ = -
"Good-by," he said huskily. He strobe away.
leaving her standing in the glow Of the sunset,
wild, scared look on her young face.
HE will turn back she whispered to her
self Surely-surely for could not bear to
lose him." But Mr.. Watkyn went straight on
to the gate.
Thomas" she called out. "Thomas!"
He turned then. 'What is it?' he asked
self to him-who knows? She did nothing of
the kind. A moments pause, possibly of indie
csl0n, and then she produced a note from with
in the folds of her frock. 49,. -. -,
MAY ask you to do me o little favor.
Thomas-fOr the last time?'
''What is it?" he repeated
III you would not very much mind going
home by the hill, and would leave this note at
MIS- Miss a Fords particularly wish her to have it
He paused for an instant, not replyinr She
went on hurriedly.
~ see that it is disagreeable to you. have
offended you too much"
Not that" he answered, holding out his
hand TOR the note. But can hardly spare the
time for the long way this evening, as I have to
call at killick's for my father. However, he
said no more. but took the note. -, f..
''Good-by, Thomas" S".-.''ii'i'< "~., 5i'
"Good-by for aye. God be with you." r.
"What a solemn mood he is in the stupid fell
low!" commented she. But am glad he took
the note! shall be safe now"
-, Miss Alison Reece was a clever young lady
The direct and near way to Mr.. Watkyn's home
would lead him past the willow walk She had
devised this fmprOmptu note to her dressmaker
in the afternoon to prevent his taking that
usual route Had he seen young Vayasour cool
ing his heels within the precincts Of the willow
walk he would inevitably suspect he was wait
Ing to keep lovers tryst.
Alison leaned over the gate and watched him
as ne walked away watched him take the lane
that led to the route she had wished, and dis
appear. She stood there until the gold in the
clouds had changed to crimson, the crimson to
purple, that spread itself like royal mantle
over the western nils. White miStS began to
settle on the brooks that but a moment ago had
reflected the gorgeous rays of the setting SUM-
Somehow it seemed to make her shiver, and she
crept up to her own room with strange sense
Of loss at her heart
Mrs. Reece had gone out after tea to sit with
sick neighb0r. and Alison devoutly hoped she
would not be coming home yet, or there might
be difficulty in getting away to keep her ap-
pointment. 1t was nearly time to be starting;
at least, she might as well 60 at once, and then
she should be safe from her mother Putting
ON her hat she ran downstairs and opened the
kitchen door.
Patty, if mamma comes in and asks for me
tell her l am only strOllng about bit this
lovely evening. shall be in directly"
But the loneliness of the evening had gone.
Somewat to AlisOn's surprise the white mist
mad Increased so greatly as to obscure every
thing but itself. "How quickly it has come on"
MI; vavasour was waiting for her, and thew
paced Tor few minutes the willow walk to-
gether But for very few; the young man said
he was pressed for time; he had :heaps" OF
packing to do, not having touched it yet, and
he was going away in the morning.
"GOing away" exclaimed Alison.
Yes and be shot to it," said he. 81 got
letter this morning recalling me home NV
mothers ill. is ordered to Nice, and she wants
q Amy h>~ 49, T.