Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-03

losing his head.
4" But he was, declares the child indig.
nantly, regarding him with sudden ac-
cession of disfavor. Mamma says So"
"Mamma !"
"Yes, mamma-and she knogs. You
knew him too, j" says the little one, with all
a child's singular astuteness. Tell me
about him was he big ?-tall?"
She has forgotten her anger of a moment
since, and is now gazing at him with one
OF her sweetest smiles.
Yes" Gays the General.
And with gray hair like yours - strok-
ing his grizzly locks.
''Yes, just like mine. He was old, too, -
says the General. with touch of i'll sup.
pressed bitterness.
HAD ne nice eyes like yours ?"
Every like mine, my angel" And then
the child tightens her arms about him, and
entreats him TO come home with her to her
own house, and she will show him her
pretty garden, and her ducks, and her lit
tie soft yellow chicks, and the rose that has
bioomed upon her own tree.
But the General declares he cannot come
to.day-s9m other time. He breaks off
| abruptly in the middle of a sentence and
bends his head upon his breast. Growing
| frightened, the little one tries to raise il,
and she sees that tears ara running down
the Generals cheeks, and that he is crying.
To-day, as usual, Mrs. Stamer is sitting
in her huge rocking chair, waiting her big
fan to and fro. Her lids have dropped
slightly over her eyes in true drowsy fash
ion the action OF her wrist grows Ian.
| uH Sill e
noon as sultry and free from air of any kind
as one living for years in the far East can
possibly desire.
Yet there is faint curve about her per-
feet lips that is hardly happy, touch of
pallor in her soft cheeks that suggest mourn
| ful, nay, even hateful, thought.
General StYne, says servant opening
the door, suddenly, SO detaching her from
painful past as to bring her to yet more
painful present-to judge by the cloud that
covers her fair face.
But the servants eye is on her, and so
she forces herself to raise, and bow coldly
to her visitor and say how dye do" as
quietly as if the heart in her body is not
beating wildly, madly with surprise and
indignation, and something else, perhaps
Then the servant vanishes and as he
does go her enforced courtesy vanishes too,
and with passionate contempt and anger
she turns to the General.
"You And here, she says. It is as
if she would gladly have said much more,
but that her strength is insuficientfor her.
She is literally consumed by the emotion
that is making her bosom rise and fall tu-
multuously.
81 couldn't help it, says the General.
1t is perfectly pueriie excuse, and at the
least very humble-so humble that it would
have disarmed most womens anger. I'm
happily it has only the effect of increasing
Mrs. Stamer's.
"That you should dare to seek me, she
says with little gasp, ito even look upon
my face again; to"
cit was that that brought me, inter-
rupts he, eagerly. So eagerly that, for
moment, he appears almost young man.
'fTo look upon your face oncs more-for
the last time, perhaps. That l am uu-
worthy to do it, l know but l risked ev-
erything, even your anger. 1t was an
overpowering desire; could not conquer
it." He speaks somewhat incoherently,
and when his voice fails him there is
pause.
"Now that you have gratifed your de-
sire, l shall be glad if you CO." says Mrs.
Stamer, drawing her breath in somewhat
labored fashion. She is standing always
and has one hand upon chair near her, as
though to steady herself. Her face is white
as death, her eyes are all sfire.
Audrey Have you forgotten all ?"
cries he, in anguish 6 all our happy past
you used to say you were happy then.
Must my one crime be as a curse upon my
whole life? Is pardon impossible? p
"Qaite impossible ?"
"Could you not try to forgiven"
"For what?" she asks sternly. "To
love sgain-to be again undone? No l
have wisdom now, where had only child
ish trust before. Unheard, you condemned
me. Another's voice, the voice of CON-
mon slanderer, was more precious in your
ears than mine. You believed me false to
you-false How can l forgive, or forget
that? You have sown-you now reap ;
and all is at an end between us.
"Even memory ?" asks he, despairingly.
Are there no hours you can look back
upon and wish"
81 never look back" cries she vehe.
mently, putting up her hand as though to
ward off some fatal blow. Never l
will not
She is strangely agitated. She betraYs
forced determination not TO be won over
by any argument, however speoious.
If, then, for the future am to be
nothing to you" says the General, in q
low tone that he strives hard to reduce 20 |
calmntss, "t tell me-what of the child 2"
At this terrible fear takes possession of
her. Her lips part, but no sound comes
from them. She looks at him with dumb
entrea5y in her beautiful eyes that amounts |
almost to agony.
viii he take the child from her? Has
he the power to do so? VIII he cruelty |
deprive her of the little creature who has
been TO her for years as her very hearts
blood Must she live without the sweet |
companionship that has grown necessary
TO her, the fond baby kisses that have rem
dered her sad life not only bearable but |
almost to be desired.
You will not take the child from me !" |
she says in dying tone. Her face grows
absolutely gray with fear-involuntarily |
she lays her hand upon her throat, as one |
might who is in danger of suffocation.
No, no, 30, Gays the General, yehe.
mently, her evident distrust of him caus-
ing him even keener anguish than what has !
gone before. 1.-The child is yours sur
render all claim, no matter what it costs
me. owe you so much. Twill do moth
ing to wound you. You have suffered |
enough at my hands already. shall do |
whatever you wish ii the future. 1t |
rests in your own hands. If you tell me
to go row, I shall obey you"
Then co. exelaims she, and his facs
changes peroeptibly.
And il you tell me never to return-if |
you think that viii be for your happiness" I
mis- voice trembles, you shall be obeyed p
Though he has forced himself to utter the
words, they are almost unintelligibls. Is |
she merciless, or has she indeed lest all !
love for him? Has his one act of unfaith |
destroyed forever the hold he once had |
upon her heart?
81 It viii be better so, she says, her tone
uncertain. She has risen 20 her feet, and |
is staring st him with yearning eyes. Is |
this indeed to be the end I? Is she, by two
S- threa rror5s 10 hin Fo,.,,ar F-o---