The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-11-01

hour she labored to know the cause OF
his gloom. "Because-I could no longer
expect you to love me as love you"
His doubtful, weary hesitating tone
reused every atom of her hot, rebelllous
spirit; like lightnings flash the open
ing words rose to her lips, exasperated,
suspected, Inundated, stung to the
quick-hurt at the injustice after suoh
loyal tenderness on her part, her ready
tears almost falling, as she spoke:
II don't care" she sobbed, rs face
downward on the sofa she lay and wept
till every fibre of her tender little body
ached with sadness and fatigue. "I1l
never try again. she resolved, che
ought to know-Oh! he wrongs me 80.
But he'll come soon, tomorrow, per-
haps," she decided, as she braided her
satin smooth locks before the glass that
night in her own room, and thought,
with an unsatisfied ache in her heart, of
the sad face that went away from her,
the pale lips that took no farewell kiss
from her own-a balm for their life lone
illness, the dark, saddened eyes that even
now seemed to look with reproacbful
usefulness at her. Dear fellow" she
sighed, II can't help but love him
though he is SO trying. I was not pa
tent enough; but" A rosy flush dyed
the fair face; the eyes softened marvel
ously. she was thinking-her soliloquy
was too sacred even to be spoken-of
how she would steal fond arms about his
neck, and how her first kiss would dis
arm his brooding jealousy and bring that
rare, half-sad smile to his lips.
Days passed, no signs of Andrew Carl
eton; like q shadow he had vanished.
Two months, three, and winter, with
its storms, with its merry round OF pleas
ure, was once more with the young peo-
pie of Marshalltown, and right royalty
| they feasted and feted the hayward
monarch.
Repentant, sorrowful Lucie, with at
times wounded, indignant sparkle in
the soft eyes, and q surprise culver to
the white lips that hurt you. went her
way one of the gay circle, ever incom-
plete without her bright face.
There was a discordant chord in the
ripping laugh, gravity over the hither.
to happy countenance and always the ST.
lent, secret feeling of injustice; of graft
tude for purest kindness; hardesS of all
heart burdens to bear, and the haunting
remembrance of the sad face as itlooked
at her for the last time, when sometimes,
despite herself, her whole womanly heart
cried out for the man who had seemingly
so basely returned her kindness. When
her tears rose unbidden and her soul
clamored for the sheltering heart and
arms that had so cherished her, so valued
her every gift of love and loyalty, "for l
do know he loved me, for the time"
reasoned Lucie, choking back her tears
and trying to forget, "but why" then
her eyes would wander to the costly ring
that she had twice. tried to remove, and
her face would again resume its troubled
look of wonder and saddened ques-
tioning.
Il will take it off now" Lucie was
preparing for May Harrington's birth
night party. Her evening dress was of
pale nuns yelling, white. rare, yellow
lace, Roman pearls worn high about the
slender white neck, the dainty feet in
their pink silk stockings and white slip
pers, blush roses clustered in the low
corsage and belt, and low in the Grecian
knotted hair with its careless rings on
the white forehead, and pearl bandeau
and comb on the small, graceful head.
II do look WE'LL" she sighed, turning
away from the mirror. Colonel STRAIT
ton will be proud. Oh, Andrew, if it
were you, dear; how could you be SO
cruel?"
She picked up the long white kids as
she spoke and passed down stairs. II
will wait below" she mused; button
them-shall r. She laid her hand upon
the diamond betrothal ring that had
never left her finger. but a vision of
place transformed with its own Joy rose
before her. A remembrance swept over
her Of the passionate arms that drew her
into close embrace and pair of eager
lips seeking her own, voice whisper
ing, Don't, darling, don't hide your
sweet lips; I love them so, let me bay my
souls peace with kisses, my own prom
ised." The memory was too tender;
quick tears blinded her eyes. II will
/ not take it Fl, she decided, HE placed
it there; false or true, let it remain"
"a gentleman, Miss Lucie, below to
see you" The new servant brought up
the message.
Colonel Stratton. I will go down.
Bring my white rubber overshoes into
the hall, Mary" directed Lucie, and
went down the stairs with her society
smile on her lips, bitter ache in her
heart.
A tall man, white as death could ever
make him, rose from the depths of an
easy chair and came forward.
"Lucie," he said.
| Only y word. but with . wild sob, she
sprang forward.