Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-21


batron. DR. Grey first met Edgar Harrington
We fell In love with each other at first sight
About two months before my tale Commences
Mr. Harrington had come from the south of
England to Leascar as assistant engineer to the
new line Of railway in process Of construction
along the coast rival line to that which
already connected our small seaside village with
the large commercial city of N
i. Leonie Sylyestre. was at this time nineteen.
My mother-an Englishwoman--died at my
brth- Ny father-a French professor Of music,
many years resident in Leascar-bad been dead
about twelve months; aud /. having a good
voice and considerable knowledge of music
maintained myself by giving lessons to the prn-
cipai Inhabitants of this small northeast coast
waterng-pIace. / ha ed teaching. however and
lacked patience for the drudgery entailed:
therefore when Hr. Harrington asked me to
become his WIFE even had i loved him less |
believe eoul'' have married him.
'Miss SylveStrcl LeOne' | must walk home
with you tonight" Mr.. Harrington whispered,
as he turned the page Of my music on one mem
Orabe evening at a whist and musical party
given by Or. Grey.
HIS tone and looks caused my heart TO beat
loud with hope, for they told me more plainly
than his words had ever done-he loved me.
Making. therefore, some excuse to my usual es-
cort from these weekly gatherings dismissed
her. Edgar and | walked alone together for
almost the first time in our lives.
'IeOne, do you love me? Do Won love me well
enough to follow me to the worlds end?' he
asked In an a@itated voice, the moment we were
outside Or. GTey's gate.
Must I-fouo,c you?" And a wave of gladness
swept over as raised my eyes to his in the
November moonlight.
NO. my darling" was his answer Ego with
me. should have said Aud YOU will read
1t in your face. God bless you for that Yester-
day dared not have asked you such question,
fnri hon,
poets have frightened. | received a letter this
morning offering me an appointment in India
which will make q rich man of me. But if |
accept the post. | am bound in honor to leave
England on "Wednesday next. Will yOu-can
yOu-trust your LIES happiness To my keeping?"
answered at my hearts dictation, Yes"
Then Edgar gave me to understand that he
had no relations in the world. and we rrioiced
mutually that we were thus completely arbiters
OF our own fate No one had q right to mar
our plans.
"A clever. rising young fellow in his profess
sion, doubtless, said Dr. Grey to me- when he
had heartily congratulated me on my engage
ment land gentleman all over. But lie has
no head for ,chiSt'
Whist being the doctors fayOrite recreation
he was accustomed to make it rather a test
point of a mans ability. My answer was inevi-
table
Il 90 not care for whist, doctor"
And you do care for Edgar Harrington?
Then marry him and be happy. / make only
one proyiso, and that is. must myself give the
bride awayl"
Little enough time was there. for preparation.
but Edgar undertook TO make all necessary
arrangements even to the ordering of NV India
OUTFIT. which was to be Ready on our arrival in
London.
On Saturday said my last good-by to my
1oycr-so soon - he my htlSband-when he told
me it would btHHp0Ss BILE 10 see re again until
we met in church on Monday morning; but the
certainty that on Monday We two were to be
made enc forever caused me II think lightly of
the few hours separation.
Lightly: All, how little did dream of the
terrible catastrophe destined to happen in that
Interim,
As it will be necessary later in my story for
you 70 have some idea of Ed@ar's personal ap-
peaTance. / viii 6ndeivor to describe him here
In figure slight and agile, l.e was rather under
than above medium height: his complexion q
Clear olive, with eyes that were deep-set dark
expressive and 8 nose in Outiinealmost Grecian
A heavy, dropping. dark must3che entirely Con-
cea cd his mouth His manner naturally. re-
firing. in company almost approached styness;
but III ali times he had quiet way of deferrinr
to the OPP Mons or pre- ud ceS of those with whom
he talked which showed itself in strong contrast
to the rougher. more rugged manners OF the
nOrti-countTy men.
rose early on Monday mOrnnG-long before
day highland Was ready in my travelling dress
when Dr.. Grey called for me in his Carriage I
remember leaning ON his arm az | walk cd nm
Der seeing. as III Dream i'm the early and still
misty morning light, solitary figure standing
Just outside the altar rails. next whom | took
my place. The service at once commenced and
proceeded to the close
Will any married woman who has read thus
lar try and remember if, during the ceremony. !
she looked at the face OF the man to whom she
was being united? believe most women would
Tell nic they never raised their eyes Anvbow
this my case. The ring was ON nv ipoer
the blessing given; | was led to the yestry on
the trdeSrOom> arm. 4 tiIaepiece Ginning "a
We entered gave warning that it was later than
We expected. DIR. Grey juCularly hurried lis
forward to sign our names.
Edgar wrote his and placed the pen between
my fingers After writing my old signature for
the last time looked'up al my husband. then
Stared bewI,cT.' startled iit the Change saw
In h:G. At the first glance | scarcely recOp-
niZcd him. the i,,wer part of his face being com
pictciy altered His dark NOUS; ache-the adj
mireti0n of all the girls in I.eascar-had dsap-
IeeTed.
deep flush spread Itself over his connie
name" as his eyes met mine. He bit his under
lip AMI looked ay.
" hen the last farcwci;s TO the few kind
irienGS who "a" u OF 1t t.rascar station had
been spoken and the tI...a had started for
N. ;in uncomfortable i.,..s;I" of embarrass-
ment trept over NE cn finding myself alone with
Edgar- lie wcnj have taken MY hand but in
voluntarily dr'v back: tam seeing his look
OF cia@rinej su:pii-v- altered him to kiss
nav ''ii touiu i''t Itii'-~ u sight Si4Yer he
did
:. "i'y do you shrink from me- Leonie;" he
ASKED reprOach'u:iy-
Tor the sil!rst reason in the world when put
Into words, answered quite happy and laugh
ing now, With sudden strange revulsion
"ohi! because the nan promised to marry
had II mu-tacne. and you have none What
uhi'''>''i'iii2, ic"'>i creatures are. But it
changes yotf face 30 completely that hardly
knew YOU
Il "u are quite sure you have 10 ether rea-
son: he Inquired, with more earnestness an
par"itiy than the question needed
quite sure. What other reason could haye2
But YOU had no right to make such change In
your appearance without my leave Edgar-the
very sIay Of our marriage. Why did YOU do it?"
asked piayfuiiy; all the time looking at him in
tently. and trying TO learn his face over again.
AND. a. II were. get used to il.
Il "iii tell ms darling all about 1t some day
when sc are Ear away upon the sea- Would we
wel" There now" he added iervently And |
noticed that his lips trembled nervousiy after he
had spoken.
H. less than half an hour we reached "
Ihcic We had i'aiely time to take our seats in
tHc 40 - ci0ch express for London II was NOT