New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-16
CHAPTER XIV.
A TERRIBLE BLOW.

TERRIBLE BLOW.
AS we'll as can remember had been about two
months absent from London when returned to it;
though. when entered my rooms. and looked about
me- and thought of the day when my uncle drove
ND. and introduced himself, and gave me that in
yitaton to Clifton which had ruined my peace of
mind--av as completely as if / had committed a
forgery or set fire to a chuch-it seemed that n
year, and a very long one, too. had elapsed since
then But had not been in town couple of days
before discovered that should have enjoyed
easier mind had stopped in Bristol had hoped
to find the time bowl along; l reckoned upon get
ting some amusements out of my old town habits
and returning to my courtshp the fresher for the
change But mistook. London l found so inspid
that positive loathng for it came over ne. My
club was bore, and the gossip of the men there
their cheap talk about the actress Jenkns's
last novel the quarrel between the two O. C.s. and
the like-mere impertnence, fiat, fatuent and
rank The tragedan whom formerly had cOnSid-
cred great artist found now TO he poor, mouth
ing impostor a sham made mp of HAIR and gaSpS,
and remember wishing had him at sea when his
yawlng drove away before the end Of the first
act.
The truth is, ought to have stopped at Bristol.
In London was peevish, irritable, moody, nothing
was cougenial; there was no one whose arm could
fake and to whom could pour out MY heart felt
the solitude QtScIlDtu Nci4 III Sp''tN' VI
q man being alone in crowds, and again and again
called myself an ass for not sticking to the country,
where | could have gone musing over fell and
food. At Bristol had Sophie; there was Clifton
Lodge TO look at there were spots full of lovely
memories. But London! 1t was all showing ana
elbowinp i'm the streets, not even a shOp-wndow
that could fix upon as having been cOnscrrattd by
Florence's gaze and nothing but her adorable like
ness to console me. However. since had como 10
London made mp my mind to stop until should
hear of my darlings arrival 1T Bristol, as dld not
want my relations to tIhk me- capIlciu"S qua hl-
stable by returning, and 50 making myself ont as
not knowing what 70 be at Meanwhile. wrote to
Sophie pretty nearly every other day, venting my
sell in such style that have no doubt were now
10 see INV letters to her should feel very heartily
ashamed Of myself. She always answered me pune
tually, aud somehow always managed 10 uake out
a long letter. though the dear girl lad very Little
news to give me; bat her sympathy Was delightful
and she cOntrived to apologize Tor Florence not
writing to her from Scotland, so artlully-Shc m
vented so many able excuses lot iuS sWeeinealt
silenee-that for pretty good spell OF tine do not
recoect very kecnly feeling the disappointment oil
opening her letters and finding no second lholosnie
She might be ILL., Sophie would suggest, or, perhaps
she had made up her mind not 10 write until she
could see her way TO receive reply unknown to her
papa who of course, not likely TO sanction any
correspondence between Der and the Misses sly
mour; or she might he under Kind oil restraint
Through Aunt DaInars's vigilance.
Well Souhio's excuses for Florence satisfied me-
as have said, for "a time; but when letter alter
letter arrived from my cousin without word from
my darling my sOul grew very gIlc'ouNly worried
Her waiting " in order 10 sec her way to receive q
reply unknown 10 her papa" would not 40 II ald
not satisfy me. She might write any way, and II
She could not get Sophc's answer without the rlSk
OF her father plunplng upon II, thc let heI request
my cousin not To address letter 10 her. Was Aunt
D3mar, prcvailIngf Was young Morccombc with
her aud gathering hcad"ayf Was absence, instead
OF making the heart grow Iohl'I' n"nP tnG otl"I
thingf arrived AT such pass that would some
times say TO myself. Jack. You TOOL, IT ~ al up
your dream is over. NY lad. THIS Is your first love
aftair--you see what IL has come to. The girl was
never ia earnest; she enjoyed yonr being 80 and
helped YOU to SINK because all women IKE adInrd-
ton, and there's no tlatteiy IKE mans love.
That's real; words may mean any thing; but loves
a fact, something TO lean against, something 10
catch hold of What will you do now T. l wrhc
Ight-lcartedly OF that time; but as u BIT oi living
experience did this for me, II filled c Tor the rest
Ot nay life with compassion f0r man or woman VINO
loves honestly aud Is deGeEcd Irio arr u,,llS
human troubles over which the world makes merry,
and disappointed love is among them; IOf tia'' per
haps We have to thank the old comedy WTllcfS ana
our latterday cynics. who are somewhat sensitive
IN their way too, though very bitter; pnt dGpnu9
upon it, mates young generous, atecti0nat' Icilr'
deceived IN IT'S first love 50 suffers 10 70 DC inVun
fui sight. Other loves may follow; the first wound
may be healed, the scar citaced; but WINE 'lilt
wound is fresh the torment is sharp enough To make
even monkey who shall witness 1t l"nSiVci ana
would as soon think Of jecrDg at the nlpplng
and blasting OF the first pure bud put forth by hui
man afectiOn-and God pity the man or woman
whose first is not pure--as Of ridcHling person
praying, or laughing at mother weeping over her
However had not TO wait over long before
coming 10 an answer TO my question, what Will ycu
do now 7 for one mOrnDg-and tins made the time
very nearly month since Florence Hawke bad
gone 10 sc0tland-tleTe came a letter from Sophie,
the bukiest / had ever had from her and when i
opened il found four pages of crossed handwriting
from Florence with half a dozen Of lines from my
cousin who struck 50 dismal a note in the very lit
Tie she said that am able to recall every syllable
Of it, from the memory OF the CONSERVATION 1t raised
In me.
any POOR DEAR JAcK,"-she began; think OF
that poor dear Jack =" IL is with deep sorrow j
Bend you Florence's letter. l fear it will greatly
affect you, because nobody knows 30 well As | how
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