Daily Republican., 1884-05-23

1--WE must not part" she cried. "Il
know am poor and humble, you are
far above me, but II we love each
other, Dudley, what can that matter?
| cannot-wili not give you up. Oh,
do rot leave me I shall die. dic
Dudley looked down into her lumi-
mons ewes with wonder. That this girl
loved him he had long known, but
this wild, desperate passion was reVe'
lation to him it made his own lovee|
shrink into insigniticance-this mao
affection that would leap over everv
obstacle, make every sacrifice, ana end
only when life ended.
His hand fell caressingly on the rip
pling hair. ~
"My poor child" he murmured 81
did not dream of this y
"You will not leave me p she en-
treated.
"It is nv duty" he answered sadly.
" Forgive me, should have told you
long ago."
But she scarcely heard him. Her
arms fell at her side, and her head
ldrooped in the very abandon OF de-
spair.
nerveless.
"Norma, goodbye" be said gently.
She raised her head, and the look OF
horror and despair on the white, young
face haunted him long after that sum
mer day had ,ecoms dim memory.
"Good bye" he said again.
"Good.bye," she answered mechani'
cally.
| He would have kissed her again, but
something in that white face awed him,
and he went away with a last look at
the slight, girlish figure as 1t stood there
alone on the cliff, still and unmoving,
with its face turned toward the rip
|pling, sunlit bay.
"It was for the best, Dudley thought
as he hastened away. "She Is but
child she will forget"
But he found little consolation In the
thought. His conscience smote him for
1.-THE wrong he had done, and for the
first time he realized his own selfish
ness.
That evening, while music snrged
upon the air and rose above the mur
|muring OF the waters, while gay
dancers thronged the brilliant parlors,
and the lights glittered upon fair faces
and cleaning jewels, Mrs. Warner
drew her son to secluded corner of the
wide piazza, almost deserted at that
time.
In the dim light, neither observed
the presence Of lanother, who stood
close 10 one of the rounded pillars, look
ling out into the darkness with thought
full eyes.
| "Dudley," began his mother. "what
has come between you and George? ?'
"Nothing, mother. Why do you
think 50 2"
"Do not deceive me, Dudley. Geor-
gle Bancroft Is not girl to be triiled
with, nor will she endure slig hts. Who
were you riding with this after
noon ?"
Dudley started, q sudden light dawn
ing upon him.
HSo George is jealous of Norma se!-
den," he said, slowly.
"Not Jealous, that would be absurd
but"
| Dudley interrupted her with a ges-
ture of i'm patience.
"Listen to me, mother" he said.
Though not George Bancroft's equal
in wealth or social standing, she is as
clever and refined, and far more
beautiful. Let me tell you-there need
be no secrets between us-l love Nor
ma Selden -
"That child, Dudley?"
eyes, that child. 1t has been the
desire of your heart to have me marry
George, and you will not be disar'
pointed, do not fear that. have seen
Norma Selden for the last time, but,
believe me, even now she is dearer TO
me than Ge)rgie ever will be. simply
do my duty, but as for love-that has
come and gone forever.
Before Mrs. Warner could reply,
George Bancroft stood before them in
her trailing satin robes, with her face
cleaning white in the semi-darkness,
and her eyes flashing wrathfully.
81 have heard every word," she said,
hoarsely. "You are free, Dudley War
ner, free to WOO and we'd your miserable
beg ar.sweetheart wish you joy OF
your choice"
And then she had gone as suddenly
as she appeared, with her mocking
laugh ringing in her listeners ears.
Mrs. Warner started to follow, but
her son held her back.
"One moment, muther,' he said.
at is all over now. Do not attempt a
reconciliation. You have patched up
!, our quarrels before, but this Is final. y
Left to himself, his sudden shame
, and regret gave way to hope and glad
ness.
He was free now, and the barrier had
fallen between him and his love. 1t
, mattered little that Norma Selden was
/ poor and untutored, she had youth and
Ibeauty, and time would do the rest. He
{, would 90 to her on the morrow, and
: she would forgive him all.
In the early dawn Of bright sum
Al mer day Dudley Warner hastened to
i the home of Selden, the cottager.
RI But the doors were closed, and no
bright face smiled on him from the
rose wr.athed windows. Turning away
in wonder, he glanced involnItarily
toward the winding Cliff road no
. girlish form bounded down the grassy
path to meet him, but beyond, across
the sandy beach, a group OF cottagers
were coming, and the watcher saw a
tiutter of ligh. draperes in their midst.
' Nearer they came, and Dudley War
, ner, chained to the spot by a strange,
. lawful fascination, that held him
motionless and chilled his very blood,
saw, as they approached, their awed,
Mortified faces, and heard their hushed
l voices, but not until they stood in the
cottage garden did he see the burden
they carried in their midst, slender,
? rigid figure with pale, cold face and
trailing dusky hair, damp, dripping,
dead
Motionloss he stood there while they
i passed silently by aud into the little
? cottage, and one of the men, seeing
him, came with quick step and touched
+ his arm.
@ care you a friend of hers ?" he
asked "Poor girl, it has broken hel
o fathers heart. She was his only child,
). and he fairly worshipped her.
al Dudley turned with strained eyes.
). GLOW did it happen ?" he asked
mechanically.