The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-03-05
CHAPTER XVI.
HEACrInN

And with that he was gone.
CHAPTER XVI.
REACTION
He was gone, and to Grace the room
seemed strangely silent and empty. 1t
did not appear as if he had only been
there few brief moments, and had
then disappeared again, but rather as
if he had been there very long time,
and now that he had departed she could
not get accustomed to his absence.
While she bent over the unconscious
Mabelle, and tended her, and sum-
moned her landlady to help her, and
listened to the loud and forcible excla-
nations Of the latter, Grace's thoughts
were wholly occupied with Philip. How
happy! how handsome and eager he
had looked as he came in, so full of
health and prosperity, of hope and joy!
What white dismal change had settled
over his face as he read Angela's letter,
and in those, words OF his, as he burnt
that letter, what a curse there lay!
What trenchant, bitter, uncompromis-
ing contempt! Grace took comfort in
the remembrance; for his looks, words
and gestures had not been those of a
man who would succumb under the
most treacherous blow.
No wonder this poor little girl had
lost consciousness altogether, thought
Grace-she, the unhappy little partici-
pator in the secret, worn and unstrung
by weeks of foreboding and anxiety.
Had not Grace herself, inqocent and
clear OF conscience, felt her cheeks burn
and her heart beat with terror as she
heard him speak, and trembled more at
what he implied than at what he actu-
ally said?
By slow degrees Mabelle regained
consciousness, and when she was fully
restored 10 her senses It filled Grace's
heart with compunction to see the
change which had taken place. Now
that the terror was over, that the storm
had broken, all her Fictitious strength
gave way; the enforced energy which
had sustained her collapsed, and the
languor which oppressed her limbs were
oyerpowering.
HAS he gone? Has Philip gone, or
is he here yet?" she asked with a re-
turn Of her terrified, h1nted look.
"He has gone, child. He will not
return till evening. Lie still and drink
this wine"
Mabelle shook her head, passed her
hand across her forehead, and said,
pressing her head wearily upon the
hard, little sofa pillow:
"No, thank you. My head aches
oh, dreadiully! And am so tired. 1
don't feel very well, and 1 don't think
/ can 90 TO school this afternoon.
$50 to school! | should think not!
You will lie still here, and shall sit be-
side you, and no one will interrupt us.
Yes, Mrs. Livsey, you may bring in din
ner, and set place for Miss Fairfax,
because she will stay with me. "
But she could not prevail upon Ma
belle TO touch food only TO lie still upon
the sofa until Grace had made some
pretense of meal, and then neither
threats nor persuasions would induce
the young girl TO stay a moment longer.
She would 90 into their own lodgings
'and rest, she said.
Grace said firmly that she did not
think her fit to be left alone, and would
90 with her, but this Mabelle also de.
clined; and all Grace could extract
from her was promise that she would
send for her II she should not feel better
in the evening. She watched her out OF
the house-a slight, dropping. broken
looking young figure-and she suddenly
remembered how she had drawn Philip
to the window that Monday morning
after her arrival, and had asked him
who that bright, pretty young girl was
who walked so uprightly. The remem-
brance of that happy morning, and OF
all that had passed since, overpowered
Grace. Flinging herself upon the
couch on which Mabelle had been
lying, she covered her face with her
hands, and wept sore.
Toward six O'Clock came a note from
Philip, dated from the Office.
"DEAREsr GRAoE--I find ] shall not he able
TO come M TO Lawrence street this evening.
They are so excited at having got me back
down here tnat can't get away, ana Grey IN
sIsts upon my going for couple OF days with
him, ana being introduced 10 Lady Elizabeth.
Do YOU remember all about Lady Elizabeth,
and the time OF 0roy's weddingr VIII you
send down by the messenger the smallest OF
my portmanteaus2 j will write you tomorrow
orfhe next day. DO not mention anything oil
what has happened this morning In your
letters home. i shall be there boon, and win
tell my mother myself. tits due 70 her that
.G6od-pye for tho present, dear child ..h
/"