The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-07-18


triumphant way, but far happier than
by any other coming possibility.
She sat smiling at the freight, and
the tears had dried from off her face,
and then she turned to her mother.
HE will never ask me again; he took
as final all said to-day; If | mean to
marry him l must ask him." she said.
So Mrs. Darlington knew that, half
unconsciously, Connie had made up her
mind.
The long evening passed, and he did
not come, and the salon was dull with
out him, though Connie feigned not to
miss him, and made vague limitations
of his favorite music on the organ, and
travesuied his reading aloud by the fire.
And in the morning he did not appear
either, though the world donned her
fairest aspect, and the edelweiss that
he had given Connie day or two be-
fore, to bring her good fortune, raised
its petals afresh, as thought had taken
a new lease of life.
HE is breaking his promise of COM
ing to me. the wicked man." she said to
herself; ''then l must 60 for him, and
bring him here, and make my recanta-
ton"
She put on her little hat, and tied
soft silk scarf round her slender throat;
and then she looked at herself in the
mirror with little interest and pity.
Would they live at the chateau when
they were marriedp she wondered, GO
ing slowly upwards through the gloom
that the pines held always in their en-
brace. Or would he take her to the lit
tie wooden parsonage-house, with its
balconied windows and veranda? For
the first time in her life the thought
that she was something Of an heiress
gave her pleasure. Her money would
tend little to make Henri de la Roche
happy, and it was long since she had
genuinely believed him the best man
under the sun. He was as high above
that other man as the stars; but she
sighed little as she admitted this, per-
haps because she was too earthly to be
entirely sympathetic with star.
"Of course l must tell him every
thing" she thought, advancing slowly,
with bent head. II wonder will he
mind very much-I wonder will he mind
enough to refuse to have me then!"
The idea startled her so that she
stood still moment to think it over.
1t was quite possible that he might
think what she had to tell so sad, not
to say shameful, that he might cease to
lONC lCI DCCdUSC VI ~. w Cii thaO WONid
not be her fault; she meant well, and
she would tell the truth, and the end of
it all was no longer within her power.
She was little saddened, as though
her meditated kindness had been already
rejected, but that thought did not him
der her-indeed, nerved her rather to
the effort that was before her. IF L
tell him l shall try to love him, the
choice will then be with him." she said,
and went slowly forward till she heard
the pebbles on the path above her
crunch beneath descending feet, and
saw shadow fall athwart her passage.
Monsieur, mon anil" She extended
both her hands to him, and stood before
him rosy as the dawn, beautiful as en-
bodied wOmanhood.
Where were you going?"
ITO look for YOU"
II am here" He looked so worn and
haggard that his aspect struck her with
new consciousness of pain.
II came to meet you, because have
many things to tell and ask you," she
said with a gravity that made him
tremble.
about what?"
About you and me, and all you said
"What did 1 sayp Some folly, sup
pose. to make you sorryp"
''Oh, no; something to make me feel
very honored, something to compel a
confidence of mine in return"
She sat down on bowlder that jut-
ted over the pathway as she spoke, and
he dropped at her feet, with his face
resting on his hands and his eyes avert
ed.
If he would not look at her, would not
speak to her, how could she say the
strange thing she had come prepared
with?
II told you once that I had no heart.
Do you remember?"
YES"
"And you did not ask the reasony"
"No; friendship receives condolences,
it never seeks them"
Then you do not care to know any
thing about me?"
Nothing but what you wish to tell. ="
Why did he not help her little? why
did he oblige her so remorselessly to go
on?
Then I wish to tell you was going
to be married once"
Il thought as much"
'The man was-I don't know what
he was, but he suited me; that is why
he has been hard to forget. If he had
been greater, perhaps should have
loved him less, for l am not great. But
l did love him. L never could give such
a love to another"
He shivered little, lying at her feet,
but he did not speak.
1--WE were to have been married. 1
was very happy. Everything had gone
smoothly; every one was pleased. The
wedding-day came, and his brother, a
pastor like you, was to marry us. 1
went to the church in all my bravery of
bridal finery, with my bridesmaids and
my friends, but he did not come to meet
me. l never saw him from then till
now"
Her voice had faltered, but it was the
mans face that was quite white.
And what did it mean?"
IL don't know; / never heard. He
sent me note that night by messen-
GER. 1t only said he was miserable, apd
begged me to forget him. When 1 knew
that no accident kept him away from
me, and that he was alive and well, ]
left home with my mother, that, among
new scenes, i might learn to forget"
"And have you succeeded?"
"Yes, in measure; so far that can
make a statement quite truthfully, and
offer Won sOmethinp mite hOneStlVY