The Red Cloud chief., 1884-02-22

eQ QUICKLY the WnOle state o. the case.
He neither swore, nor raved, nor
stamped: but both the girls trembled
as he stepped up to the fire, tearing the
paper across, and tossing it into the
blaze, while Ire said in a low voice:
Il thought l was loved by a pure
hearted woman, but it seems that l
have been fooled and Tilted by a coarse
-ha, har."
1t was q dreadful, bitter little laugh.
1t sent the blood rushing over Grace's
face; it ELECTED a faint moan only from
Mabelle, which sound caused Grace to
turn to her once more. saying:
"Oh. Mabelle, if you had but told"
Philip looked at the girl indifferently.
As if she and hers were henceforth be-
meath his notice, or even his contempt.
But when he saw nothing but 4 limp,
lifeless Shocking white figure, crouched
in a sort of unconscious heap against
the table. he strobe forward and raised
her up, and carried her in his arms to
the sofa.
"NO ~reprOaches here, Grace. Don't
YOU see she has tainted. Healthy girls
are not in the habit of fainting, Y for
things like this. She has gone through
something that has been too much for
her-more than she could bear. Look
to her, that's a good girl. I'll carry her
up stairs, if you like, but don't let me
see her again-or. stop" he added,
serenely, "Tll 90 down to the Office. 1t
seems there is nothing better for me to
do now. Yes, I'll 60 down to the office
and report myself. l shall be back some
time this evening, Grace"
And with that he vas 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 4 few brief moments, and had
then disappeared again, but rather as
if he had been there a 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
We're 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 a white dismal change had settled
over his face rs Re 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 Srl hal
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, innocent 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 to 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 We're
OverpOwering.
Has he gone? Has Philip gone. or
is he here yet2" she asked. with 4 re-
turn of her terrified. hunted look.
HE has gone, child. lie 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 weariiy upon the
hard. little sofa pillow:
mo, thank YOU. My head aches
oh, dreadfully, And l am so tired. 1
don't feel very well. and 1 don't think
| can 60 to school this afternoon"
$50 to school, l should think not,
You will lie still here, and | shall sit be-
side YOU, and no will interrupt us.
Yes, Mrs. Livsey, You may bring in din
ner, and set Il place for Miss Fairfax,
because she will stay with me-"
But she could not prevail upon Ma
belle to touch food: only to lie sill upon
the sofa until Grace had made some
pretense of a meal. and then neither
threats nor persuasions would induce
the young girl to STAY a moment longer.
She would 90 into their own lodgings
land rest" she said.
Grace said firmly that she did not
think her fit to be left alone. and would
go with her. but this Mabelle also de-
clined: and all Grace could extract
from her was a promise that she would
send for her if she should not feel better
in the evening. She wached her ont of
the house, 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. Orerpowered
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 n note from
Philip, dated from the Office.
DEAREST GRACE-I find / shall not be able
10 come up 10 Lawrence stree; this evening.
They are so excited at having got me back
down here tnat | can't get away. and Grey in