Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-03-28
CHAPTER XIV.
THE END or A DREAM.

day when Grace Massey and Mabelle
Fairfax came slowly up Lawrence street
together, returning. the one from
school. the other from college. They
had met i'm Carlton Road, and come on
in company.
Philip will soon be here now" said
Grace. "You must put on a better
face To welcome him, Mabelle. You
look so white and washed out-what
they call fair pining, where L come
from"
"Oh, am all right" said Mabelle,
with a sickly smile.
Has Angela heard from Philip
again?"
Not since that day she had letter
saying he was OF to Hong Kong. and
sailed in two DAYS; at least" added
Mabelle. conscientiOusly, ''she has not
heard again so far rs know; but 90
of to school before the postman comes.
Angela does not 20 out till later
Yes. BY the way, / think YOU have
too long hours at school. When your
holidays come you mast pay us visit
ut Foulhaven. am sure it will do YOU
good, and by that time, thank good
ness, Philips engagement will be pub
lie property, and it would be the most
natural thing in the world for YOU to
come. l hate all this secrecy, and |
feel it an absolute wrong to my father
and mother; but surely it will all be over
soOnr'
Il hope So" said Mabelle, with
still fainter smile, rs they arrived at
home.
Get your 'nner," pursued the prac-
teal Grace. you look almost starv-
ing. and rs for me. I'm ravenous."
With n cheering nod she parted from
Mabelle, and went to her own quarters.
The table was spread. and Grace.
throwing of her hat and mantle, was
about to ring the bell for dinner for in
Lawrence street that meal was usually
taken in the middle of he day). when
letter on the mantelpiece, addressed in
her mothers hand, cause her to pause
She opened it, and was reading it.
DEAR GRACEY-Thauks for your nice long
letter, and tell Miss Berghaus that"
"A ring-a strange, trembling, yet
loud. importunate ring at the front
door, beginning, as it were, timidly..
and then repeated loudly. So strange
sound was it that Grace forgot the
''ravenOus' hunger she had spoken of.
forgot her letter. and stood still, her
head raised. listening.
Presently the front door was opened,
and Grace could hear nothing that
/ passed. only that the door closed again.
and some one came in. Then-it all
seemed like weird dream-the parlor
door was pushed open, and Mabelle
stood there looking like some unhappy
/ little ghost; she seemed to have shrunk
away and become shorter, smaller,
thinner. during the five or six minutes
which had elapsed since Grace parted
from her. Her face was white,
her lips open, her eyes distended. her
whole aspect one of horror unmiti-
/ gated
Child. child, what is the matter?r
cried Grace, going to her and grasping
her arm. chilled by the look of despair
in the young fa,e.
\ Don't touch mei' said Mabelle. in a
hoarSe whisper, shrinking away from
her. Il am not fit for YOU to touch,
but you must know Oh, she ought not
to have left it all to me; indeed, she
ought not.'
In her quivering hands she held pa
/ per, which Grace, with an uncOntrolla-
Die impulse TO know the worst, took
from her hand and read, to n broken
accompaniment OF scattered words and
ordinations from Mabelle:
"DEAREsT MABEILF.-l am sure Won will he
/ surprised To Ind letter instead of me when
/ you return from school Dearest child YOU
must try not TO feel hurt at what have done,
/ nut You must see that had really no alterna.
/ tive. You must know how unhappy / have
1een y, IN my engagement TO Philip Massey. As
me me ume approaches for his return feel that
Us Impossible / should ever be united 10
mint would be misery: and the love which
| nave learned to feel Tor another shows me
plainly that TO marry Mr.. Massey would be the
greatest wrong I could do. The rcntlcman
| Wnom am now going To meet and TO whom
/ i shal be married this morning. Is Mr.. For
alce. We have looked at the matter i'm ever
| light, and come to the Conclusion that IL was
pest 10 be married privately. I have written
20 PIT, Massey at the hotel in London at which
ne said ne should stay. have left you plenty
| OF money, dearest 10 last while we are away,
/ anu ! viii write to you as soon as possible
am tell you our plans; OF course. when we
40 happy there / shall feel that ali the sacri
nces have made for you have not been in
Faris, and buy you something lovely there.
Your loving sister,
The hypocriter'" burst from the
lips of Grace, as she finished; soh, the
heartless, lying jill Bahr'
Further energetic words were on her
energetic lips, but the dead silence
which met her ears caused her to look
up, chilled her in the midst of her fury
Oh indignstion. Mabelle was support
ing herself with both hands against q
ehalr back; pale, trembling, shivering
from head TO foot, and silent always
silent: Ii seemed as if the iron of heI
sister 5 SIN. and the shame of it, had en-
tered into her soul forever All she
couiu DO was to stand like some Great
ure winch has sinned. and seesthe mas
ter's hand about to fall in cbastisement
stand and submit. The utter misery.
the sick, trembling Indebtedness of tho
girl smoie Grace's heart. II was all in
such contrast with her sisters hssc
ness.
[ro BE Continued
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