The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-02-18


now that she remembered, she wished
to forget. The rings were cast aside to
show me, if possible, without words,
that she was not to be my wife.
How could speak nowP The answer
had been given before the question had
been put.
She saw me looking at that little
white hand of hers, but simply dropped
her lashes and said nothing. No doubt
she wished me to- spare her the pain of
an explanation. If could nerve my
self to it, perhaps the best thing would
be to leave her as speedily as possible
leave her to return no more.
Moody and respondent as ! felt at
the discovery just made, 1t was not
long before found great change in
Pauline's manner She was not the
same. Something had come between
us, something which entirely dispelled
the old friendly intercourse; changing
it into little more than conventional
politeness. Shyness and constraint |
now made themselves manifest in every
word and action = perhaps, in mine
also. We spent the day together as
usual, but the companionship must have
been irksome to both, so greatly was
its footing changed for the worse. That
night | went to bed wretched. The
prize / had striven for seemed to be
snatched away just as had hoped to
win it.
So several days passed. Pauline
made no sign, or certainly none / could
construe favorably. l could bear this
state of things no longer. Priscilla,
whose sharp eyes saw that something
was amiss, pestered me beyond endur-
ance; and spoke her mind so roundly
that began to suspect she had already
executed her threat of telling Pauline
everything; and l felt inclined to at
tribute my failure to the old woman's
officiousness in making a premature
revelation. All might have gone well
had / been given another week or a
fortnight to win my wife's heart be-
gan to believe that she was growing
unhappy; that my presence troubled
her. Not that she evinced any wish
to avoid me; indeed, she came so surely
at my beck and call as to suggest a
shadow Of the obedience she had always
given during those days upon which
/ now dreaded to dwell. But / felt
she would be happier and more at ease
in my absence. So / resolved to depart
/ could not go without explaining
some things to her. need not pain
her by alluding to our relationship, but
must inform her that she was not the
heiress she believed. / must tell her
she had plenty to live upon without say
ing that /, her husband, would supply
it. When this was arranged, farewell
7 forever!
As soon as l had finished my pre-
tense at breakfast, walked across to
the house where Pauline lodged. As
| yet she knew nothing of my purpose. |
, held her hand rather longer than usual,
and by desperate effort forced words
to my lips.
! 81 am come to say goodbye. ! go to
London to-day"
. She answered not o word, but felt
| her hand tremble in my own. Hereyes
r l could not see.
"Yes, / have loitered here long
enough" l continued, attempting to
speak easily; "a great many things call
me to town"
Pauline was not looking in the best Of
t health this morning. Her cheek was
| paler than it had been since my arrival.
r She looked languid and depressed.
, Doubtless my presence had worried her.
Poor girl, she would soon be relieved of
that!
D Seeing that paused for her to speak
r she found her voice, but even that
: seemed to have lost some of its freshness
|. and tone
"when do you gop" was all that she
said Not word about my return!
: "By the midday coach. have still
some hours left. As it is the last time,
shall we walk to the Clearing togeth-
9 er?"
"Do you wish itP"
Il "If you have no objection. Besides,
/ want to speak to you about yourself
about business matters" | added, to
!, show that she need not fear the inter-
I. view.
II will come" she said, quitting the
. : room hurriedly.
! | waited. Presently Priscilla ap-
7 peared. She was looking daggers at
me-undeserved, at least from her
=. Her voice was harsh and raspy, bring
!. ing back to my mind a familiar sound
t. of early childhood, when l had COM
4 mitted some petty crime which excited
: her ire.
: "Miss Pauline begs you will walk on
and not wait for her. She will join you
at the Clearing presently"
: l took my hat and prepared to do as
n commanded. Priscilla had said moth
: ing which showed she knew of my APP
7 preaching departure, but as | was
' passing out of the house she said, in a
tone Of whitening scorn:
r "Master Gilbert, you're a bigger fool
/ than thought you were"
1 Such an observation, even from an
: old servant, could not be passed by.
@ turned TO demonstrate. Priscilla sim
Q ply slammed the door almost against my
it nose.
a walked away-the thing in the face
Of my other troubles was not worth a
d thought. OF course could not expect
l Priscilla to enter into my feelings and
appreciate the delicacy OF my position.
h Besides, l must see her and have long
s talk with ber before / left.