The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-15

But only TO wait, In feverish impa-
uenee, until he should follow her.
II was so extremely unlikely. but stilI
every chance, however faint. was worth
trying
And what did she want to know
long, long ago, Was over and buried
I the falniest possibility of any happy fa-
ture aceruing 10 her from the kI.aWI-
| edge OF the llfe be was leading.
But should ike TO know wistful-
" should always Ike TO know
Her thoughts had pictured him so often
/ with the blonde German girl. grown
/ matronly and tender. teaching him wear
I by year To retayn the love that shoue in
her honest eyes-had pictured him some-
times with little children about his
knees; little children with frsflk blue
| eyes. and corn-colored hair. who We're
added links IN the chain that bound him
| 10 their mother
Il should Ike to know" she thought
wearily. and then the door opened. and
MIR. Catteret entered the room, before
she had time to Danish the softfnss
| from her ewes that the thought of the
past had brought there.
Tell me- he said at once, without
any preface, what did you want to ask
me AT dinnery@
You aid'-hesitatingy. Then. lift
been IN Pumerania-where were von-
when was it,"
1t was-let me see, two. three. four.
nearly five years ago. went for averv
sad reason; 10 tell an old man, whom /
had never seen, about the death of. his
son. | was staying AT small inn for a
couple of nights. The son was there
very ill-he was on. his way home. |
stayed with him tillVhe died, which he
did the next day, before any of his peo-
ple could be sent for. and afterward-v
Afterward,
All, what more was there to heart No
need for any name eyen-she knew it
all ROW.
Out of her cheeks and lips the color
slowly ebbed as she watched him: only
her eyes, wide and painful with unshed
tears, looking into his. seemed to COM
pei him to go on; but when he reached
that word which seemed to shut out
hope and life. she staggered back. and
would have fallen but for his steadying
hands.
He is dead" she cried, but very low.
sinking down on to the broad window
seat, but she did not let 90 the hands
that held hers; she seemed to cling To
them, as if for comfort and support.
He died. Door cSildi years ago. Why,
did you not know it,"
OF a sudden he seemed to understand
SO much; seemed to feel such pity for
the trembling, deSpairing woman by
whose side She knelt as to preclude an
idea of love, except as comprised in ten
derness.
~He was to come back" she said, -or
write"
And you did not hear?"
Nothing nothing" with a despair
ing sob; Il have waited"
She did not cry, she had wept all her
tears years ago. They had been wept
over his grave there was feeling of
peacefulness almost in the thought.
Tell me more.s she said at length.
There was unreality in Roy Carteret's
presence; he was not the man whose
love-making only that very afternoon
had troubled her. but kind friend who
had a warm human heart, and who
sympathized with her in her loneliness
and despair.
There was so little to tell; but he told
it all, kneeling by her side, whilst the
wind blew in at the open window, and
her eyes looked abroad TO the stormy
sky above, or to the wind-tossed trees
below.
lie was never quite conscious from
the first moment that / saw him. 1 sat
up with him that last night. but he did
not speak, and in the morning he died.
His brother came next day, and at his
wish | went ON to his home, and saw
his father, and told him all could. But
you see it was not much"
Thank YOU" she said softly-could
he ever have thought her eyes cold and
haTd-~you have been very kind. /
think you might tell father; hewas very
wonder-Ah" her voice breaking,- ,-'.it
has been such pain. such terrible paini'
He felt he could hardly trust his own
voice to say much.
Goodnight" he safi.-~or goodbye,
if you are not down early"
Goodbye" she repeated, almost me-
chanically, and turned away.
But even in her own room she did not
weep much.
A few tears fell as she unlocked, and
took from case that she had not OPEN
ed for years, small framed miniature
of a fair-haired> dnan, with blue eyes
that looked somewhat sadly into hers.
IT was the only relic she possessed of
that buried tiIae and her eyes grew dim
as she looked upon it. All the tears she
had shed had been upon his grave, for
long years he had been at rest. lie had
been saved the battle, the burden had
all fallen to her share. And / was
strong, and have borne it, she thought.
~IIe has been saved so much. and as it
had to be, am glad--yes, / think / am
glad, that she never Knew. 1t is | who
have borne it ALL" And she looked into
the mirror at the gray hairs and the
saddened eyes that were the price she
had paid. And, after all, / have been
to blame. ] did not trust you as Iprom-
ised | would. You said if you lived you
would come back. 1t seems as if / never
that until tonight. But /
tnl a6e rxrf4
hands clasped, that whatever happen
ed, | would never grudge the price, and
1 do not--eyen now, even nOwg'
The storm blew itself out in the night,
and bright May sun shore ont in the
morning, TO throw little cbeerfulness
over Mr.. Carteret's departure.
He had wandered about the garden,
had admired the peacocks so palpably
to be admired, hoping that he
should see Sydney Lorraine before he
left. But she did not appear.
so best" he thought with a sigh.
There is. after all. nothing l can say"
His Goodbye" said to Mr.. Lorraine,
he went into the library TO fetch a book,
lit would not be so very long now be-
fore he must find his way to the station.
But he had only been alone in the room
a few minutes when the door opened,
and she came in.
long white morning dress; no color any
where. and his heart ached when he
saw her.
"You do not look fit to be walking
about" he said kindly, taking her hand
in his. Il hoped that you were resting"
NO" she said, Il wanted to see you.
| could not let you 90 without saying
goodbye. aud thanking you" her
voice drifted away into sort of dreafy
echo of its usual tones.
You were so kind" she began again.
And then, altering to fresh sentence,
Are you going today"
Yes" he answered; don't worry
about me-"
why do you go?" she asked; "you
know father likes you being here
you, hesitatingly, were going to stay
longer than this"
1T is better" be answered.
He did not turn his head as he spoke.
Y our father is coming up to town ia a
fortnight, and / will see him then.7
She did not answer, but remained still
for moment. looking at him, as if
wondering what to say next.-and then.
with few steps, she stood beside him,
and he knew she was speaking again.
her voice very soft and low.
please do not 60" Her voice was so
that he could scarcely catch
the words. and he turned his head. and
looked down at her where she stood be-
side him. her hand resting on has arm.
Il think she began falteringly, that
it is I who wish you to stay-you know
everything, will you stay nowr ! think
want some one TO take care of me-
Walking the Track.
A sleepy policeman was yawning and
rubbing his eyes in East Fifty-ninth