The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-04-05

Mabel hastily, not all his championship having
silly thing. 1.-THE very blind bcggars VINO stand
proppcd up against the sunny walls of the Lung
Arno address every woman OF whom they beg AS
mo use, Miss Talbot; I have a theory about the
writer OF those Words and you will not laugh out
she was alonc but she was certainly new to travel
ing. or she would have taken the good chances With
the bad ones more phosophicaly."
What a description of herself, thought Mabel.
mo, no." he went on smiltngly, 81 have my
IDEAL and ! shall keep to 1t, And, what is more, II
she is In Florence, sooner or later shall identity
"But you know nothing of her except her hand
the kei,hs house Mabel felt sure that 1t was quite
enough. And her heart sank within her.
That was not the only time that Mabel Talbot and
MIR. Grantley discussed the charming GIRL who
had permitted herself such liberty with MS letter.
But though he persisten,ly stood her champion, 1t
too-n love with this very pretty young woman Of
twoand-twenty who was as fresh and meery as a
child. No day passed without his seeking Mabel
one day he overlook her carrying a book from the
library.
"Mrs. olphant's Life of st. Francs. An! my
nanesake, !" he said, taking her book from her.
More likely your narlesakc If he had been st.
He laughed too as he said: "1hat does not sound
been been called Frank in my ic ny dear mother dis
liked the abbrcviation; and oddly enough at school,
though my nicsnames We're nImnsrless frank was
that 1t was no use saying any more against herself
The children had been right, and she had found a
Francis after all. But was he her Francis?
From that day she felt an absurd jealousy OF that
ideal young lady traveller. More than ever did she
dread the Thought OF his discovering her identity
with herself. She became even more vigilant in
concealiDg all writing of hers, and also avoided the
subject AZ much as possible. Helen Keith, how
ever, who had long known his side of his story
hrpu n A In
Fiesole, the little Etruscan city which overlooks
Florence.
writing, hut shall see 1t one day. Then he had
one OF his hearty laughs, in which Helen could not
help joining Mabel on any other subject would
III Know shall see it," he continued; :" feel it in
The air Don't you feel things in the air sometimes
ayes, | feel Tramon,ana like to-day And
Helen shivered AS the fierce north wind met them,
aud drew shawl to her face, but I was chiefly
to hide a SMILE She knew Mr.. Grantley's feelings
for Mabel also the lntier's ridiculous and evident
calouslya fact which could not hut give him hope.
to take delight IN snubbi6g me- You snubbed me,
remember, the. first time had the pleasure of
"Dd II Then beg your pardon. won't do 1t
again."
I" But like it" she said quickly. "Pray snub me
in your own way-as much rs you like"
"If you talk OF feeling strange handwriting In
the air, ] warn you that shall do 3d."
"But | do feel it. l assure you. Did you never
feel like that. feel near to very hot,
"Then you may be sure that this north wind will
be followed by sonth one 900. s mD always fol-
The very next day, when the Keiths and Mabel
returned from drive, they found Francis Grantley
awaiting their return. Mabel had only made few
steps into the room when she gave suppressed
shrek AMI turned TO fly.
"Mabel! what in the world Is the matter ~ cried
Mira. Keith and her daughter.
"A great deal il the natter" said Mr.. Grantlcy,
an ill-concealed joyOusness In his voice. while he
watched Mabel as cat watches mouse. "A great
deal, can tell you. ! have been nearly roasie, IN
your room" Mrs. Keith, always the most concerned
Of hostcsscs, went up TO the fire, when her daughter
gently but firmly turned her toward the door
"Surey might take of one of the logs" Mrs.
Keith was heard cXpostulaing as the two were left
together and nlonc,-Francls ,irantlcy comparing
pcnc-lst of books written ont by Mabel. left lying
on the table. with an envelope on which were
her eyes afraid to in his what he thought Of her.
In some more polite form he must be goingto rudely
pee on n' FRANCIS he could no oSEer he
now. But what happened instead? He was knecl-
Ing at her feet trying to remove her hands from be-
fore her face.
"Miss Talbot. Mabel! You dearest and sweetest
:" His words ceased abruptly, and he sprang
up as the door opened and Helen looked cautiously
in When she entered the room, followed by several
visitors, Francis Graniley was Its sole occupant
He and Mabel mad only a second OF time to look al
each other, hut during that second their hearts had
mutcy finished and answered those interrupted
words.
Mabel was in tumult of joy. lie did not think OF
her as her sensitive love had feared, hut she was
his " sweetest and dearest :" The remainder
she could I'll up for herself Had she not known her
Francis ~ before he had known her? Had she moi
seen that look of love on his face before? When she
returned to the sittinE-room her joy received ts
first check Francis Grantey was gone, but other
visitors had come, who seemed to be all talking al
once. Ielen's words were the only ones out OF
which she could make any sense. - ,.
otherwise VIC should have thought he had taken
leave of his senses. trust he viii. see his friend
alive. lie must, | think, have caught the Roman
or explanations Mabel caught liclen's eyes, and
the loving sympathy in them made her hide her face
over the forgotten telegram which had become
mon property. 1t was as Helen had said. Francis
Graniley had been summoned to Rome to the death
bed of a friend, and glance at her watch told her
that he could no longer be In Florence.
For some days no news came from him. Helen
thought very strange, but AZ Mabel seemed only 10
herself Mabel, however, was only acting part.
AS the DAYS went by small voice--a treacherous
one it seemed 70 her,Iepi whispering that he ought
complete those interrupted spoken ones Then she
would recall that glance which they had exchanged
those days more difficult to pass through had she moi
been partly taken out of herself by the unexpected
arrival of dear friend on the evening OF Mr. Grant
lOy's departure. This was one Hugh Sedley, young
man some years her senior, who was engaged to he
married to her favorlte cousin, Charlotte Burma
lie was one of those sunny-faced, bright people
| who, when they have troubles, win the sympathy o
others at once. His trouble was six months de
lay of his marriage, and he could not have found
more sympathetic recipient OF all his thoughts ant
| feelings than Mabel was nj that moment Sht
needed distraction, aud she felt sorry for any sor
of disappointment TO he borne that by the time sh,
had done the honors OF Florence to him all day an,
let him talk everastingy OF Charlotte they both fel
their SORROWS lightened.
| Helen Keith, however, who was not in Hugh
confidence felt trouble grow within her the lighte
theirs grew. but Mabel's natural reserve made
impossible for her even to hint At a danger whicl
perhaps might be merely imagination. She could on
try to Keep them apart as much as possible, and sh'
succeeded so far well that Mabel spent the create
part of Christmas Day with other friends. Towar
evening she returned, ana seeing Helen AMI Hug
sedley talking over the fire she went up to her
aud sat in the dusk, glad OF this moment OF solud,
| with her own painful thoughts. There must he som
mistake! lie must have written, and the letter ha
never been posted, or in that busy season ha
miscarried; and so perhaps he was blaming her too
| That some news OF him would reach her that da
| she felt sure. lie would never let II pass without
| word of greeting 10 the keiihs.
| At this moment Helen entered the room dresse
FOR dinner. Mabel started up. thinking 1t must b
| late Perhaps she had news for her.
"What are you doing there In the dark" Tn
suspclousness In her voice made Helen force
laugh. .,, ,,.,n,,o,,.,, q, ,,,,, 40.
of meditation among the tOmbs'" lIelens answe
| was to put her arm suddenly round Mabel.
"Why Helen, what Is 1t ~ she asked, startled an
uneasy at her action and thenat her silence. "Ther
| Is no bad news? Nothing from homer"
"No, nothing from your home. Indeed, MANN
herself received only one letter this morning,
| was from Naples
"From Napes.' echoed Mabel a little faint,
"Who does she know there Helen, speak! who
| In Naples?h she repeated, deadly chill crccpin
over her at her frlcnd's omnOus silence.
"Many people Francis 'irantlcy for one
| "But he Will he here tomorrow the neN
! day9n
| "iIe said he did not know when he should return
| PERHAPS he might run over 10 Cairo or Agers,
cairo or Agicrs or the other end OF the world,
was all the same 10 Mabel Talbot,
Mabel never Willingly recalled the hour which fol
lowed lielen,s leaving me room until she started u
and dressed herself In ftverish haste, In that shor
time she seemed 10 have become some other Matte
| Talbot, who would soon have to return To the HON
| where she had passed more than twenty years a
tranquil happiness carrying with hera remembrance
which she could ask no one 10 help her To hear
remembrance that accident had thrown o coat in he
way, that the Faes had wiled that It's owner shout,
| Talbot had scrubbed few words on the back Of
letter. And was that all The story? No Somothln
more she had taken falseness for truth. II WAS n
| dreau that scene she had taken part In and tina
Helen had been Obliged TO Interrupt, and had there
fore been witness TO. Yet was II unreal as drcaII
! for IL hah been an acted lie.
! And the days went on. one afternoon she wa
! near the post 0nce ana was overtaken by u heaV
/ shower, While she stood under the cOlonnade
Hugh sedley suddenly rushed past her lie stoppe
short ON seeing her.
"Oh, Mabel" he said breathlessy, $50 aw full
sorry you were not in. read Lotiies last letter
| Helen Keith Lotto Is the best girl In all the worlI
You don't half know what she ls,n
! " | ought 10 do so,p answered Mabel, smiling II
voluntarily, Nor have known her ever since she wa
/ horn" Hugh looked rather jealousy az her, an
then laughed.
"Well, never mind shall have her all to myse
] In A