Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-26

.
has the incest blue eyes, and wavy brown
hair, and his teeth are just as white"
Irene and Maud laughed in spite of them
selves and Irene remarked
Really, you must be smitten with this
young mans charms, Hat; you grow sc
eloquent in your description. But go on
please, and tell US all about him"
NO; will not; you want only to laugh
| at me, l know. However, if | were mar
riageable young lady like you, would sci
my cap for him, you may depend"
You can at least tell us his name? Per-
haps he is one Of my discarded beaux from
the city" Irene said, with merry glance at
Maud.
mo, he is not You never had fellow
who was half so good-looking, l know.
However. this handsome young mans
name is Gerald Courtney, and he has been
to California and ever so many strange
places"
At first the name did not sound familiar
to Irene; but a moment later, when she be-
held the pallor that had overspread her
friends fair face, she remembered that it
was Maud's old lover. Accordingly, she
sent Hattie away on some GRAND, while
she led her guest into a neatly furnished
dressing-room
There, dear, l think the journey has
fatigued YOU Tea viii be ready soon,
think, and l am sure a cup of good tea will
revive us both" Irene said, and then
slipped away to her own room, fearful that
the pleasure which she had hoped her
friend would derive from her visit at Rose
dale had vanished to return no more.
A few minutes later, when all were as
sembled in the dining-room, Mrs. Ham
mond introduced Gerald Courtney to her
daughter and Mrs. Willard; but neither
Gerald nor Maud made any allusion TO a
previous acquaintance.
By this time Maud had quite recovered
her selfpossesion, and watched closely 10
see if any change came over Gerald's coun-
tenance at mention of her Helg name. But
if there was, it was so slight as to defy de-
lection, and she thought bitterly, He has
c ased 20 care for me-perchance has quite
forgotten me altogether"
After tea they repaired to the sitting
room, where Hattie entertained to the best
of her ability, by playing and singing some
of her favOrite pieces. Then Maud was
invited to favor them, which she did,
singing a simple gay ballad, intending TO
show Gerald how little she cared for the
past and how much she enjoyed the present.
Perhaps you can deceive him." Irene
thought as she watched Mauds white
fingers glide gracefully over the ivory keys.
y HSeh )dSScu away anu NcI MIS- w III
ard held herself aloof from the society Of
Gerald Courtney as much as politeness
would permit. AS for Gerald, he never
forced his presence, but seemed rather to
avoid her, in consequence of which Maud
was piqued not q little, though she re-
Trained from admitting as much even to
herself
"To-morrow Mr.. Willard will come out
to see you, will he not?" Irene asked one
morning at breakfast.
Yes; l expect him." Maud replied.
But there was no pleasure in her voice, no
glad light in her dark eyes, neither Of
which Geralds quick eye had failed to
note.
After breakfast that morning, Hattie per-
suaded Maud to accompany her to her
fay orite resort, shady nook near clear,
purling stream which flowed through a
beautiful piece of meadow land.
We will take few books along, and
know we shall pass pleasant forenoon"
the young girl said, while her blue eyes
sparkled with merriment.
Maud accompanied her, and was much
pleased with the scene. " 1t is beautiful ~
she exclaimed in delight off l had my
book and pencils would try to sketch the
scene-it is so exquisite %
Oh l only wish you would" Hattie
said, clapping her little hands in glee.
await here and l will soon run home and
get them for you. Please let me go; won't
you ?"
Yes; but it is mile to your home, and
YOU must not run. | can amuse myself
nicely with these books, if indeed, l should
grow weary enough to open one of them
while this beautiful scene is before me.
You may go, but do not run, that's dear"
The girl was soon ought of sight, and
Maud, unconscious of the near presence of
another person, drank in the beauties of
the scene whose equal she had never before
witnessed in nature.
Presently the sound of an approaching
footstep aroused her from the dreamy con-
dition into which she had fallen. Looking
up, she beheld Gerald Courtney standing
beside her, sad expression in his deep
blue eyes.
ooh, it is you, Mr.. Courtney" she said
surprised, but evidently not pleased. II
thought l was the only one present to wit
ness this beautiful scene"
81 come here very Often" Gerald said,
absently, {" to listen to the murmering of
the waters, the songs of birds, and to gaze
upon the beautiful scene which so forcibly
reminds me of certain places l have seen
in California"
Consequently, it must be pleasant to
you" Maud remarked, with slight ring
of sarcasm in her voice.
And pray, why So necessarily" Gerald
asked, as he gazed intently upon the face
of the woman who had once been his
affianced. lon the contrary, its memories
are associated with the darkest days | ever
experienced. 1t was while there that
lost her whose love priced above all other
blessings, whose -"
Died she die, then ?" Maud interrupted
him to ask.
Die? OF whom do you speak ?"
"Your wife, of course. Did she die?''
" | never had a wife, Mrs. Willard. What
has caused you to ask such strange ques-
ton ?'
Il heard it reported, and then l saw it
in one of Mr.. Wizards papers"
" 1t must have been another Gerald
Courtney, then. But you were married,
of course, when you heard this report?"
Gerald asked, drawing nearer, and seating
himself on the green grass in front of his
companion.
II was not. Mr.. Courtney" was the cold
reply; not presuming, of course, that it
makes any material difference to youwhat
my situation was at the time"
Gerald saw the angry fash that issued
from the dark eyes, the hot flush that rose
to the round cheeks, and he knew that she
was aISTN. he was HuTL more imam he
cared to have her know. Accordingly he
maintained silence for a brief length of
time, in order the better to control the
emotions of his heart.
" You are angry with me, Mrs. Willard"
he said. in a low, calm voice, land for
what l know not. If | have ever wronged
YOU / am not aware of it. We were friends
once-aye, more than friends-and |
deemed you true, and loved you. But you
allowed your affections to wander from me
to another; and yet, though the news of
your marriage nearly broke my heart,
never really blamed you, knowing that you
were better off as his wife instead of mine
Letter after letter l wrote, begging for one
line, one friendly line, if nothing more
But, alas it never came, and God alone
knows how l suffered in trying to forget
youw
Maud Willard looked full into the deep
blue eyes of the speaker, but she could
detect nothing there but honesty and sin
cerity. She was now compelled to believe
that some secret foe had Intercepted their
letters.
Then she told him of the letters she had
written, and how at last she had concluded
that he had wearied of her and desired all
correspondence between them to cease
1