Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-12-05

are really 70 marry Mr.. CArDRugh, i
must insist that you devote your time
TO yourself. do not wish you to spoil /
your hands and exhaust yourself doing |
work about the house."
Mrs. Carroll meant always to do what |
WAS best aud kindest towards her hand. |
some, fathefless daughter; but, some
how, her best did not always end salts. |
factorily, and her kindness seemed occa-
sionally less agreeable than annoying
to the recipient thereof.
Just now the girl put down her brush
and dustpan, not with docility. butt
with little gesture of dresry irrita.
ton.
"You mean, mamma, that you have
settled everything for me, and that 1
have promised to submit 70 what you'll
have arranged" she answered with a.
little scornful sigh. " But / do not
care about my hands, or for anything
any more; nothing exhausts me but
thinking, and when [ am working /
think less
my dear Linda, little more think
ing 10 precisely what would be benefci-
al to.you," Mrs. Carroll said with her
Characteristic air of mild persistence.
" You ought to think how wise you
have been to listen At last 10 my ad vice;
you ought to think what q sepsi Die
2 RI you are to choo: st1id and prosper
Gus gentleman fer your husband instead
OF poor young fellow who has nothing
In the world but pleasing face and an
attractive manner, and you oughtto think
what o proud and happy woman you
have made your mother"
az only think how miserable have
made myself" Linda replied I'm.
patiently.
"My child, you are no. miserable at
all" tho .nc,soaf sac 9Th that mildly
superior air Of indulgence AID con-
viction. Misery would be an impos
sibility to any lady honored with the
affections Of q gentleman like Mr..
Carbaugh. You are only tired and
dull; You Feed little rest and smuse.
ment. Perhsps the lawn party to.
nj ght would brighten you up bit"
" l do not not care to CO." Linda res
pended YEARLY. II j should go l
could not help being late home, and
then you would only scold me-"
"Scold you" Mrs. Carroll echoed,
with an air OF confederation and in Jury.
"My love, you know / never scolded
you In all your life"
well, no, mamma" Linda returned
with the ghost of a smile Pickering
over her handsome, pale, young face.
"I must admit you could not be guilty
| of downright scolding-wbich would
be a relief sometimes, though, when
you look 40 injured and accusing that l
feel that should like TO do something
for once to merit your reproaches.
Linda, you absolutely frighten noe 20
| criei Mrs. Carroll, aghast. IL have
never reproached you for anything, and
| l never could no iuother could be
kinder or more indulsent than | am.
You must be dreadfally depressed to
have such fancies you need rest and
amusement, my love, and shall insist
| thai you join the lawn party, really.
"But poor Alick will be there" the
girl protested, still with the pitifully
| dreary smile.
And that perhaps is the more rsa.
| son why you should CO." Mrs. Carroll
| said eucouragingly. "You will have an
excellent opportunity to dispel any
| illusion he may have had about your
regard for him, and you must have
some sort of explanation with him
SOME time, suppose.
| "O1, yes, mamma" Linda said, with
sidder, passionate irony. ~ under
stand " hat I have to do. have the
Simplest sort OF explanation TO give
him. have only 70 confess that l am
faithless and weak and utterly I'M
worthy his honest love. have only to
declare that love ia less dear to me than
riches, that shall be dutiful wife to
the extremely fortunate old man who
| has won me, and that l expec: some
time to be supremely happy, as the
| good and duteous always are and then
| ! have graciously to touch his finger
tips and bid him to forget me Oh,
und erstand what have to do. mamma,
1t IL ell very simple and womanly and
easy"
! And then with her soft. dark eyes
ablaze with pain and passion, she sud
denly turned and hurried from the
presence OF her mother, who or the
instant was speechless with urAfected
astonishment,
never imagined the ch1d capable
| Of such spirit" Mrs. CARROLL thought as
che took up the sewing shich the colo.
guy had interrupted. II Fever knew
| her in a temper beore, ana now she
was actually angry ana sar ;astic with
me, and when lave always done what
il best and kipAest for her, too" she
mentally complained as q rev troubled
tears dropped upon ner neeolework.
i AnQ as sho ooWSo oho AShONoo0 ohC
hours elspseG, but no Linda came back
| TO her.
4" Sae has gone to the lawn party, Of
| coufss, and she assured me she might
| he late home" Mrs. Carroll said to
herself, more and more troubled, as the
sun set and the long late summer dusk
began to darken.
And then, vexed with herself for the
vague misgiving which seemed 30 cause
less, she leaned back in her sewing
chair TO wait and watch for the coming
of the daughter who had gone in such
an unfamiliar mood Of passion from her
side.
But her aux ieties became more vivid
and more poignant 81 the hours wore
on-as midnight merged to dawn and
dawn to morning, and yet NO Linda
came.
Iu her narrowing apprehension of
evil, she made herself ready for q tour
OF inquiry aud FASTENED from the
house. But her inquiries were nm.
awaiting; Lirda had not been to the
lawn party---so much she ascertained
and nothing morel Again she
turned homeward, but her feet seemed
weighed with her bennm bling agony,
be heart was like leaden burden, and
her brain whirlsd with torDenting,
| images of terror. In her distracting|
! fears she somehow mistook her wa1
aud before she had perceived her err h
she emerged as the end OF 10y
street fronting the river. XustIa
% the pier group of men haR Inn
! brought forth from the river Hre XII
dead hum an body-the slender rancb.
. handso girl, the dark haiyyssnn 4,
ed with Shiny foam, the dark I'm 70 the
| closed and staring mournfuYNf
| pitiless blue heavens. so-v.rd n