The Penn's Grove record., 1885-08-29

brightness had fled, misgivingS hlled
nv mind. and our future looked dark
and dreary, such a nameless apprehen-
sion hung over me.
zone evening Mr.. Blackburn had
been more trying than usual, and l felt
| could bear it no longer. | was excl
ted. i'll, aud nervous; | had not slept
for several nights, haunted by his face
and hardly knew what | said; my lie
in the theatre for the last week had
been one OF complete misery. l began
to find that his strange gaze was hay
ing a singular effect upon me. There
was a horrible fascination In it, and do
what | would, l seemed compelled to
look at him in return. | thought,
Come what will, l must put an end to
this, or l shall have brain-fever:' so,
finding him, as usual, at my elbow dur
ing a long wait, | said rather irrltab-
ly-
sis there anything you want to say
to me, Mr.. Blackburn? If there is |
wish o would come to the point, and
get it over.'
"sCan you ask me?' he whispered.
Have you not seen how have been
striving to open my heart to you for
weeks past, but you would never give
me the opportunity l was afraid to
force myself upon you; [ only prayed
that one day you would invite me to
speak, as you have done now.'
"'NVell, and what is ltp Have you
discovered some fresh dreadful trick
as you call 1t, in me?' l tried to speak
lightly, and to seem to misunderstood
his meaning; but he would not be put
off now, and went on
"sDon't pretend to misunderstood
me; you must see how | love you, you
must know that I've loved you from
the first moment l met you. Your
triumphs have been my triumphs, and
my every thought has been devoted to
you; and so 1t shall continue my dar-
ling, until the end of my lifel | Will
not ask you to tell me in words how you
love mel know it, l have seen it in
your gentle compliance with my every
| request, and in your sweet eyes, which
have always acknowledged my infu-
| ence; but give me some sign that will
make me the happiest man In the world.
My life has been SO lonely n hard;
no one has cared for me since my mother
died, and that was when [ was a little
child | have felt what it is to live
only since you came across my path to
brighten and cheer me; now l know
what it is to love and be lovedI
sAH this was spoken In a low thrill
ling whisper; but his face was all aglow
with feeling, and there was a fierce
look of passion in his eyes which made
me tremble. | wondered at the time
that my expression Of horror did not
stop him; but he took nc notice OF 1t,
and was going on, when | broke in
with
"'Mr. Blackburn, stop, for PHYS
sake; you grieve me terribly How a
you have made this unfortunate mis-
take?'
"'Mistake, he repeated blankly--'mls-
take?'
"'Yes,' said I; Il never thought of
your caring for me in that way. | was
grateful to you for all your goodness to
me, and so l shall always be, believe
me, and l hope you will still continue
my kind friend
"'FIiendl' he interrupted fiercely.
There can be no friendship between
you and me. Tell me at once, do you
love mep Or have you been trihing or
playing with mt all these months?'
"He was getting fearfully excited
and his eyes cleaned, but he was still
whispering for fear of being overheard
| imagined.
II answered, as calmly as could
sit is best to speak plainly, Mr.,
Blackburn. l am most unhappy in
having qnite innocently and unwilling
ly deceived you as TO my feelings. l do
not love you, and never thought for n
moment that you imagined l did,
"'Then who is it you do lover he
Kissed. putting his face close to mine.
"'What do you mean?'said l, aghast.
Don't prevaricate, he went on.
I know you love some one. Miserable
fool that | am, 1 thought the sweet
light that shone in your eyes, was for
me! Who is it that has driven me from
YOUR hearth Then he continued more
softly, Il remember your standing at
the side the first time that | played
Virginlus here, and looking at me with
all your soul in your eyes, and crying
for me; no n eve looked at me in
in that way before. | am sure you loved
me them
81 remembered perfectly the occasion
he alluded, and was dismayed to find
how my admiration for his acting had
been misinterpreted. | was trying to
collect myself to speak, when, with a
low sudden cry, he stopped me.
"'Ah, you need not speak; l know
1t is young WestbroOk who has taught
you to hate me. l heard him telling
YOU tales, false. wicked, ~calumnious
tales, about me; but, my darling they
were lies, all liesl Say you don't believe
them, and that you will love me again.
Don't break my hearth
There was "A treInor in his voice ,
and his face was drawn with pain. L
was faint and trembling, and was en-
deavoring to find some words to reply
when q shadow fell between us, and l
looked up to find George standing close
to us, looking gravely and inquirlngly
at us both. / was so overweight and
agitated by what 1 had gone through
that | thought of nothing but that l
was safe with him beside me, and, for
getting all caution, | said
"'Oh, George. thank Heaven you
are comel' and burst into violent tears.
"There was a pause for a minute.
during which | tried to regain my COM
posure. Then Mr.. Blackburn said
"sYou need not answer my last ques-
tion, thank you; know what you
would reply
His cold calm tone startled me after
his excitement of a moment before,
and the awful expression Of his face
quite chilled me; his eyes glittered. and
he looked perfectly demoniacal. Ishud-
dered, and turned away with George,
thinking 1t better to leave him to him
self.
"How we finished the remaining act
Of the play l cannot imagine. l know
he did not touch me, and scarcely look
ed at me; but | remember George took
me home after the performance, and
frightened both him and the kind old
landiady by having a regular hysterica
attack. Poor George waited until ]
had recovered, and then left me say
ing
"'Courage, dearest; only another
wyaal of II and than wa shall ma hi