The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-08-07

tnat She would never see or speak to
Arthur again. He left the house in
despair, pinning his only hope on Mary,
who promised TO bring the poor girl to
reason.
'Leave her to me for few days."
she said, and Rivers obeyed, devoting
all his energies to getting Hal Armit-
age the colonial post desired for him
by Eva.
Estelle, sorely ashamed of herself
by now, heard the news of his success
from Mary, who added an explanation
of the part played by Arthur.
"Are you satisfied now ?" asked the
latter, with the sternness she found
more salutary than gentleness.
"Why hasn't Arthur been to see me ?"
asked Estelle, looking down.
"You went too far this time; you
forget that he has his pride
Estelle sprang up and dropped on
her knees beside Mary's chair.
'Let me go to him! Not to his
house, don't mean that, but some
where where | shall meet him. Oh
my Gear Mary, do this one thing for
me, implore you!'
81 don't think you deserve any
thing of the sor.," said Mary sharply,
and nothing like u promise could be
extorted from her.
1t YVES therefore, of course, only a
singular coincidence that the following
day Arthur should be walking through
Coppenham Wood just when Mary
and Estelle happened to be nutting
there-or rather Mary was nutting
while Estelle stood by her in Frenchi,
fed dress, and never so much as took
off her gloves. 1t was lucky, too,
that when Arthur came upon them
Mary should be high up from the
ground in thick bush, and quite out
of sight and hearing behind the
leafy screen which encompassed her
about.
Where were Estele's low spirits
now? She had meant TO be very hum.
BILE and Denitent, but it was never any
use for her to decide beforehand how
she would behave, and now, when she
saw the dreadful red-haired man" APP
preaching her, the pleasure of it ives
so great that everything else went out
of her head. There was a stie be-
tween them, and hastily gathering a
field daisy. she went and stood on her
side of it with face full of childish
gayety.
"He loves me little, much, more,
not at all, she began, rapidly count
ing out the petals, and glancing mis-
chievously up at her lover, "a little,
much, most of all! !" she ended, triumph
autly, expecting him to clear the stile
in moment and punish her with kisses
for her bad behavior.
But Arthur did nothing of the kind.
There was not the vestige of a smile
on his wan face, and he looked at her
so gravely that sudden fear and
heartache took possession of her.
"Arthur, forgive me-" she said, tim
idly, and taking IN both hers the hand
he had laid on the stile.
sam never to be more than the
plaything of your jealous caprice, Es-
"Ah, you are cruel! You are tor
mentipg me-humbling me !" cried the
girl, her cheeks flaming. "You think
l have not suffered, Arthur, for PHYS
sake, do not look at me like that!'
| What could the man do? Did he
not love this wayward child, with all
her unjustifable distrust of himself,
better than anything else in the world'
First the position of their hands
changed, for he put out his other one,
and took both her little ones into his
strong grasp. Then his tone soft
ened:
"Estelle, Estelle how long will this
phase last?'
81 will never, never doubt you
again :" she exclaimed, passionately.
Never till next time" said Rivers
with just perceptible smile. How
am ever to feel safe?'
She would have protested, but he
silenced her.
"Words are useless, my child he
said. "We must begin again from
the beginning" and Herewith he go
over the stile and proceeded to make
, love so delightfully."- that when Mary
descended from her perch and insisted
on going home, Estelle thought an(
called her horrid bore"
But Mary was too well content a
the completeness of their reconciliation
: to mind being abused Nor had sh
any fear for the ultimate stability O.
: their happiness, knowing that ther
s was in Estelle plenty of good material
and that Arthur not only understoo'
her well now, but would conquer il
the end by sheer force of love and pa
e tience.