The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-04

intercourse: changing it Into IitfIemoIe
than conventional politenesS- ehyitess
and eonstraint now made themselves
manifest in every word and actIon-per-
haps. in mine also We spent the day
together as usual. but the companions
ship must have been lTksome TO both,
so greatly was its footing changed Tor
the worse. That night | went to bed
wretched. The prize | had striven fer
seemed 10 be snatched away Just as /
had hoped to win i'll
So several DAYS passed. Pauline made
DO sign, or certainly none l could con-
strue favorahIy. | could bear this state
of things no longer. Priscilla. whose
sharp ewes saw that something WAS
amiss. pestered me beyond endurance;
and spoke her mind SO roundly that
began to suspect she had already exc
cuted her threat of telling Pauline
everything; and felt inclined to attrib-
ute my failure to the old woman'S Of
ficiousness in making apremature reve-
latioL. All might have gone we'll had
been given another week or fortnight
to win my wife's heart. | began TO be-
lieve that she was growing unhappy;that
my presence troubled her. Not that
she eylnced any wish to avoid me: IN
deed, she came so surely at my beck
and call as to suggest a shadow of the
those days upon which | now dreaded
TO dwell. But | felt she would be hap
pier and more at ease III my absence.
So | resolved to depart
knew that my only way was TO car
" ont my determination at once. Hav-
ing made the resolve. | would act upon
it next day. packed up my things IN
readiness. | arranged by which coach
TO go. should have three hours III the
morning to give Priscilla my final in
structions and to bid my wife adieu for
ever.
| could not go without explaining
some things TO her. l need not pain
| her by abiding to our relationship, but
| must inform her that she was not the
| heiresS she believed. / must tell her she
| had plenty to live upon without saying
| that |. her husband. would supply it.
| When this was arranged, farewell for
| everl
As soon as had finished my pretense
| at breakfast l walked across to the
! house where Pauline lodged. As yet
/ she knew nothing of my purpose.
/ held her hand rather longer than usual,
and by desperate effort forced words
/ to my lips.
Il am come to say goodbye. l go to
| London to-day"
She answered not word. but I felt
| her hand tremble iii my own. Her eyes
| | could not see.
Eyes | have loitered here long
enough" | continued. attempting to
speak easily; "a great many things call
| me to town"
| Pauline was not looking in the best
of health this morning. Her cheek was
paler than it had been since my arrival.
She looked languid and depressed.
Doubtless my. presence had worried
her. Poor girl, She would soon be re-
Iieved of that
Seeing that | paused for her to speak
she found hervoice, but even that seem
ed to have lost some of its freshness
| and tone.
when do you go?" was all that she
said Not a word about my retuTnl
by the midday coach. l have still
some hours left. AS it is the last time,
| shall we walk to the Clearing together"
do you wish it,"
"If YOU have no objection. Besides, |
want to speak to you about yourself
| about business matters" | added, to
4 show that she need not fear the inter-
yiew
q viii come" she said, quitting the
room hurriedly.
| I waited. Presently Priscilla appear
ed. She was looking daggers at me
| undeserved, at least from her. Her
voice was harsh and raspy, bringing
back to my mind a familiar sound of
early childhood. when | had committed
some petty crime which excited her ire.
Miss Pauline begs you viii walk ON
and not wait for her. She will join you
at the Clearing presently"
L took my hat and prepared to do as
| commanded. Priscilla had said moth
ing which showed she knew of my APP
preaching departure, but as | was pass
ing out of the house she said, in a tone
of whitening scorn.
Master Gilbert, you are bigger fool
than | thought you We're"
, Such an observation. even from an
old servant, could not be passed by. |
turned to demonstrate. Priscilla simply
: slammed the door almost against my
Il nose.
walked away-the thing in the face
: of my other troubles was not worth a
, thought. OF course / could not expect
Priscilla to enter into my feelings and
appreciate the delicacy of my position.
Besides, | must see her and have long
talk with her before / left.
The Clearing, as we called it, was a
place on the hillside, not far away. We
had stumbled upon it, almost by acct
dent, during our walks. \ seldom trod-
den path through the wood led to a spot
from which the trees and underground
had been cleared. From it there was a
delightful view of the opposite hills and
the stream winding through the valley
1t was a favorite resort of mine. Here
| had sat for hours talking to Pauline
and here in my dreams | had poured
forth the words of love | longed to
speak-and here l was to say goodbye
foreverl
Ny frame of mind was a sad one
when reached the Clearing. | threw
myself down on the sloping ground and
turned my eyes up the path by which
she must come. A fallen trunk at my
. back formed a rest for my head-the
trees around were rustling in the soft
: breeZe-the monotonous rush of the
stream below was soothing and lulline
"a few white clouds sailed SLOWLY
, across the sky. 1t was a drowsy dreamy
, beautiful morning. | had scarcely slept
| for the last two or three nights. Pau.
line fingered. Is it any wonder that my
eyes closed and for a while all sorrow
and disappointment were chased away
by the sleep | so sorely needed?
, Was it sleep? Yes, because one must
sleep in order to dream. All if that
dream were reality, life would be worth
{ having. | dreamed that my wife was
, beside me, that she took my hand and
, pressed her lips to it passionately, thai
! her cheek was almost touching mine
that l could feel her soft sweet breath
So real did it seem that l turned on my
, hard rustic pillow toward the dream
and then of course it vanished.
/ opened my eyes. In front of me
stood Pauline. Those grand dark ewes
+ of hers no longer yelled by the lashes
, but open and looking into mine. | saw
them but for a second, but that was
: long enough for the look had surprised
{ to send the blood throbbing through my
! veins-to make me spring to my feet
: to embolden me to take her suddenly
, and swiftly in my arms-to cover hel
sweet face with kisses, calculating the
) only words that one can find at such 3
time. Il love YOU! I love youi | love