Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-07-10

She did not answer. He fancied he heard
her sigh; yet that sigh gave him no hope.
s'That l love you, need not say. You
must have seen that In my own clumsy
fashion must have shown it."
'sI feared it was SO, said Beatrice, dreamily.
eyes, it was, always will be So Even as
speak, speak with little hope; but, at least,
you will hear and believe love you.'
His voice was so deep and earnest she
scarcely recognized it. He looked at her.
Her lashes were cast down and tears were
forcing their way through them.
"Wn you answer me?" he said, tenderly.
IT do not insult you by speaking of wealth
or rank in the world. If you loved man
you would care little for that You would
marry the man you loved in spite of all the
world.n
She shivered Her mouth worked piteously.
For a second a wild, joyful thought ran
through the wooer's mind-for second only.
"Do I judge you rightly?" he asked.
81 think so-but, oh, Mr.. Mordle, am SO
sorry for this"
Her accent left no doubt as to the genuine
ness of her regret. Had she wronged him to
the greatest extent, it could not have been
more real.
So like man he took his answer. He rose.
His face was pale, but then a mans face is,
so far as color goes, beyond his control. But
his manner and words were his own bond
servants.
''We can still be friendsg" he jerked out
in very good imitation of his usual brisk
manner.
eff you wish it," said Beatrice, quietly,
almost humbly.
''Of course wish it. By-the-by, will you
wish me a pleasant holiday? I am going
away next week. France, Switzerland, the
Rhine-an the rest of it."
Beatrice laid her hand on his arm "Don't,
please, speak like that; you make me miser
able"
"Miserableq'
"Yes. Do you think a woman does not
feel unhappy when she finds she cannot &C
cept the love of a good man like yourself? Do
you think she believes he goes from her side
and forgets all that has happened? I don't
think am to blame, Mr.. Mordle, but anyway
feel miserable"
He took her hand. ''No, you are not to
blame was fool Never mind, am
man also. I really was going away next
week, unless-well, never mind what. When
come back. if I am not cured of NV folly
can at least promise that even you will not
see any symptoms of disease. Goodbye"
He turned and left her. Even in his desc
lation he had the grain Of comfort that he
had not borne himself amiss. To Miss Clau-
son, at least, he must always stand far above
his unfortunate name.
Z T. he was terribly upset. So much SO
T. that he walked he end of the lane without
= remembering his tricyclg,d was compelled
q to retrace his steps in order Erecover the
artificial means of propulsion. He feljjs.t
. be a peculiarly unfortunate incident, for,
y he walked up to the house, he caughta gimp
= OF Beatrice standing in pensive, thought
- attitude, gazing out of one of the window
Nevertheless he mounted his metal stee
,, bravely and sped away.
e By the unwritten canons of art, it seems
: me that a. rejected sutton is expected, if
= horseman, to dash his spurs into his charger
: TANKS and gallopa away, anywhere, anywher
u if pedestrian, he should rush off in frenz,
q stride off with dignity, or lounge away wit
tstudied carelessness. The Rev. Sylvanu
manner of departure was certainly an in
: pertinent invasion of comedy into the gril
| realms of tragedy. But in real life the tw
are always inextricably mingled. Only j
romances do we find them kept quite apar
This is not romance.