The Wilmingtonian., 1885-04-11

stronghold futtered round the candle; but,
save by a little tired look, he saw from his
covert and distant observation in her eyes,
she welcomed his return to her, all unque'-
tioning his absence He found himself grow
ing irritated, almost angry.
"Will you drive with me this afterno )n"'
she asked him this morning.
"Yes, " he replied.
And at five o'clock, a perfect little trap
stood waiting its mistress occupancy-the
horses paving mpatiently, while the grooms
held their heads, and he, ,lounging near, wait
ing Miss Fielding's advent.
Fifteen, tN enty minutes, passed, and size
did not come. The hali-hOur had struck
before, with hasty apology for her delay, |
she took her seat and gathering up tue rens
in her little gloved hand, gave the ponies an
impatient touch of the whip which made the
groom's scramble for his place behind
almost Waterloo.
Max, quickly observing her, noted that
her face was unusually pale, aud although
there was no redness about her eyes, he
could have fancied there had been recent
tears there However, she talked merrily
aud brightly, as was her wont, and soon the
sea air brought back the col lbr to her cheek,
aud chased the latent look of sadness from
he eyes
"What lovely sky she exclaimed, as a
sudden turn in the road brought them in
full view of sky and ocean, and at that
moment the sunset gun doomed from the
fort
The horses made sharp swerve. The
road was very narrow, with large boulders
on either side Almost before any one
could realize how or when it was done, the
wheel of the pheaton had struck one OF these
and the girl totally unprepared to resist the
shock, was thrown heavily TO the ground
Almost as rapidly, Max was beside her
For the instant he thought her dead. Her
head had struck small stone, and
tipy stream of blood was trickling from her
temple, making her pallor more ghastly.
The thought that she might be dead came to
him with sickeniug awluluess. Death
and this bright, beautiful being seemed so
e wide assuuder; and yet in moment perhaps,
' they had been united; but almost with the
4 dreadful fear came its relief.
e She opened tie lovely eyes, and the white
Inns ouivered while She made a feeble motion
c to rise He drew a brandy flask from his
N pocket. and made her drink: then when she
l. had grown little stronger, he lifted hel
a into the carriage, and supporting her with
one arm, drove slowly home.
x As they approached the hotel she called
II strength into action, and gaining the first
d entrance, escaped With but little assistance
d into the house. BY mutual consent they
Is made no mention of the accident
II For day OF so she was confined to he
ID room, but when she reappeared, save tina
:, she was little paler, she had never betor
looked more lovely.
Of 81 thank you so much, NJ" Elliot, 70
a your kind care of me-" she said as the.
AZ stood together on the moonlit paizza
be "Do not mention it., he answered cold
I'd ly.
Id These past few days had been filled to
of strange experience. His revenge had grow
distastelu to him he told himself 1t cOul
ed not mend Fred's broken heart, and his ow
ak could only harbor scorn.
All The next week he saw but little of Mis-
w. Fielding. lie avoided her whenever h
", could do so, although he noticed she wa
growing wan and pale.
a, "What are you doing Max Elliott aske
AZ Mrs, Redfern, one morning, as she cam
= upon him seated by an open window of I'll
long drawing room. 81 told you once thi
ed Nora Fielding's faultlay rot in her NO
possession of aheart, but that no man ha
not touched it. | could not so to-day. HaN
al you no scruples, no remorse ?"
"None If what you tell me be true,
should only eXult. What could feel bl
oro scorn for woman who could lead a man {
&C. to wrecking his life at her feet But "
an need have no fear Miss Fielding is a capt.
,a, actress, that is all.
~, "NIark what .ay-you will recall tho
60 words, propheSied the little matron, swee
ow ing angrily away.
aw "Never :" mentally calculated the ma
the yaulting through the low window to t
'Ie piazza, with a sudden feeling that the hou
90 stihed him, but not prepared to find hins
ver face TO face with Miss Ficlding's self.
to She had been sitting with an open bo
le'r disregalded in her lap, her eyes gazi
70 seaward, and she had heard of necess
hon every syllable which had been uttered.
red eyes, have heard all, " she said in rel
Hiss to his questioning look, "Iou came h
to revenge your friend. Mr.. Elliott W
~ your revenge shall be complete. You
,n,s he suffered. So you have made me su6
ned Why should seek to conceal what is acut
pen pain to confess ? Was it my fault tha
man could not love Fred Ronalds? Was il
; Vi fault that his own love made him bin
her
,fat IL so, have been punished, and my pun
las ment is your reward. To it ! add
humiliation of this avowal. -
ninS Never was She more lovely, never II
proud than when She stepped from
~ throne to the level of suffering wOmanhC
thew His scorn, his triumph-where Y
they? Swept away as by mighty iiC
iare, aud revealing the naked truth, of all wi
ne yet might be, of all which so nearly he
Saw, lost.
ear Before she had OWNED his purpose he
ID be gathered her two hands into his str
Sode grasp
''Nora, my darling, forgive me Y
''''N' ..,.....,,..,l I,,.a ,,n,, aud INV I,vg