San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-17

~ ulut ilti lIOubit, sue IOsc anu lett Lnc
ROOM
Meanwhile Munster evinced similar sur
prise and CONSERVATION. He bit his lips as
he read his letter, and passed his hand nerv-
ously through his hair. Then, with signifi-
cant look, he passed the letter TO his wife,
who, reading it, in her turn became similarly
troubled.
As he passed the letter to her something
dropped ruStling to the floor, and Munster,
looking rather red, stopped and picked 1t up.
1t was a curiously printed paper, and looked
like the note of some foreign bank.
Breakfast was misunderstood began-but
Madeline did not appear. Munster still look.
ed fidgety and annoyed.
As for myself, was torn by sensations 10
which my little heart had been hitherto q
stranger. felt on the brink of precipice,
down which all that held dear was disap-
pearing. could not eat could not say my
tasks, could not think. What was going
to happen? asked myself wildly again and
again.
At two o'clock, when we were summoned
to dinner, no sight of Madeline. But by this
time some hint of the truth was forcing IL
self upon me.
A whisper had passed round the school
Madeline Graham is going awayr
Going awayp Whittier? To that far-dis-
tant, that mysterious land whence she had
come, and whittier might never follow her?
Going away forever! Passing westward,
and taking with her all that made my young
life beautiful and happy. Could this be?
shall never forget the agony Of that day.
have had blows since but none harder |
have felt desolatiOn since, but none deeper
After school, 1 hung round the house.
haunted every spot where she might be e1-
pected to appear. yearned to hear the truth
from her own lips. paced TO and fro like
criminal awaiting his sentence. could not
bear the sight OF the other boys, but kept TO
the secret places, moody and distracted.
Quite late in the evening. | wandered into
the garden-a favOrite resort of ours. The
sun had sunk, but his slowly fading light
was still fitting the qui, place, and the shad-
OwS of trees and bushes were still distinct
upon the ground.
had not been here long when heard the
foot knew, and, turning, beheld my little
friend fastening toward me.
She was pale, hLt otherwise composed,
and said at once;
"Have yOu heard tn at am going swsyY'
i stammered something, know not what;
1t must have been inaudihle. l had a sharp,
choking sensation, and dropped my looks
from hers.
81 have just got a letter from my father. l
am to go back home Immediately. Seer
So saying, she placed in my hand the small
Enclosure which she had received from Mum
ster in the morning. Seeing my puzzled
look, she exclaimed:
"YOu may read it,
i did read ID, in one quick, painful glance
remember every word Of it now. 1t was
written in a large, bold hand, and ran as fol-
lows:
my OWN DARLING LITTLE MADELINE
You will hear from the good people with
whom you are living that great change has
taken place, and that you must come home at
once. Wish q kind goodbye to all your
friends in England; perhaps you may never
see them again. Come without delay to your
loving father, RoDERICK GRAHAM"
Prepared as | had been for the blow, it did
not fall so heavily as it might have done. |
struggled with my feelings and chOked down
a violent tendency to cry
She perceived my CONSERVATION, and was
herself moved. But there wass qBick, strange
light In her eyes, as II she were contemplate
ing something far away.
II have prayed many a night that my faith
er would send for me-" she said. thoughtful
ly; land now he has done so, scarcely feel
glad. l am afraid there is something wrong
at home. Shall you be sorry, Hugh, when |
go?''
At this open question | broke down utter
ly, and burst into violent sob
She put her hands in Wine and looked
earnestly into my face.
II thought you would be sorry. None OF
them will miss me so much as you. We have
been great friends; never thought could
be such friends with boy. shall tell my
father of you, and he will like you, too. Will
you kiss me, Hugh, and say good-bye%
could not answer for tears; but put my
arms round her neck, and did kiss her-a
pure, true, loving boys kiss, worth a million
of the kisses men buy or steal In the broad
world.
My tears mOstened her cheek as did 50.
but she did not cry herself.
She was altogether calm and superior, bow
ing down to my boyhoOd, compassionating
and cherishing me; but in all possibility
sharing little Of my intense personal passion.
She was nearer womanhood than to man
hood girls always are more mature than
boys); and she took my worship in gentle
state. A queen, kissed by royal subject
could not offer her cheek more royalty than
little Madeline offered her cheek to me.
Yet her manner was full of strong affec-
ton, too. She would miss me, felt sure.
In the midst Of my agony, 1 found words
TO inquire how soon our dreaded parting was
to take place. What was my establishment
TO hear that she was going to leave MINISTER'S
at once.
There is ship to sail in two days. and
must 60 away to Liverpool tomorrow early
in the morning. My poor father! There is
something very wrong indeed, and 1t will be
many week before we meet, though the
ship should sail ever so fast"
As write, recollection darkens, the sun
sinks behind the little garden; the little
shape fades away, and it is dark night /
seem to remember no more.
But what is this that CLEANS up before mep
1t is the faint gray light of dawn. have
been in very disturbed sleep, and am awak-
ened by harsh sound in the distance. 1t is
the sound Of carriage wheels.
start up; it is daylight.
hear hum of voices in the house below.
Without awakening any Of my companions
in the room, creep to the window, and look
out.
How chilly looks the cold damp world out
side! How pitiless and cold lie the dews on
the leaves all aroundl l SILVER, and my
heart aches.
A traveling-carriage stands at the door, and
a sleepy-eyed coachman yawns on the box.
Hush yonder from the house porch comes
Mrs. Munster and by her side the little figure
that love.
The proud spirit is broken this morning,