News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-02-11
her voice hardly under control.


Il will keep your secret and serve
you," said Rivers, with Just that strong
gentleness in his voice which Estelle
thought he had no right to use to any
one but her. The miserable girl clenched
her hands and teeth in the effort to re-
strain herself, conscious of the untitness
OF making a scene, but self-control was
not to be learnt in a moment, and pas
sion asserted itself.
Arthur" she said, in low, choking
voice, and stepping down toward HIM,
you are traitor-you have deceived
me-you-" she could hardly speak, and
now she put one hand to her head, while
the other, extended, forbade his approach
So she stood for moment, then her
figure swayed, she missed her footing,
and he OILY caught the words, 'EAh, you
have killed me!' before she fell at his
feet, sotbing, crying, raving, f1inging
herself about in violent Mysteries, like
one possessed.
Eva, shocked beyond measure, called
Mary Cotterell to her aid, and, with as
little fuss as possible, they got Estelle
upstairs, where she continued all night
III state of half-delirous misery and
rage. The only thing she was distinct
Or persistent about was that she would
never see or speak to Arthur again. He
lett the house in despair, pinnlng 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 dcvoting all his energies
to getting Hal Armitage the colonial post
desired for him by Eva
Estelle, sorely ashamed of herself by
this time, heard the news Of his success
from Mary, who added an explanation of
the part played by Arthur.
care you satisfied now?" asked the
latter, with the sternness she found more
salutary than gentleness.
why hasn't Arthur been to see meW
asked Estelle, looking down.
You wentt2o far this time; you for.
got that be ls<s1ri2e''
Estelle sprarg up and dropped on her
knees beside Nary's chair. "Let me go
to him? Not 70 his house, don't mean
that, but somewhere where l shall meet
him. Oh! my dear Mary, do this one
thing more forme, Iimplore your
II don't think you deserve anything
of the sort" said Mary sharply, and
nothing like promise could be extorted
from her.
1t was, 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 in her Frcnchified dress, and
never so much as took off her gloves. 1t
was lucky, too, that just 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 comprised her about.
Where were Estelle's low spirits now?
She had meant to be very humble and
penitent, but it was never any use for her
to decide beforehand how she would be-
have, and now, when she saw the "drcad-
full red-haired man. approaching her, the
pleasure of it was so great that every
thing else went out of her head. There
was a stile between them, and hastily
gathering a field daisy, she went and
stood her side of 1t, with a face full of
childish gayety.
''He loves me little, much, more,
not at ALL" she began, rapidly counting
out the petals, and glancing mischieyous-
ly at her lover, "a little, much, most of
all !" she ended triumphantly, expecting
him to clear the stile in a moment and
punish her with kisses for her bad be-
hayior
But Arthur did nothing of the kind.
There was not vestige of a smile on his
worn face, and he looked at her so grave
Iy that a sudden fear and heart-ache
took possession of her.
arthur, forgive me- she said timid-
y, and, taking in both hers the hand ne
lad laid on the stile.
Gam [ never to be more than the play
hing of your Jealous caprice, Estelle?"
he asked sadly.
''Ah, you are cruel! You are torment
ng me, humbling mer' cried the girl,
ler cheeks flaming "You think l have
lot suffered Arthur, for PHYS sake do
lot look at me like that!'
What could 1he man do2 Did he not
Owe this hayward child, with all her I'M
ustiiable distrust of himself, better than
anything else in the world?
First the position of their hands
hanged, for he put out his other one,
md took both her little ones into his
trong grasp. Then his tone softened:
'Estelle, Estelle, how long will this
Dhase last?'
II will never, never doubt you againr'
he exclaimed, passionately.
''Never till next time, said Rivers,
With just perceptibIc smile ''How am
ever to feel safc?'
She would have protested, but he ST
enced her ''Words are useless. nv
hid" he said 1--WE must begin again |
rom the beginning" And Herewith he
cot over the stile, and proceeded to make
owe so delightfully."-, that when Mary de-
ccnded from her perch and insisted on
going home, Estelle thought and called /
Ter ''horrid BORE
But Mary was too well content with
he completeness of their reconciliation to
mind being abused. Nor had she anv
ear for the ultimate stability of their
knowing that there was in
1stelle plenty of good material, and that
arthur not only knew her well now, but
would conquer in the end by sheer force
If love and patience.