The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-05

qre. my por,n..Ire4u ON cap before the
door.
Mrs. Dalyel. 1 said. falteringly, Il have
come to wish you good-b
I She turned ami looked az me, her faca
cold and stern as it had been the night
before. There was Scornful smile on hel
| beautiful rel lip
Where are You going." she asked. coldly.
To my old life. To the home in which
/ you fouud me; and shall have all want
all that is good for me, corrected, hur-
| riedly.
Go. then"
Yes But / can not go ike this, Her
GOODNESS cut ma tt the heart. 'WilI YOU
not kiss me first. have loved you sou
would as soon kiss an adder" she
cried. her eyes blazing with anger. ''Go
go: never let ma Sc, or hear of You again
With choking sensation in my throat
turned away. Pulling down nv vail, left
the hotel and started on my sad and soil
tary journey back tt town. How dretry
looked my two small rooms in the dull
narrow street of Kensington, despite the
warm wslcoms of the kind. mOt1srly
woman with whom l lodged! But l was
determined not to repine. msSt accept
my life as it was and make the bss, of it.
Besides, had l not still my art: So
1 set about putting my little studio
IN order, taking from where l had
slowed them, my bits OF china, my tapes
try, my specimens of painted glass. This
done, sat myself down TO paint a plaque.
Is 1T aias, my hand seemed to have lost its
cunning, my eyes their sense of color All
how have laughed since at the sorry
sight that unlu:ky plaqus presents for L
continued to paint at it long after it was
too dark to sac. And then-an1 then,
suppose, [ dropped asleep.
"Thank heaven, you are awake at laSt!f
a wellknown, much loved voice exclaim I'd.
which it had been resting, rubbed my
eyes and began to look about me. The
gas was lighted. Was it dream that HOr-
ace stood before me!
Il followed you from Bath by the "sxt
train" he went on, excitedly. AMI now
tell me, Lucy. tell me that you did MT III ean
what you said to me last night"
Il did mean it. can never, never mar
ry you" l answered, recovering myself j
knew now it WIS no dream; but that HOr
ace was really there demanding-as he I'M
doubleday had a right to do-an explana
ton of my conduct.
why can not you marry me-"
"Because-" o, how could explain?
Il kaDW you love me. Lucy"
This is cruel wicked of your 1 cried,
turning away my face.
"And loving me-knowing also that /
love yOu-it is cruel, wicked of you" he
continu ed, using my own words ''to doom
us both to misery for no reason that can
understand. Ii you persist in refusing to
have any thing to say to me. pray who will
be the gainerH'
Mrs. Dalyel"
''Great heavens, child, Do you imagine
that she is at last in love with me! I con-
fesS had not thought of that!'
Then do think OF it Horace. You have
met again. 1t iS-it is-4uite possible.
This is indeed too rich joke. What
them"
She has been SO good to me-so good!
1t would be such b tse ingratituis-
All, now l bagiu To see! You would
sacrifice your happiness to Quixotic
fancy. But in that case, Lucy, you should
take care to be the only sufferer. You
have no right to spoil my life, too"
But would 1t spoil yours! Suppose
she loved you and was ready to marry you
to morrow"
Il would not have her if there were not
another woman in the world! l love you,
Lucy, and you only. Come, sweetheart,
put all these far-fet he'd ideas of gratitude
aside. Unsav the cruel words you spoke
last night. Tell me that" He paused
we stood close together now. He caught
my hand and pressed it unhindered to hi.
lips.
Il love you, Horace" ( whispered, land
decided wrongly. o, can you ever for
give me-"
He did forgive me; but Mrs Dalyel did
not. L nave never seen hor since that
TO me-moSt wret :hei day at Bath. She
d as a new craze" now, / hear, and l am
glad of it, because l believe if she has that
she is happy. Dressed in sable garments.
covered by long dark cloak. she goes al
night to visit amongst the Lon lon poor,
there, with generous hand, ministerine
to their needs They look upon her as an
angel of mercy, and her name is blessed by
the miserable and the ffi.cted. Am then
right in calling IL "a craze.o Is it not
rather that her heart has Softened and that
what must have bseu real trouble to heI
has opened it TO ParadiSes
l have married Horace, and am happier
than had thought it possible to he here
below. realize now how wrong | should
have been had l given him up forever, an6
so spoilt and, perhaps, wrecked two human
lives. 1 have never seen Mrs Dalyel since
that fatal day at Bath, but something
whispers to me that the hour is not far
distant when we shall meet once more and
she will restore to me all the affection sc
rely lavished upon me III the days gone
)y.-E. u. Dreg. IN The 1Iyosg.