The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-22

But 1t was too late, tcoK her hand ana
kissed IL
Il loved you" | continued in those far
of days when we We're boy and girl together.
Then years afterward the sea gave you back
TO my arms, and. God help me the old pas
sion was rekindled in my soul with ten times
its original fire. Once | had looked again
into your face, my darling, / had but one
hope, one thought. | knew | was a mad
man. | knew there was gulf between us
broader than the sea from which l snatched
you, and yet fool that | was. | lived in my
paradise, and refused to see the pitfalls
which were looming ahead. 1t was enough
to know that / loved you. and that some
times | was gladdened by sight of your
face"
paused, and dropped her hand; she was
crying.
Miss Graham . | cried. don't cry, for
Heavens sake. You have right to hate
me for what | have said. =
She quickly brushed away her tears, and
turned to me. smiling sadly.
Don't say So please. l honor and respect
you more than | can say-inore than / can
confess, even to myself | shall pray always
for your welfare and happiness, and l shall
never forget you as long as l liveF
God bless your l murmured. kissing her
hand again.
She drew it away hurriedIy.
''Ah. don't do that she murmured, Il
ought rather to kneel TO you-you who are
so much brayer and better than l.
She walked away a little, and l stood for a
moment ponderng with my eyes upon the
sea.
Suddenly said, Miss Graham, when are
you to be married9'' She started, hesitated
for a moment. and then REPLIED
Il don't quite know. l am going up to
London shortly. We are to be married
there"
Every word she uttered seemed to stab me
to the heart Up to this / had clung to a
wild hope that the reports | had heard might
have had no foundation-now that hope was
gone.
"Why," 1 asked desperately, "are you go
ing to marry your cousin?'
She started again, and trembled slightly.
'Why do people generally marry one an
Other?' she answered. ''Still, there is very
grave reason why this should be. My cousin
is comparatively poor while l am rich; he
has grave difficulties before him which l can
relieve if | am his Wife
Did he put all this before you?'
No: lie does not even know that am
aware Oh IL. An! MT. ITeIdNneN, We nave
all our troubles, and my poor aunt is break.
ing her heart over hers. Things have been
going wrong ever since my uncle died. !"
And you are to be sacrificed TO set them
right aganr'
Where does the sacrifice come in@'
did she ask you if you loved her son?''
mo. She asked me if there was any one
else whom / wished to marry, and | answer
ed her truthfully: l said there was not
We walked back over the marshes, Made
line leaning lightly on my arm; but we never
spoke word. Having reached the road. we
walked on toward Redruth House, and
paused at the gate.
Goodbye, Miss Graham / said holding
forth my hand.
'Good-byeT' she said.
Yes" l returned, Il think it ought TO be
goodbye. In a week or ten days at most,
shall be leaving ST Gmlott's, and we may
not meet again.
Before knew what she was doing, she
had seized my hand and raised it to her lips.
Goodbye, dear friend" she murmured,
'and may God bless your then, with a sob,
she turned and was gone.
/ stood petritied watching in a dazed kind
of wonder the figure as it moved up the
moonlit avenue and disappeared amongst
the trees; then, with a sigh, | turned away.
Bitterly as had suffered through my love
for Madeline. | did not for one moment wish
that the episode in my life had never been.