The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-12-24


He really does feel some detection as
he gazes at her CHARMING face and notes
how it paleS beneath his gaze. She
might have O1en MS, he tells himself,
had the Fates been more propitious.
BY which he means if the Fates had
endowed her with a liberal income.
And now it is all over. and the man he
hates most on earth has stolen her
from him.
But is it all over? he asks himself,
as he watches her changing face, and
notes The deep discoAtenC oosomed in
her lovely eyes. To work the undoing
of his enemy seems to Mr.. Mervyn a
very pie lSlng pastime wherewith to
while away these dreary winter days.
Hour by hour this thought grows
with him, and strengthens into posi-
tive determination to lower the man
who had once lowered him in the es-
TEEN of his fellows. 1t is his sweetest
dream by night and day, and after
while he tells himself, with fierce
glow of delight, that he has succeeded
even beyond his utmost expectations.
To Florence his love is but secondary
consideration when compared with her
wild longing to escape from a thrafdOm
into which she has been forced A mar.
tyrdom the more terribly degrading
in that she believes Darlington to be as
Indifferent to heras sac TO aim.
And so the perishabIe days come and
go, and the dreary silent Christmas
creeps past them, and the New Year is
at hand.
Opening the door OF the library, she
enters the room quietly, and goes up
to where Darlington is sitting. 1t is
quite ten o'clock, yet there is some
thing about her of wind and fresh chill
that suggests the possibility of her hav-
in" been abroad, even on such night
as this.
1t is rainless, truly, but the frost is
biting. and the snow is falling softly
between earth and heaven.
Darlington, however, expresses
neither surprise nor displeasure Ris-
ing courteously, he moves to one side,
thus dumbly inviting her to come to
the tire.
AZ am not cold" she says with lit
tie deprecating gesture.
Exercise provides the best warmth,
certainly" returns he quietly.
Eyes l have been out" says Florence.
"A little imprudent, don't you
think?" inquiries he, knocking the ash
Off his cigar, and finally throwing the
cigar itself with what appears to her
almost a regretful glance into the fire.
+" lVhat?" she says. sharply.
"Your meeting him in this sort of
way and unattended
She starts as if shot but rallies di-
rectly, and walks straight up to the
fire.
81 didn't know you were your own
detective" she says coolly; "but as it
is so, I am glad Of it, 1t supplies
matters; and makes it easier for me to
tell you why came here tonight"
After all, my words but expressed q
mental certainty" he says slowly;
had nothing to build upon. Do not
teach yourself to think more harshly of
me then you need. When l saw you
HAD been out, of course knew-Wall,
and you have something to tell me, you
say?"
Yes, it is on my mind, and l must
get rid of it. This life we are leading
i can stand it no longer!"
at is dull, certainly" says Mr.. Bar
zone cannot blame you for
sucn a speech as that. Even ! find it
inSunporCaUie."
"Well, L am going" says Florence
rec sly.
q es! and with whom?"
"You know; Randall Mervyn," re-
piled she, with defiant glance. 1t is
glance, too, so full of WEAKNESS. and
almost childish anger, that from his
soul he pities her.
81 think, perhaps, you might have
made better choice he says. "But
that is your own affair Existence
here, 1 know, is barren to the last
degree. but-how do you propose i'm
proving ito"
"Any change must be an improve