The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-02-10
BY THE GATE OF THE SEA.
BY David Christie Murray,
AUTHOR OF "a MODEL FATHER, "A EIPns
AToNEMEST." Ero.

1t was noticeable to Phil that the
poet, for some reason as yet unknown,
was gradually becoming less and less
at his ease while the reading of the
play went on, and this somewhat
dashed his own interest in the business.
Now for time Marsh deserted Phil al
together, and left him standing in a
corner companionless, while he crossed
the room and addressed Miss Churchill.
"Will you give me wordP" asked
che poet.
''Certainly."
81 have done o clumsy thing, and
have only just begun to see it. A
worshipper Of yours, poet and as 6ne-
hearted lad as have met anywhere,
wants to know you, and have brought
him here"
II noticed him." she answered. "He
has an honest face. Why should you
apologizep l am always pleased TO
know your friends. You have the
secret Of knowing none but good peo-
pie"
"Your own goodness" he said in re-
turn, ''brightens everything you shine
on. Forgive me, but am so old a
courtier that l can dare to speak the
truth now and then. But 1 am afraid
may pain you, and yet / feared you
might blame me II you knew, and If !
did not bring him. l can not tell
whether l am acting well or i'll, wisely
or in my common way"
This preamble has q meaning~ she
said.
"a serious one," says the poet, un-
easily. "The young gentleman is a
Mr. Maurice-Mr. Philip Maurice, Of
Tregarthen."
"The child she whispered, looking,
with a whiCe face, at the poet, "who
was saved from the wreckP"
"The same," Marsh answered. "If
I have done wrong"
'You have not done wrong. Excuse
me for moment. Let him stay till 1
return"
She moved with somewhat stately
carriage from the greenroom, though
her knees shook beneath her, and her
heart beat wildly. When she reached
the luxuriously furnished little cham
Der private TO herself her trembling
knees relaxed altogether, and she al
most fell into the armchair beside the
Fireplace.
"Does he know who I amp" she
asked herself, thinking Of Phil. "Does
he know what Arthur thinks Of mep"
A thousand tumultuous questions were
in her mind, thousand tumultuous
feelings ran riot in her heart. How
great sinner she had been, SHINING
every day against his expressed wishes,
and earning hateful fame and adula-
tion by i'll She had wrecked the noblest
of lives, broken or darkened the man.
lest heart. For the millionth time she
wondered why she had not stayed to
brave the storm, TO make her confes-
sion and to be forgiven and TO serve
him like slave with lifelong devo-
ton. And even in her self-accusing
soul some faint voice Of necessary
egotism sounded. Would she have
been so unworthy Of him af-
Ger all II he had taken her
back and forgiven herp Would she not
have loved him so, with such an unfail-
ing worship and such willing sur
render Of her soul, that he must have
loved her back againP She suffered
greatly while she sat thus, and even
wept little; but calming herself by and
by, and removing all traces Of her tears,
she returned to the green-room with
seeming tranquility.
There were not more than half q
dozen people left there, but among
them were Phil and the poet She
moved toward them, and Marsh per-
formed the Office Of introduction.
~ am pleased to meet you, Mr..
Maurice" she said, in the beautiful
tones which had so moved him when
ne heard them from the stage. He
bowed in answer, but was tongue-tied
for the moment. as II he had been In