Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-12
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH SUNDAY. DECEMBER r. 1886
" Why not speak tho truth and say

why not speak tho truth and say
II is entirely the fault OF those wretchsd
cards? kne~ how il would be--no~
you bate us, and hoped We should be
such friends." Her voice broke, and
she turned heP head, that I might no,
see The tears that gathered in her
eyes.
81 have been o fool, replied hun.
bly,. ~ ought to have needed your
warming; bat, you see, | always won
at first"
An almost imperceptible smile curled
Der red lips AT this gratuitous piece OF
information. What a fool she must
have thought me
"Well yon will be removed from
temptation after today" she remarked
quietly, " for We leave for England to-
morrow"
TO morrog?" | repeated blankly.
Yes, morrow. In short time.
! suppose, shall settle as the cha'e-
lame Of the priory. wonder how |
shall likeit, and how the country people
Will receive ne. We have no ere jen-
tials to present." and she laughed BIT
terly.
"Wske your mind easy on that
score" said /; every thing colonial is
the fashion. But ] am very glad that
we are likely to meet again so soon. If
you leave | shall no longer have any
jnducement to remain-here."
She looked at me, and her color
rose.
"You are complimentary, Mr..
Brooke"
81 am speaking the truth" Then,
urged by an irresistible impulse, ]
caught her hands ard said hurriedly
" was leaving the week you arrived
it was for you alone | stayed. Ethel.
you must know how dear you are to
me?"
"Hush A." she replied in an agitsted
whisper, ard her face grew white as
death, and an expression Of fear came
into the beautiful dark eyes appraised
to mine.
"Why am ! not to tell you that |
love you?" ! demanded, holding her
closely clssped. "Surely there is no
harm in asking you to be my WIFE,"
"Your wife " she repeated; sis it
possible 2" and the hands | held trem-
bled and grew cold, her eyes closed and
she leaned against my shoulder with
heavy sigh
"Yes, dearest, my wife," | said ten
derly. "Tell me that / am not Iais-
taken in thinking you care for me a
little"
Ethel raised Der head and looked at
ne earnestly. 81 can never be your
wife," she said, slowly; ga gulf lies
between you and me that must forever
divide US. Forget what you have said
to me, and when we next meet think of
me only as an agreeable acquaintance,
who served to while away a few idle
hours at Wiesbsden."
But ] would not listen to her. |
overwhelmed her with protestations and
reprosches; the more she refused to
entertain my suit, so much the more
ardent did | become, until at length,
finding could make no impression upon
her, let her 60, and, flinging myself
upon tho bench, buried my face in my
hands, feeling deeply wounded.
Cecil, forgive me-" she said, com
ing close to me and putting her hands
on my shoulder; "your sorrow cuts
me to the heart; do love you-yes. |
own it, but an insuperable obs acle
divides us. Cecil, if ever want
friend may | count on yOu?"
Yes" replied, looking up at her.
81 will serve you until death"
She made no answer, but bent down
and for an instant her soft lips rested on
my forehead; the next, she turned and
walked rapidly away. watched her
out Of sight, and then, dispirited and
uneasy, l took my way back to the
hotel.
As I entered | was hailed bya tsll,
handsome young fellow lighting his
cigar in the hall. p no rushed forward
and slapped me heartily on tho back.
"IIullo. Jack :" exclaimed, what
in the name of all that's wonderful
brings you here?"
Why, to look you up, my dear boy,
| can't say | think you are any the bet
ter for the air CT Wiesbaden, though
you have not lost your careworn ap-
pcarsnce."
mot likely" | grumbled, " consid-
ering this sweltering weather, and the
thermometer at q hundred. ! am think
ing Of going Tomorrow
mot a bit Of it," returned Jack
MaDvers, my best friend and former
college chum "you will have to stay
with me for few days, and thsn mean
to carry you OIL with me to Vienna.
Any nice people here?" and, linking
his arm in kline, he led the way to ms
apartment, where his servant was I'M
packing.
Funny thing :" he remarked casu-
ally, "as came along from the station
! could have sworn saw man | met
in Australia years ago"
''lndeed :" SAID with some interest,
thinking Of the DaltOns.
Yes he was tried for forgery, and
got five years; my friend Dale prose-
cutCd him, and | was in court at tho
trial. lie was anawful scamp"
"What was his name; "
81 forget now. No, it wasn't Dalton.
don't suppose it was the man AZ all,
but his face reminded me Of him. H.
was fair, with light hair, | remember;
and this chap was as dark as a gypsy
and clean-shayen. But you know ny
old Trick Of finding out likenesseS."
So the conversation ended, aud |
thought no more Of it; it was hardly
likely that a wealthy colonial like Jim
Dalton could have any connection with
the scoundrel in Australia, yet the CO.
incidence of the likeness for it was he
whom Manyers had seen that morniog)
struck me at the time as singular. The
Daltons left before was upnext morn
ing, so | did not see Ethel again, for
they did not appear at table d'hOts the
previous evening. | was sorely disap-
pointed and perplexed at her conduct
towards myself, and would have given