The Washington critic., 1886-09-25

you, darling, for the light you have
cast upon II. IL will he like looking
back TO heaven. ! dare not see you
ogain-I tested my strength to its full
extent yesterday. God grant that some
better man may win you; TO love you
better is not within his power Nor
must you think that blame you that
you shrank from sharing the new life
upon which / enter Flowers cannot
live without sunlight. only wanted
10 be sure that made no mistake In
interpreting the best course for your
happiness"
And then, with few more warm,
pas sicnate, loving words of farewell,
the letter closed
Two years passed, and the little
world which had known Chester Thor.
ley so well knew him no more. He
had entirely disappeared. 1t was rs
though the sea had opened and swal-
lowed him up.
Marion Willoughby was Marion vii.
loughby still. If she suffered she made
no sign, but those who had seen the
one sparkling stone which had been
the pledge of her engagement to Ches
ter Thorley, noticed that she wore It
still, and others, yet more narrow
watchers, observed that always when
she entered crowded room she would
take hasty glance around, as though
expecting to find some one not there.
She was yet but %, a belle and a
beauty still. The third winter of his
absence she left home to spend several
weeks with an aunt.
81 cannot spare you," her father had
said when the invitation came.
But she, going close TO him and lay
ing her head for u moment on his
breast, said:
II think, papa, it would be best"
They were simple words, but he in.
terpreied them aright. The old
wound would not cease its bleeding.
She wanted to 90 amid new scenes, so
only kissed her and bade her to re.
member that the old father awaited her
return.
"You have not been through the
steel works" some one said to her one
day. ut is really most interesting
sight. VIII you join a party, If we
make up one to visit them, Miss
Willoughby?" 2"
with pleasure" she answered,
lightly.
And her aunt, charmed with the
| success Of her beautiful niece. smiled
at Clay Clayton's numerous devices TO
ensnare Marion's society.
He was the great pdri Of the place.
| She had heard something of some early
disappointment in Marions life. 1t
would be splendid triumph thus TO
| obliterate 1t.
The morning appointed for the ex.
pedition dawned beautiful and bright.
They seemed, indeed, like drones, in
| tluding upon some busy hive Of
| workers, as they entered the great
building and looked about them. De.
| partment after department they visited,
watching with interest the delicate
ma chinery and its wonderful working.
Marion's checks flushed with inter.
est, and Clay Clayton, noting, thought
he had never seen her look so beauti.
full.
To-day he determined he must speak,
when suddenly he heard a cry, and
glancing up. saw her standing quite
apart from the group, her eyes ablaze,
her lips quivering.
AT little distance from her, adjust
ing some piece of machinery, was a
man in working blouse. Her Cry also
attracted him and he looked up.
Their eyes met. His face grew
deathly pale, but gave no other sign of
recognition. She went straight towards
him, oblivious of all, with hand out
stretched.
"Chester," she said in voice scarce
louder than whisper; "at last'
lie bowed low in response, and took
| nntipa .f hnv I,,,t hn ~
dauntless pride was in the uplifted
head and fearless glance.
"Did you know that / was here?"
she questioned.
No" hereplicd. Il am no longer
in your world"
You will come to see me?'
81 cannot"
Here his voice broke little.
Mr. Clayton" she said. "let me
present my friend, Mr.. Thorley."
Spite of the innate breeding of the
man, some of the instructive surprise
at hearing n steel-workcr addressed by
Miss Willoughby as friend made it.
self apparent in the manner he yet
strove TO conceal.
Then they part passed on. He Won
dered, however, why Marion fingered
moment In the Office TO address the
superintendent some questions as they
came out into the air He had meant,
too, to ask her on the way home the
question which all the day and for
many days had been trembling on his
lips. but there was new expression In
ner eyes and mouth. which instantly
told him this was not the time TO plead
his cause.
Had that fellow inside, who bowed
so like gentleman, been otherwise
than workman, he might have sus
pccted him as in some way responsible.
1t was quite singular enough as it was
that Miss Willoughby should have ad
dressed him as friend. Doubtless
some man who had seen better days,
and for whom she felt womanly pity.
"Can ! see Mr. Thorleyg"
The mistress Of the humble little cot.
tage In one of the suburbs of the large
city looked up amazed at the beau
tiful young lady who asked the ques'
tion.
Indeed, suppose you may. He's
gone up to his room, where he spends
all his evenings, and not bit of sup
per tonight has he touched. Shall
call him DOWN"
mo; let me 90 to him.
'Its the first room to the right Of
the stairs, miss. He is the only lodgel
have, and you are his first visitor.
But the girl needed not the words.
A strange vision she surely was as she
stood an instant outside his door, clad
in costly velvet and rich furs; then she
softly turned the handle and entered.
He did not hear her. lie hat
thrown himself upon his sofa anC
buried his head in its cushions. III,
was so STILL so motionless, she though