Smyrna times., 1886-03-10
ance: nI-do not-lLnow. "

away. have loved you a long time. I
am almost sure you can return my love-
And we shall be so happy. Turn your
sweet face, darling"
She obeyed slowly. The movement
of her perfect head was gradual, yet
certain. Slowly, slowly her pale, pure
countenance was dawning fully upon
him. He bent his head a little. He
bent to press his lips to hers, when she
fell away as if struck
ooh p she cried out, and began to
tremble violently. "No, no, mol I
must have time to think. You must
give me time. 1t is too sudden -
He bowed in silence, looking aston
ished and displeased.
Shall we return ?" he asked then.
"Yes," she answered family, and
they retraced their steps. She said
nothing more. She was only thinking
of the singular sensation she had but
now experienced What was it q? How
could she describe it p? Just ere his lips
had brushed her own, a sharp, crashing
sound rang in her ears, as if it were the
sound of something far away. The
sound of catastrophe, great or small
she could not tell a sound he might
not hear; a sound audible only to her.
self, though why she could not tell.
The sound of death perhaps. But what
ever it was it bore down upon her and
her affairs.
As at length they emerged from the
grove and climbed the slope toward the
hotel, they quickened their steps-fOr
Two reasons. One, that the sun had
gone down and the air was chilly the
other, that something seemed to have
happened at the hotel. There was a
commotion in the piazza guests and
servants had all gathered there and
something-Or some one-was being
carried in.
Faster, faster T. said Grace Duval,
abruptly. Something has happened p
She left her cousin and ran on, but the
commotion had subsided partly as she
reached the steps. The hotel team,
they told her, had run away and dashed
into another team, and Felix Gray was
brought back dying.
Grace Duval put her hand to her head
in dazed way The crash! The cal
amity ! Was it this Then some one
spoke her name. Felix was asking for
her-fOr Miss Duval. Would she go to
him. He could not live an hour. She
turned, bade her cousin go to her mother,
then followed some one to the room
where the boy Felix lay dying. Was it
not a barren place-that bare-hoored,
bare-walled place? Was it not a sweet,
still face before her? They left her
alone with the dying. He had some
thing to confide, some secret He could
barely whisper.
Grace Duval knelt and took a blood
less hand with purpling nails in her
own.
"What can 1 do2" she said tenderly.
and tears fell from her gentle eyes.
Nothing, said Felix Gray. "You
can do nothing-but listen" He had to
stop and speak more slowly. "I have
something to-ten you. About-aboui
girl There was a girl once
she was young, and she was not wise.
A mana man came to be her lover.
They were to be married"
Grace DuvaI bent her ear very close
and held the cold hand closer in hel
own
Eyes" she said tenderly. "I under.
stand" Felix continued with increas.
ing difficulty: "They went to a place
to be married But he haC
lied. He had not meant marriage. HI
had wronged her-forced her to evi
He ruined her to all her friends
-disgraced her. She had to leave hel
home. She had to do the lowest, meanesi
work. He cast her off. She begged o.
him, implored of him to be honorable
to save her. He-deserted her. ShC
tried to die, but she could not. TheI
she took an oath that he should not bC
happy while she lived. She swore thai
she would follow him and stand between
him and any other woman. 1t was
necessary that she should disguise her
self. She-changed the color of hel
hair-from dark to light. She wore
mems clothes. Her real name was
Felicle. She made it-Felix Gray. TIL,
man that she lOved-is here. You know
him"
Grace Duval did not move, though
loud voice rang il her ears. Something
crept mp in her throat and seemed t,
choke her for an instant And the1
again she controlled herself "Poo
child Poor girl - she said with yearn
ing compassion.
Felix Gray tried to speak again, bu
only indistinct whispers issued from he
lips. Around my neck-a locket-hil
picture-I loved him"
Grace Duval saw life flicker out say
the gray look, and stilled features tn
quiet of death.
She folded the hands of Felix GRAY
She gently unloosened the collar an,
lifted the lOcbet of which she had beel
told. There was a picture within. !
was the picture of a man-the face @
Kirke Duval She took the locket from
the chain-fOr the sake of the dead
lest some one else discover. Then sh
rose from her kneeling posture and, hal
turning, saw the door open and he
cousin enter
She went near to him and held th
locket open.
He glanced at it and turned as pale q
the dead
Grace Duval spoke slowly then, Will
out culver Of lash or lip.
From this moment" she said in he
clear, composed voice, "from thi
moment we are strangers /" And sh
swept from the room.
VALUE or POP CORN.