The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-12

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 a time Marsh deserted Phil al
together, and left him standing in a
corner companionless, while he crossed
che room and addressed Miss Churchill.
xviii you give me word?" asked
the poet. ABS 2
Certainly"
i.. II have done clumsy thing, and |
have only Just begun to see it. A
worshipper of yours, poet and as line
hearted a 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
apologize? / am always pleased to
know your friends. You have the
secret of knowing none but good peo-
ple.p =
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 | am afraid
Imay pain you, and yet / feared you
might blame me if you knew, and if |
did not bring him. ! can not tell
whether am acting well or i'll, wisely
or in my common way.
This preamble has meaning?' she
said.
"A serious one," says the poet, I'M
easily. "The young gentleman is
Mr. Maurice -Mr. Philip Maurice, Of
Trcgarthen."
1.-THE child she whispered, looking,
with white face, at the poet, "who
was saved from the wreck?'
The same" Marsh answered. IF
/ have done wrong
., ''YOu have not done wrong. Excuse
me for moment. Let him stay till l
return n. o. ..
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 l amp" she
asked herself, thinking of Phil. "Does
he know what Arthur thinks of me?'
A thousand tumultuous questions were
in her mind, a 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-
ton by it! She had wrecked the nobest
of lives, broken or darkened the man.
Hest heart. For the milionth time she
wondered why She had not stayed to
brave the storm, to make her confess
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-
ter all if he had taken her
back and forgiven herp Would she not
have loved him so, with such an unfail-
ing worship and such a willing sur
render of her soul, that he must have
loved her back again? She suffered
greatly while she sat thus, and even
wept a 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.
Il am pleased to meet you, Mr..
Maurice she said, in the beautiful
tones which had so moved him when
he heard them from the stage. He
bowed in answer, but was tongue-tied
for the moment, as if he had been in
the presence of some gentle divinity.
81 am alone at home this afternoon,
Mr.. Marsh she added, "and shall be
glad if you and Mr. Maurice will take
cup of tea with me. Lima is there, of
course" she added with faint smile
''but sisters are not always the best of
company to each other"
"You libel Lima and YOURSELF" said
che poet with prctence of gayety.
'.In half an hour" she said, turning
toward the door. May | expect
you?' r.ra -.
Her carriage waited at the stage en-
trance to the theater and she drove
away, with another faint smile and a
nod Of the head to Phil. He and the
poet followed her on foot, and, reach
ing the house, were shown into little
jewel of q room, where everything was
wonderfully neat and rich and dainty.
BY and by the actress reappeared, in
indoor costume; tea was brought, and
the three settled down to talk. The
hostess, with her face turned from the
light, nestled into luxurious chair,
and spoke from twilight in which her
features were scarcely to be discerned.
You know Tregarthen Island, Mr..
Maurice?n
"0h, yes" said Phil, a good deal
surprised at the question. II have
spent more than half my life there"
! "a am a Cornish woman" she said.
81 was born at Gorbay But | have
not seen it for long time. Is it much
changed? Tell me about the Island.
Are the Pollarths living?n
Jan is dead" said Phil, did you
know Jan the patriarch of the tribe?"
'.Poor JAM she said, with tremor
III her voice. Marsh sat i'll at ease,
fearing she would break down. "But
the rest are all living? Reuben and
his children, and
' "Alt of them," Phil answered.
"Jan' is the only death that has taken
place on the Island for more than
twelve years" t.-