The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-08-07

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sfandr he questioned, in an altered tone.
..You-you expect me to enjoy the little
comedv'?'' l asked with half sob, which
/ in vain tried to suppress.
"Why nots" and he sought to take my
hand.
because to me it is more tragedy than
comedy" l answered, striving to brace
every nerve to calmness, and succeeding
to all outward show.
"We view the matter through different
lights, it appears Lucy. And it is hard
inst little hard on me, think, to take it
as YOU do. You are SO utterly unlike your
old dear self-is it Mrs. Dalyels baneful
influence! You know l strongly objected
to this visit but you were perfectly in
fatuated with the woman-'
'Mr. Dalyel, must leave you. All is at
an end between us said, getting up and
going towards the door.
'But, Lucy, my own darling, this is
simply madness! Whatever has come over
YOU. You surely are satisfied that do
not love that wOman!"
can not argue. But 1 have my own
reasons for assuring you that from now we
must be strangers. Nothing that you car
say will alter this determination. Please
let me pass"
Then you have no right to keep these
reasons to yourself. 1t is the barest justice
that you tell me what they are
o, how could l! How could 1, since he
did not know, or sought to conceal from
me, the fact that Mrs Dalyel loved him!
Mrs. Dalyel is so beautiful, so good"
stammered.
'But, my dearest girl, when l tell you
my heart is yours, and that | 90 not love
Mrs. Dalyel!" ray of light shone OF the
difficulty.
Are you quite sure that I-love you."
asked, crimSoning at the hare thought of
the untruth l was about to act
Lucy, if you laying your hand in mine
and looking at me with your truthful eyes,
can say: Horace, do not love YOU will
believe you, and will give you up. Not
otherwise, l swear.n
me to it," l exclaimed, in desperation.
Horace, l do not love you" l neithe r
laid my hand in his, nor looked at him.
said the words clearly and firmly that were
to part us forever, and before he had re-
covered from his CONSERVATION l had fled
from the room. The ordeal was over. My
sacrifice was made.
Mrs. Dalyel did not see again until next
morning was dressed ready for depart
ure, my portmanteau on a cab before the
door.
Mrs. Dalyel, - said, falteriugly, 81 have
come to wish you goodbye"
She turned and looked at me, her face
cold and stern as it had been the nigtE
before There was {. scornful smile on her
beautiful red lip.
Where are you gOing3n she asked coldly
ITO my old life. To the home in which
you found me; and shall have all l want
all that is good for me- corrected hur
riedly.
60, then"
eyes. But l can not go like this" Her
GOODNESS cut me to the heart. "Will you
not kiss me first! have loved you sop
Il would as soon kiss an ADDER she
cried, her eyes blazing with anger go.
1ptf hna
With choking sensation in my throat l
turned away. Pulling down my vail, l left
the hotel and started on my sad and soli-
tary Journey back to town How dreary
| looked my two small rooms in the dull,
narrow street of Kensington, despite the
| warm welcome of the kind, motherly
woman with whom | lodged But l was
determined not to repine. l must accept
my life as it was and make the best of it.
| Besides, had | not still my art. So
| set about putting my little studio
| in order taking from where l had
| slowed them, my bits of china, my tapes
| try, my specimens of painted glass. This
done, sat myself down to paint a plaque.
| But alas, my hand seemed to have lost its
| cunning, my eyes their sense of color, All,
| how l have laughed since at the sorry
sight that unlucky plaque presents, for
continued to paint at it long after it was
| too dark to see And then-and then, |
suppose, l dropped asleep.
Thank heaven, you are awake at last ~
a well-known, much-loved voice exclaimed,
| had lifted my head from the table on
which it had been resting, rubbed my
/ eyes and began to look about me. The
gas was lighted. Was it dream that For
ace stood before me!
Il followed you from Bath by the next
| train,n he went on, eXcitedly. "And Eovs
tell me, Lucy, tell me that you did not mean
what you said to me last night"
Il did mean it. l can never, never mar
ry you,n | answered, recovering myself. |
knew now it was no dream: but that Hor-
ace was really there demanding-as he I'M
doubtedly had a right to do-an explaEa.
ton of my conduct.
why can not you marry me-"
| "Because-" o. how could l explain!
Il knoay you love me, Lucy"
''This is cruel, wicked of you'll" l cried,
| turning away my face.
And loving me-knowing also that
love you-it is cruel, wicked of you," he
continued using my own words, "to doom
us both to misery for no reason that can
understand. If you persist in refusing to
have any thing to say to me, pray who will
| be the gainer?"
Mrs. Dalyel.n
''Great heavens, child Do you imagine
| that she is at last in love with me! l con
fess had not thought of that"
''Then do think of it Horace. You have
met again. 1t is-it iS-quite possible.
This is indeed too rich joke. What
then?"
''She has been so good to me-so good
1t would be such base ingratitude-"
"Ah, now l begin to see! You would
sacrifice your happiness to a Quixotic
| fancy. But in that case, Lucy, you should
take care to be the only sufferer. You
have no right to spoil my life, too"
But would it spoil yours: Suppose
she loved you and was ready to marry you
| tomorrow
II would not have her if there were not
another woman in the world l love you
! Lucy, and you only. Come, sweetheart
put all these far-fetched ideas of gratitude
aside. Unsay the Sruel words you spoke
| last night. Tell me that" He paused
we stood close together now. He caught
my hand and pressed it unhindered to hi:
! lips.
II love you, Horace" l whispered "anC
decided wrongly. o, can you ever for
give me!s
He did forgive me; but Mrs. Dalyel die
not. L have never seen her since that
has new "craze" now, l hear, and l an
| glad of it, because | believe il she has thai
she is happy. Dressed in sable garments
covered by long dark cloak, she goes a.
night to visit amongst the London poor
there, with generous hand, ministerinE
to their needs They look upon her as al
angel of mercy and her name is blessed by
the miserable and the afflicted. Am ther
right i'll calling it "a craze!" Is it no
rather that her heart has softened, and tina