Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-07

d. for nss all the change and q: Watched her,
down and call upon her to look up and tell N Q
| she had come for my sake as well as for the
country Inow knew she loved as loyalty as my
| think it was daybreak when we heard the
tramp Of mems feet outside. The rain had
ceased-the room was full of trembling gray
light. I'found Di by the window whence she
| looked out on the steep embankment she had
was iuil of men. Our plan had worked well.
There were six English officers and Alpin in
their arrival d ihs not reeo8niae mar sce
1t was Di standing near me, who suddenly
| cried out: "Montaguer' and recognized that
one one OF my prisoners was my old rival Uncle
| Capt Montague looked at me coldly, but on
hearing Dianas voice, his whole expression
changed. He glanced swiftly in her direction,
ening his handsome face. Not a word was
his look with one which for an instant sent a
stab OF pain to my heart, but at once her eye
ilGs dropped and she turned away.
Presently, made excuse to order all but
Capt. Montague to withdraw; then, We three
found ourselves strangely enough together.
Montague was the first to speak.
col. Blake" he said coldly, and not looking
| at the little figure by the fire. but straight at
me, may ask where am to go?"
probably to Trenton," answered quietly,
| and added with as much friendliness as l could
put In my voice. capt. Montague, regret sim
He waved his hand with bitter smile.
The lnformation, he said, turning his head
lor half an instant towards my cousin, 'was
brought you by-Mss Leigh?"
saw the culver that shot through the girls
Whole frame and that the little hand holding
the 1oids OF her cloak was drawn together Oh
her breast with painful tension.
There is no mystery. said, Miss Leigh
here, Keziah Martini" (Keziah's head wagged
and a most dolorous voice whimpered, "Oh,
don't, , Master Robert. don't, sir,'J with her
me the warning, but am quite sure she had
NO idea you were in the party
one moved now-rose and came forward
slowly TO his side with her little hands out
stretched.
Robert was right" she said in low voice,
| US say-good-by, kindly" there was a break in
her voice and the next words came with touch
Ing emphasis-"W hen We saw each other last
capt. Montague, said-sOme bitter things
Dat 1T Was because-my heart was so sore. / did
not mean them harshly-I could not, felt
had done wrong leading you to believe"
Her head drooped-the color famed rich
scarlet in her cheeks.
Montague smiled sadly.
Leading me to believe" he said in clear
colo tones, that perhaps you would come TO
love me. Yes, Miss Leigh, for q time aDas fool
enough TO think so-bnt my folly was short
lived. 1t was over-weeks age"
Hours OF bitter trial and OF WEAKNESS followed
on tnat morning; days OF fierce struggle-years
sorrow might have made the past faint and
dim, yet find that not detail of the picture
mas ever grown shadowy, not an echo of the
words spoken grown far away. Writing as do
now, In my liorary at Blake House, seeing as l
mt my eyes my grandchildren playing on the
lawn before my window, / can yet, by closing
my eyes, conjure up in q flash a picture tnat
often rises Observation-Disclosures gray dawn
slowly hiling the room with Its mute signs of
Wariare-bare enough, yet somehow conse-
Grated In my eyes by that one scene enacted
there.
1T is at an end" said Montague, bending his
dark eyes upon Diana's trembling figure with
mourntui intensity, land l am going away-if
my life Is spared-as soon possible 10 Eng
land. desire to think OF no future which shall
make me Tor an instant forget you-buL the re-
membrance shall be one that have and hold
might cherish and keep green. even though
you cannot take away from me-what you
nave no power TO withdrawal ask you to re-
member me at any time it is to think that
said TINS and meant it truly. Remember al
ways that 1, too, had my country to serve-that
for a br1eI, base hour l was weak enough TO
think of deserving Observation-Disclosures
Diana. God help me, loved you so madly-5
He would have turned away. but how could
ne do SO now, that the girls face was lifted TO
ms ana that the tears / hOnOred her for she'd
ding were running down her cheeks. Sne did
not check them-Seemed unaware that they
were falling, but he would have been less than
man nau he not stopped down; and for an
Instant taking her in his arms, kissed her eye
lids, her cheeks, and once lightly and reverently
My cousin wore tied loosely about her sweet
young throat, "a blue scarf, and while he held
her that moment to his breast, she was busy
II shall pray for you,' she said, moving back
from him, and dashing the tears away with a
passionate little gesture, land give you this
as a pledge OF my-my sweet remembrance of
you-Iny cousin will not care-as you say-we
shall never see each other more"
He took it-reVerently and obi so tenderIv
and holding it TO his lips for half instant, put
1t in his breast.
How long our silence might have lasted 1 do
not Know, had not the busie sounoed--the day
had broken; a new sunrise was flooding all the
Worid-and led my darling tenderly away
giving her into old keZah's keeping well
knowing what this trial had been 10 one of her
gentle, II proud, nature, thankful she had NV
loyal heart TO lean upon now and foreyermore
until death did us part.
Montague was soon exchanged. AS he pre-
dicted, he returned to England, and Diana had
been my dear wife for twelve happy wears he
fore any news OF him reached U.s. Tnen 1t came
but vaguely; word of his marriage and of his
death IN India, and fancy that NV darling
Was but slightly moved by it, for her busy llf..
OF anectionate interests and many occupations
mad crowded out many thoughts OF the past
She said very little, however, OF her deeDest
feelings. With the growth of years and mother
hood my sweet wife had become a seit-cOn-
tanned, quiet woman, always gentle ALWAYS low.
Ing, but less given TO spontaneous mirtn and
ready expression of every passing mood. But,
when my dear love lay dying she reverted 10
THAT strange scene in our barracks holding nv
hand she asked me ii / ever thought her
"hppant alter that. Truly L told her, never.
ana she signed ana said she never meant To-
be; that the Thought of having panied SO Irue ),
neart AS MonLague's had always lain sadly at
her door.
We spoke of him. then-she wondered If tho
little token she had given him vas long treas
ured, and tine dear eyes looking into mine
seemed for an instant like little Di OF old-ten-
der, wlstfnl, all at once. When l said feeling il
IKE throO at my heart, that believed anu
thing OF ners would vt nave been cas- aside Nv
ane most Iorgetiui man ON earth, she smiled
again and said IN a little way she had when |
told her that loved her. thank YOU dear
ana IL was soon alier-very soon, that sne spoke