Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-01


honrs, and before the last OF the cigars
in his case had gone the way Of sill TO.
bacco he was hard at work trying to
frame excuses for Kathleen. go young,
so lovely, 80 gentle was it any wonder
she had shrunk from tho life Of toll and
dependence which lay before her through
The years OF whiting? This "May,
tco--wbo was he, after all, that she
should sacrifice herself for his sake !?
Some staggering, beer queiing Ger
man student, who had sung sentimental
"Standchen under her window and
filed her schoolgirl head with romantic
rubbish rubbish which, however, even
now stood in the way OF her returning
the love of an honest man. How will
ingly would he have taught the fellow
wha. sound British horsewhipping
meant
When Kathleen at length returned
FROM her walk the Squire had thought
out his future plan Of action to his own
entire satisfaction, snd was prepared 70
meet his wife with calmness, If not with
cheerfrlness.
On a sunny afternoon some six weeks
later in the yeer MIR. Collingwood was
lying on his back under tree in the
chestnut forest which clothes the lower
slopes Of the Dent de Morcles. Below,
on the right, lay the little town of Bex,
and in the distance beyond that the
cleaning waters of Lake Leman. To
the left stretched the broad Valley OF the
Rhune, rich in vineyards aud orchards,
with the Glacier du TRENT rising into
the sky for background. The turbid
waters OF the Rhone hurried along their
channels almost at his feet, and on the
other side of the valley rose the CLEAN
ing peaks and pinnacles OF the Dent du
Midi.
All this Mr.. Collingwood might have
seen from one of the forest c!earings
where he lay. Buthe seemed TO care for
none OF these things. He lay on the
close, soft turf peculiar to the chestnut
woods, gazing up into the great tree
overhead with troubled cloud on his
honest face.
"After all, what else could / have
done 2" he muttered, half olond at last
MS though in hope that his perplexed
thought, might grow clearer Ivy giving
them utterance. "TO woman who had
Just written another man such letter as
that, any great demonstration of affec-
ton, even from q husband, could be
nothing but an annoyance. l could see
il bored her-~why else did she grow so
quiet and odd at Murren ? At first, no
doubt, the very novelty of the thing car
ried her along all right, but as that wore
off she began to feel the chain drag
bit. So thought I'd keep more In the
background for tirne-give her her
head bit-and then she'd see | didn't
want to bother her, and get to feel more
settled in her mind"
The Squire fidgeted restlessly on his
soft, warm couch, in vain efforts after an
easier posture.
"But somehow it doesn't work as well
as expected. Work well ? Why can't
/ be honest with myself and say plainly
that it is q miserable failure? We are
Just drifting farther and farther apart
every day we live Ever since the hour
/ read that confounded letter. wish I'd
tumbled over Precipice tirst-every-
thing has gone wrong between us. She
gets more reserved and depressed day
by day. and well, do what | may,
I'm forever thinking OF that wretched
piece of paper aud wondering where her
thoughts really were Just then. If L
could but forget the thing and see her
my own true hearted little Katie again "
Mr.. Collingwood made another fruit
less attempt at comfort, then suddenly
sprang to his feet with strong exclama-
ton.
"Why can't l be honest even with
myself" he said aloud, as he paced i'm
patiently to and fro between the trees.
why can't say right out that am
eating my heart ont with jealousy be-
cause I've seen her watching for the post
so eagerly of late If only | could be
sure that scoundrel had dared to write
to her I'd shoot him if knew i should
hang for it F."
AS he uttered the words Mr.. Colling
wood perceived at little distance the
tall, slender figure of his wife. She
wore a dress of some soft. gray stuff
which fell around her with almost nun
like effect her head was covered only
by little lace kerchief, for the forest ran
close up to their little mountain "pen-
sion," and they were within few hun
dred Yards OF its door. AS the Squire,
himself unseen, watched her slow, Ian
guild steps and pensive face. a great
longing to take her into his arms and
kiss the color back to her pale cheek
again awoke in his heart. andhe advanced
quickly toward her. But as he did so he
saw in her hand an open letter, and with
sudden misgiving be stopped abruptly.
1t was too late his step had caught her
ear, and he saw her hurriedly return the
letter to her pocket as she came forward.
81 was looking for you, Jack, she
said as they met. "There is something
L want to ask you, but-but-"
The pause was moro eloquent than
words. The Squire took his courage in
both hands and resolved to face his fate
bravely.
"Come and sit down here" he said
quietly, pointing to a seat beneath one of
the low. wide-spreading chestnuts. and
placing himself beside her. There were
a few minutes of uncomfortable silence,
broken presently by Kathleen.
II have wanted to tell you something
for some days past, Jack, but it never
seemed the right time"
"Have made myself so very formida-
BILE to you ?" asked Jack, with sorry
attempt at smile.
mot formidable exactly-but-dif-
ferent. very different. Kathleen paused
again, and then went on again in broken,
hurried tones:
81 know | am not half worthy OF all
the love you gave me once, Jack, dear,
but, oh don't take it quite from me, for
it is oil | have in the world +"
There were tears in her quiyering
voice. and the Squire felt an answering
lump in his own throat as he replied:
"My poor little Katie ," That was
all he could get out for a minute then
he cleared his throat and went on:
"No fear OF my love being taken from
you, Katie, if only you will be- open
with me. But try to trust NEEDN'T
keep back yonr confidence from mel"
"Keep back my confidence? What
do Won mean, Jack? / have never kept