The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-05-08
in this storm. Let me escort you where
YOU wish To 1870 dark and Snnh a

IL AZ
She raised it ssshe spoke. ssThank
Igyou, very, very finuch, but i prefer to
Ego talone. kAnds you know,o smiling
strangely at him, ~ shall have to do
without your escort altogether after
this. You have been more kind---n
She broke off suddenly, and busted
herself with the fastening Of her cloak;
then held out her hand. ''Good.byel''
She said abruptly.
"Good.byc, Miss Pirot, If it must be
so-,it you wish it.''
"Oh, yes. Parting, 1 think, should
never be prolonged. l hope you will
have a good voyage. I hope you will
be always happy. Goodbye, Gus.
tave."
But Marie had wrenched >her hand
from his and. was gone, a dark, hurry
ing shape, down the lighted, rain
| swept street.
Sydney Worth had come out Of the
opera after the second act, and having
buttoned his long rubber coat to the
chin, was scuddlng up Fourteenth
street in an element defying humor,
when this word burst from his lips, in
tone Of amazement. Marie Pirot had
just passed him on the crossing at
Fourth avenue; q sudden backward tilt
| of her umbrella had shown him her
face plainly, pale and strange, with that
| absorbed, unseeing look that mental
| suffering gives. Her swift step fal-
tered an instant at the sound Of his
voice, and at that instant he was by her
side. EEE
81 knew 1 could not be mistaken"
he said, breathlessly; ''but you of all
people. and at this hourI what in the
world brings you into this region?"
He is holding her hand In his warm,
friendly clasp, and looking down
searchingly at her half-averted face.
''Oh, I was walking away from the
furies," she said, trying to speak
lightly; "but they have come with me.
think 1 really did not know where I
was going. 1 only wanted to walk.
Did you ever have that feeling. sgd
ney, that you were too unhappy to be
quietp"
"She asks me il have ever had that
feeling. All, Marie, there are few
feelings, born Of unhappiness, that 1
have nos had, You ought to know
that. my dear"
''But - but they pass away some
'PeOple can't go Oh suffering-some
change, some relief, must Gomez
81 don't know, he answered, with q
long sigh. perhaps l have not
found 1t YETI
'Oh, Sydney" she said, passionate.
ly, with a wild burst Of tears. "Sydney,
Sydpeyl" She laid her cheek on his
shoulder, sobhing like child.t q
He had taken the umbrella from her,
hand, and held its shelter between
them and passers-by. Sydney's know.-a
edge Of suffering had made him very
tender toward the pain of others. He
allowed his companion to weep unQues-
toned, pattlng gently fronlti to time
the little quivering fingers that clutched
his arm.
"How good you arel'' size stam-
mered, whisperlngly, at length. ooh.
Sydney, how could you forgive me-
how could you ever look at me again,
If have made you suffer-like this?
Inever knew it could be so terriblel
did not dream Of what you felt when
we parted; you were so noble and 30
good You never made me understand
how cruel Oh, and you bore it ali?
can pity you now2"
"Yes DEAR" he said, tenderly. II
am glad to hear you say that. L am
glad you have, at last, some pity to-
give me-"
'Oh, but you do not need any more.
Surely you cannot still care as you,
used to"
.'Oh. hushp' Sydney interrupted,
very gently, "Hush, my dearl hush.
Mariel You have never understood
my love if you think it could change
or pass away in few months or
years." r n@Ht
''And do you, love me this minute,
noW--as you did then?''
> s'Always-a 10 b,
'Buti if l should tell you that had
thrown my, heart away, unaslsed, un.
sought.-oh, so hOpelessly. SO vainly,
and if l should say to you, win you
take my promise to te your wife -ah,
not soon, but some time, when L am a
better and happier woman?' = if
should ask you to accept the poor SER
vice of my life and let me try to love
pain and trouble of tho past?"
's'Oh, Marie, you DO not mean itP"
His grasp tightened on her fingers.
''Do you think what you are saying?"
,'Yes. yes, yesI--if you will take my
poor half-broken heart-but not yetI''
she checked hefself,. piteously. VI
could not love you yet-bYe- -and-bye it
all Way come right. And, meanwhile,
if you wish it, we can be engaged. You
must stay near mo, sydney, and be
good to me. Oh, help me2-help me
to live. You know how hard it is
how impossible it seems that Joy or
hope can ever come againp
"You have given joy and hope to
me, know" lie said, in d low, happy
voice. NJ am wiling to wait for love
---as long as ever you like; darling, for
1t is sure to cOmel'
"But thnk-oh, Fate is strangel--