The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-05

| extremely handsome young man. who is
| IDENTIFY devoted to her. They are reported to be
engaged"
knew not with what curse I tore the sheet
| into fragments and stamped upon them in the
| impotency of my rage. was young, you see.
| and though sometimes laughed ct the nerves
| of others, had not yet learned to practice the
selfcontrol prescribed.
This is the only time that Raven-or Edgar.
as l had now become intimate enough TO call
him-had acted in e manner which /
thought unfriendly. 1t struck me that, knowing
ali the torture had undergone ne ought to have
broken the unhappy news 10 me more gently;
that he ought to have made certain. before writ
ing, that the parties were betrothed or not be-
trothed, Reported TO be engaged" might mean
nothing. or it might everything It
was quite possible that the man might be
desperately In love with her. / was, and
yet not be oetrothed. Such things happened
every day all the world over The love might
not be reciprocal. Her heart might be Free
She did remember her rescuer. She had spoken
of him with gratitude and admiration. True, If
there is anything q lover hates it is gratitude
from the object of his love- Still could not ex-
pect her to have any other feeling for me. But
she was 500 miles away. Her lover was near
her. Would it be possible for TO GUST him
and take his placel II she loved him and they
were advancing in bliss to the marriage day.
would not be wretch even to wish to step be-
tweenl
balanced this question over and over again
until my mind became SO confused that in an
agony L sat down and wrote the following to
Edgar:
foresse that my mental and bodily health demands
that should put end possible to the
torture undergo. You may laugh if you choose, and
say is absurd fallen deeply in love
with girl whom saw but once and of whom all
say in reply that facts stronger than precon-
ceptions of what facts ought to be. My love
have lived amid the flames since. shall
go to Silverton in few days l will see this
whether she reciprocates the lore OF this young
Whose name, by the way, you have not told mel and
subsequent actions will be the rational sequel to
i
her, rest assured shall not annoy her. shall not
when it is she herself am afters But if she loves
him not, then have the right to take my chance and
of holding the place which he aspires to.
To this received a reply, the gist of which
was: To-day is Thursday; leave, If possible.
morning" I Immediately telecraphed that
would leave New York early on Saturday morn
ing, to arrive at my estimation a few hours
after Saturday midnight, and that he might ex-
pect me at his residence at the hour mentioned.
After that visited number of patients. On
my return late in the evening. found this dis
patch from Raven awaiting me: WIN meetyon
at station and go with you to hotel"
This certainly very kind Instead of al
lowing go to my hotel alone. he intended
to meet me to make me feel as much at
home as feel in alighting in strange
place. 1t had indeed often struck me that
though had frequently urged Edgar to stay
never once limited that should visit Silverton,
he would like TO become my host. But then,
reflected there may be family reasons-though
no family had ever been mentioned. he may
have an invalid father mother; he may live
in style poorer than the luxurious one he may
impute to me; ne may =. even be married,
has not even mentioned, may be
happy. or so unhappy, that he does not wish
a soul to witness it. However, L was in too
much of furry to give the matter much
thought I was going to see a friend who had
become desr to me through the intimate inter-
course OF q twelvemonth. Above all l was
oiv,x% 70 b he /
had worshiDed ardently, and who held my
happiness in her hands.
An intolerable journey by rail and stage
brought me to my journeys end at aoont
o'clock on Sunday morning. Edgar and L knew
each other by the photographs We had recently
exchanged. A moment after l had set foot in
the station felt my hand warmly grasped, and
a deem, musical voice exclaimed:
Harry! I'm delighted to meet you"
Yes, there he was, standing beside me, Edgar
Raven, the brilliant young genius with whom
had so strangely become intimate. He was a
few years older than /, but very handsome
(which was not) the perfect realization of the
photograph which stood on my mantel-piece at
home or course, thousand questions were
exchanged but / must limit my narration to
what strct ly concerns the passing episode of my
life. After were seated in my room, at the
hotel and one two subordinate questions had
been disposed of, said:
land Mazda Curfew-do you know have made
up my mind to call upon her tomorrow morn
ing. and introduce myselfl"
A change passed over Ravens face-almost
some brandy from the flask had with me, he
gulped the iauo. and spoke these words:
1.-THE fact is, dear boy-you will be areadfully
angry with me-but no such person as Mazda
Curfew exists in Silverton"
i listened to him in horror
''You mean to say" / exclaimed.
81 mean to say" he continued" "that you
have been the subject of jest of mine from first
to last. OF Maida-or Mary-Curfew
exists. since you have met her. She exists
somewhere upon the earth, unless she has died.
l saw how anxious you were. Harry. l am a
novelist, You know. ! work with peoples feel
ings and emotions. Novelsts seldom have an
opportunity of exploring the inner recesses of a
soul thoroughly as you gave me the oppor-
tunity of doing. could not help myself. You
threw the temptation in my way have made
a study of your passionate nature. My next
novel will be greatly superior to "A Modern
Inferno"
listened to this speech in silence 1t shat
tered two illusions at a blow. 1t showed me
that was as far as ever from reaching the
spirit that loved and it unmasked the selfish
deceit of heartless trifier.
wretch / exclaimed, starting to my feet
"Do you mean to tell me there is not word of
truth in the statements you made to me so long?
Do you mean to say that the story of the young
girl and the old man. of the name of MAZDA in
stead of Mary. of the marriage of the lover. of
all these things which have Kept me in suspense
SO long-that they are all lies2'
EYES," answered Edgar, calmly, 'lies if you
choose to call them So My dear boy. | have to
study hearts, even though the hearts should
break upon the inspection. In fact breaking
heart what can be more Interestingly
stood before him and answered with uanat
ursl calmness: Il brought you the truest admi-
ration and friendship the most generous loyalty
and devotion that ever man offered TO man.
opened to you the most sacred depths of nature,
and allowed you to see how infatuated was
with girl, for whose sake 1 almost forgot
divinity You have sported with these high
emotions. In doing this You have taken
the ground from underneath my friend
ship You have turned my esteem into
contempt, and my affection into loathine.
Leave the room instantly. and never venture to
speak write to me again, not even on your
death-bed, not even to ask my pardon" and SO
saying flung wide the door and pointed out in
to the hall.
He arose. and'w expression OF low cum
ming, dashed with remorse, which distorted the
SURPRISING beauty of his face, walked slowly
out. AS ne passed me / restrained with diff
Guilty impulse TO clutch bis throat and
strauele him there and then, with the fresh
moonlight of great broadening summer dawn
clarifying all around me. But even as he passed