The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-06-22

left hand
1t was Miss Bentley--dear, loving Miss
Bentley-whose face VIII saw.
For some moments she was almost rs
stonelike as he; then, holding her left
hand behind her, she left the hassock and
moved few steps toward him.
aMr. Tryfoil, she said, timidly. This
has so startled me. 1t is SO unexpected.
How do you doP Won't you shake hands
with mef"
Her voice and outstretched hand partly
revived him. He left the door and shook
her hand, but though he tried he could say
nothing.
She did not appear to notice his con-
fusion, however.
Il hope you tn nix we have done Justice
to your sketch, she added. You must have
been surprised.
eyes.
aHazelwood was in sore need of a
chapel" she went on, in slow, nervous
tones; "and / was anxious to mark my
gratitude to heaven for the divine mercy
that was shown my poor Ada. I"
She paused for an instant, looked into
his face, and added:
Sunless my eyes are deceiying me am
afraid you are i'll, Mr.. TIyfoil.
Nc he answered, husky. II am SIM
emit moment because-I think / have Of
Tended YOU"
"Oh, no, indeed" she rejoined, as her
voice trembledand her eyes sought The floor
Of the chapel, though / can understand
why you should think SO. 1t was the short
ness and GOODNESS of the note in which I
asked you for the sketch that made you
think SO, was it not, Mr., Tryfoil2"
Yes, Miss Bentley"
81 had another reason for writing SO,
she said, wetting her lips nervously with
her tongue. II desired you to think that |
wished to see you no more. / wanted you
to forget Hazelwood, bat your presence
shows me now that it was a pufposeless
wish-thAt had given undue gravity to a
mere triHe. think, she added, In whis-
per, that l know what has brought you
here to-day, Mr.. Tryfoil If am right, /
congratulate you.
He tried to say that he did not understand
her, but could not
While" Miss Bentley went Oh, the
workmen we're clearing away the old Fri ~
ruins, which fell in thunderstorm shortly
after the death Of my poor Ada. III
found"
She stopped and bit her lips. With her
right hand she pulled her veil over her
face.
.Look, Mr.. Tfyfoil, she said.
Tremblingly he raised his eyes. She
opened her left hand and showed him lying
on its little palm the written confession OF
his love-
"Take it," she whispered Burn it,"
Without dar.n to look az her he took
the manuscript from her hand, thrust it
into the breast pocket of his coat and then
bowed his head and covered his face with
his hands.
81 am SO glad, she said, pressing her left
hand against her left side with cruel force,
and speaking very slowly as ii with her last
breath, 'that you have returned to disinter
those foolish pagesthat you have reco
cred from, and can perhaps laugh at this
boy-like madness now. You must wolder
how you could ever have fancied that you
loved me-"
He sighed that was all.
@Say you do not love me-" she said.
Tell me that you have forgotten the love
that you wrote of there with so much grace.
You have represented it there unlike or
binary love-so painfully deep-so absorb
ing But that know You and like you SO
we'll. Mr.. Tryfoi. should call that love
irreligious, impious.
No! mol" he muttered. aMy love ex-
ats purides mel"
"Exaltsl Purifesl" she whispered. aNol
say rather exalted, purified"
To this he answered nothing.
"Oh, Mr.. Tryfoil, it pains me SO sadly to
see you like this, she went On. sDo you
then still love me?"
"Still! -next to God!"
Time will kill your love, !" she yentured
Death may! Nothing else." he replied,
in tones scarcely audible even to her w1o
was near him.
Her left hand tighiened round q part of
the pew which she clutched It seemed
that otherwise She would have fallen.
So nadly mistaken, she murmared.
with great effort. "Iam older than yof,.
Virtue is older than vice Could ha;,e
to check my mad idolatry because tha lse-
ing | worsh ped CHANGED to brighten he
earth two years before | came to crawl oa
it," he said, brokenly, restlessiy. " tn his
face hidden from her. Don't pity m.
Miss Bentley! Loathe me for my rre-
sumption"
She softly repeated the last word more to
herself than to him, then left the pew 4
walked unsteadily to the chapel door.
@Penniless. friendlcss, witless fool" he
muttered to himself, thinking she had left
the chapel and gone from him forever
God knows wish were dead!'
Giving ventto his anguish, he sank weari-
lily on the hassock where she had at first
been seated,
She stood at the chapel door with her
back toward him. She pulled up her We
and gazed straight before her at no hin
that was visible to others, heard b. heavy
signs, but did not move.
Her pure heart was as full as his, there
was so much in it crying out for uttcrance
which she could not give. She ionged to
tell him that she wa, wholly his-th4t he
was all the world to her-,hat she loved him
as man had never yet been loved.
Presently she advanced few steps noise
lessly from the door of the chapel toward
the picture of misery which she painted IL
paint out forever.
He did not hoar her. for he thought she
had gone. He did not dream that lfe'f
ecstatic happiness stood behind him al
most touched him.
She stood SO for nearly minute, alno u
unconscious. She fancied afteIw~rtl tha
she must have tainted during th,t muut
She placed her left hand so lily on his lei
shoulder, but he did not turn or stait Ii
thought her touch unrea.
Blushing, trembl ng, weeping, anil mi
ing she put her right arm on his risb
shoulder, and caspel her littls qni erin
hands under his chin, a.d paectl hsr che
apainst his