Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-08

nv work. and siren-like reduced me to q
state of Incidence positively distressing
in respectable philosopher OF my age
and experience. -,
This afternoon l went ont with my
hook tucked under my arm. intending
70 read on the beach. Bad L been
stronQ-minded 1 should have stayed in
doors. safe from all possible Interrupt
ton but happened to look out OF the
window. whence | could see the foamy
sea enticing me out, and succumbed
like anv schoolboy. Then l met Dulcie
{" wandering disconsolate by the "sad
sea waves" like Gnone mourning that
scamp Paris and what could l do but
attempt to restore few smiles to her
poor little face
"Where are the others?" / asked.
"Not boating on such rough day {?
ayes Mrs. Charleton loves a stormy
sea 80 they went. / am such bad
sailor that it was no use my going. l
should only have been IN their way.
II was no use contradicting so self-eyl-
dent truism, so contented myself with
saying that l was glad for my own sake
that she had not gone. =.
81 have only got three more days,
she said "then back to my London
pupils. must not grumble, for | have
/ bad long holiday and it has been very
pleasant. Yet sometimes" as her eyes
went out to sea where little boat was
tossing on the waves in a way that made
me feel quite unwell even to look at,
sometimes / half wish | had never
come. 1t makes it so much harder to so
back. :,
"You poor little thing" I exclaimed
quite Indignantly; "you shant go back
to your drudgery." g.,
"Who can prevent it?" she said,
shaking her head and smiling at me.
"Who ?" cried unthinkingly; "the
poet
sob, don't" she whispered, covering
her face with her hands. "That is all
over" .,
"You must not think that; l don't
believe it Is it that widow, my GEAR?
am not afraid of her. 1t is little
glamour, and his heart is yours all
the time; you see if it is not Come,
don't fret about it.
"They are so well suited. I don't
blame either of them" she said. looking
straight at me with her brave blue eyes
"and if it is so would not for the world
be in their way. II wouldn't hurt me
ought never to have thought OF such
thing"
at would hurt you" I said, sooth-
/ inply. "and I will let nothing hurt
you. 1t will all come right II you are
patient. You love him, and | believe
in true love getting the best OF every
thing"
"Ob. it is not only that" cried the
poor little girl, bursting into tears. 1T
is that [ have no one to love me, and L
so lonely, so terribly lonely"
/ let her have her cry out and pre-
tended TO read. / am in such rage
with Aubrey that ! should like to shake
him out of his clothes and duck him IN
the sea. How dare he play with Dulcie's
heart in this cruel way
When l looked up again | saw the boat
coming to land just in front Of US.
81 don't see how they can land here
/ in these horrid big waves, said Dulcie,
who had dried her eyes by this time.
81 am sure they will go over. Oh, look,
Mr.. Frazer! Isn't it dangerous? Do
tell them to 60 back"
But my caution came too late. For
as | called to Aubrey to take care what
he was about, wave caught the boat
! broadside and hurled it toward land,
precipitating Mrs. Charleton and Aubrey
| into the water.
There was no danger, but the sudden
wettine was enough to brighten woman
into mysteries or a fainting fit, and as |
rushed to their assistance | prepared
myself for scene, having but poor
opinion of female presence of mind.
Dulcie had not even cried out, but she
flew before me up to her knees in the
water, holding out her loving little hands
to her lover.
But he did not notice her. he was
carrying Mrs. Charleton in his arms and
looking passionately into her white face
what is the natter" | asked, as he
laid her on the sand. PAINTED ?"
81 don't know" he said. thoroughly
frightened. Il never saw any one
faint"
Probably she had received a blow on
the head and was stunned. l expected
nothing worse. But to the two young
ones who had never before seen the
deathly aspect of Inconsistencies there
was something terrible in her cold,
silent stiffness.
Dulcie knelt by her, rubbing her
hands, and Aubrey stood by, gazing
miserably on the beautiful, quiet face
with its closed eyes and long lashes ~
ing black on the soft white cheeks.
"My darling have killed her." he
murmured wildly; "my darling !"
"Dulcie sprang up, leaving go Of the
hands she had been chafng. "Killed |!
nonsense" she said with a hard, mirth-
less laugh. at is only faint. I will
run and get some brandy and order her
bed to be got ready"
eyes, do that. She will be all right
directly" l said. "You are right, Dull
Gle. Run on, and l will carry her
home"
Our conjectures were correct. Mrs.
Charleton presently came to and de-
clared herself none the worse for the &C
cident, except for bad headache.
The only person who had come off
badly was Dulcie, who rosmed about the
beach all the evening looking very dull
and lonely.
l guessed that she was repeating over
and over to herself the endearments her
lover had used for Mrs. Charleton.
Aubrey has been talking to me for at
least two hours, and would be talking
still if l had not sent him to bed. tie is
in regular lovers Inferno, and does
not know what he means or wants, or
anything else, except that he is in love
with Mrs. Charleton, and that he ought
TO be in love with Dulcie.
"What am to do 2" he kept on re-
peating. 81 won't be dishonorable if 1
can help it. She-Mrs. Charleton l
mean-says I ought to propose to Dulcie.
So will. But don't suppose she cares
for me any longer. How can she? If
she does have me I'll be good to her on
my honor 1 will. am not such selfish