Daily Republican., 1888-06-13
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Percy Crautord, had returned ate,
many years' absence, and thew had
danced and rowed together, and jusl
now she had overheard his friend
John Stanard talking to him as IL he
were married and upbraiding him fol
flirting with her under the circum.
tstances.
i When Ethel crept home sick a,
heart after hearing Of Percy's decep.
ton she felt as Ii she never cared to
look upon his face again; but as she
grew calmer she resolved to 10 to the
garden party the next day, where he
was to be, 1t only to let him know how
little she cared for him
When she saw him again II was to
greet him with careless smile, having
Inerved herself beforehand for the
Injecting. No one WAS gayer than she
lat the party that night.
AT the hour of departure Percy
Crauford at last found his way to her
side. 81 leave tomorrow, Ethel, The
said.
"Do you intend to be long awayi"
she asked, as carelessly as she could.
81 cannot tell" no said bitterly.
I"Perhaps it would be better II never
come back. May l come and say good.
bye omorrowf"
II shall not be at home, she added
colby; let it be goodbye now" He
took her hand slowly, and there was
misery written in his eyes.
"What is it, EthelY You are diff
ferent-you are not like what you
were"
Oh, IL she dared but tell him she
knew all. Instead, she raised her
brows, and smiling, said:
"Prsy, how would you have me
mes Shall l weepf"
"Don't jest, Ethel. l don't think
you would II you only knew how
hate myself-how miserable l aml'
He spoke impulsively, but check
ing himself hurriedly. said good night
pressed her hand fond.y, turned and
left her.
Some ono else saw her to the car.
riage. Her laugh was clear and must
cal as 1t drove of, but then she sank
back, bursting into passion of tears.
''Thank heaven, It is overl' she
|sobbed. II love him, love him SO; i
a nd feel his heart IL mine"
Six months later two events hap
|pened. The wife of Mrs. Hides.
mere's married son died, and Mrs.
Hildesmere. with Ethel, went to keep
his house. Springhurst. The other |
was the news which got whisp cred |
abroad of Percy Crauford's marriage.
1t was said, urged by sentiment, pity |
and mistaken love, he had married |
one pretty, heartless, selfish, far in
ferior to him in station. All had
turned to Dead Sea fruit in his mouth,
and repentance had swiftly trodden on
the heels of Joy.
Then three years passed. Ethel
had been wooed, and wooed by many
in vain. She never, she said, intended
to wed. There were her mothers
she would be a mother TO
them. She would not wed without
love, and she had none.
Then she heard vaguely that Percy
Crautord's wife, his clog, his misery,
had died OF cold caught at q ball. Her
heart had beaten quickly tor space,
but meanwhile she had exclaimed,
coldly:
"Whnt is It to mefI
Yet she seemed expectant. Never
theless Percy Crawford made no sign;
she heard he had gone abroad.
Another year, when, as Ethel sat
reading under the old beech tree on
the Springhurst lawn, shadow fell
across her book; looking up. she be-
held Percy Crawford standing before
her. His eyes sparkled, his quick
breath seemed to throb upon his lips,
his hands were eagerly extended. AT
first Ethel had started, she felt Der
color come and go; but in u second she
recovered herself and regarded him
stead ly.
Ethel, my darling. " he murmured,
81 am freeln
Eyes, 1 know" she answered
quietly, "But what is that TO meP"
He regarded her In bewildered pain
and surprise; then he had thrown
himself by her side and was pouring
out all that past of misery and passion.
How he had been struck, fascinated |
by pretty baby lace and thought 1t |
lovel. How by crafty family he had
been made to believe that love 80 re
turned that the girls heart would |
break for him; and, on the impulse of
the moment, he had uttered words
that In honor he could not recall.
Ethel heard, and outwardly cold, /
inwardly nervously trembled with her
love, arose, saying:
''W at is this, repeat, to mea"
"What TO you, Ethel9" he cried in |
despair, rising also. "Ah, once you
would not have spoken, have looked /
thusl Once you were kinderl Once,
! teel, you blessed me with that love
for which now crave"
She turned upon him, calm still, |
but her eyes kindled, her lips tremu |
lous with Indignation.
"Once." she repeated. "yes; I con.
fess 1t. once loved you. And you, |
you wooed and sought that love, pro-
fessing to return it; you, who were
married"
alt was no profession, he broke In, !
"Ethel, assure you. That afternoon
that we met at the stile knew for the
first time that it was not friendship, |
but love, l felt for you, Ethel-knew
lit when too late-knew that you were |
all in all to me-that you only l did
| could love-"
She raised her hand almost sternly.
''6ilence," she interrupted, "your
love was cruelty, cowardice, an
insult. "
He looked with a piteous despair
upon her, then cried appealingly:
"Forgive-pardonl''
Her lip trembled-she feared her
firmness.