Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-07

Ihey won. and"
$40, won't quote the rest, mother; but look
here DO look"
''You shouldn't peep in at windows, Christ"
"It's too splendid" said the girl mamma, you
can't resist such a tabeau WANT
Evidently Mrs. Annesley could not, being fairly
young and OF fun-lOving nature: she left her
seat on the lawn under the dropping acacia, and
stole up 70 her daughters side, In view OF the
big bow-wlndow that belonged TO her own dining
room
The taOleau vivanJ inside was rather pretty
one. Against a dark background formed by
polished oak mantelpiece and sOmber oil paintings
stood young lady in a pale blue dress She had
her hands Clasped before her, and her pretty face,
with It's melting blue eyes, was all aglow with
some feeling that quite TRANSPORTED 10. Her eyes
were bent on the other person IN the room, tall,
broad-shOuldered young man, who was dressed In
the uniform OF a lieutenant in line regiment,
and who was pacing down the floor In measured
steps, executing some martial maneuver5 with
his sword meanwhile.
He dropped IL rather suddenly as he came near
10 the window ana caught glimpse OF the two
that his fair face almost riyaI4ed the hue OF his
tunic.
at Is too bad OF US. Chris" said Mrs Annesley,
Withdrawing hurriedly.
.ue is showing Patience how he looks In uni
form, that's 0H," said Chris III would De TOO bad
for her to 90 away without seeing him In It. oh,
mamma, Isn't Il delciOusly rOmantic?"
Mrs AnneSley. though her cheek dhnpled as she
spoke. Don't laugh, chris, am in terror OF what
Mir. COtteril will say. Here we have had Patience
with US only three weeks, and she has contrived
TO fall IN sove and get engaged"
Mot really absolutely engaged. mama They
mean TO ask Mr.. COtteriIFs consent Jack is sure
20 get an extension OF leave and Patience Will put
Il nicely to her father; then he'll allow Jack 10
go and see her, and 1t viii all end like a story
book"
s'stil," said Mrs. Annesley 81 wish he had
waited until she got home. must go and hurry
her now-oreak into the tete-d-tefe-for she must
II can't understand her having no letter from
home Certainly some may be following; you said
you didn't call at The pOst-O1ice at Ostend."
$40; but they expect Patience at once, know.
Nr. COttertll would have written II she was TO
prOlOng her visit. Has JACK had time to retire?T
fng-ToOm door, which she Gid with much prelini-
nary shuflng, she found only one OF the per-
formers In the tableau present. Patience was
standing by the window now looking out intently
on the swaying trees and nower-beds clothed In
sunshine
HAS my graceless nephew gone?" asked the
elder lady. Then She put her arm round the
girls waist and kissed her. After all IL was
very sweet this earnest rehearsal OF the old, old
story. and the lovers were both so young and
hopefuL-and why, as Chris said, should 1t not emu
Nevertheless, Mrs. Aunesley sighed, simply be-
cause the future Is always uncertain, and She had
mothers love for the mOtherlesS girl beside her.
my dear" she said, Il am so sorry to let you
60, but We must be true to our bargain, and re-
turn you, now that our foreign trip IS over. If
complains
too much, why he will remember that the
charmed portal must fall back for US each TO
enter once in a lifetime"
Patience smiled IL had all been so like dell
cious dream, those weeks of wandering In an en-
chanted land with the prince out OF the fairy tales
Tor her clcerOne-
When Jack Annesley had Joined them during
his summer leave, IL seemed at first only II
everything grew more beautiful In this world OF
sunshine and fair scenes Then, before they
knew how IL happened, the crisis came. lust on
the day they returned 70 England, the day be-
fore Jack must rejOln his regiment, and Patience
hurry 70 her home In the North. according 10
peremptory command laid down by Mr.. Cotteriu
at the beginning Of the tour.
He was a man OF 80 few words ana his daughter
was trained In such utter obedience, that 1t never
occurred To her TO postpone her departure, nor To
wonder that she received no reminder OF her ex-
pected arrival She made her faithful compact
with her lover. She was 70 inform her parent
how matters stood, and was 10 run down North"
at the shortest interval consistent with duty.
He came back as Mrs. Annesley stood talking,
his dress changed TO one OF sober hue and severe
simplicity, but he blushed again and laughed as
he met his aunuS eye.
"she bothered me so TO put 1t on" he said "she
wanted TO see how looked and II could draw
my swordi lwouldnt have done 1t for any one
ave know that said Mrs Annesley.
An hour or Two later the lovers had parted, and
the cruel swift train was bearing Patience away,
but IN spite OF all the Juggling at her heart she
was happy with strange sweet happiness.
Had she not promised TO love him-and him
al0ne-an the days OF her life? II seemed such an
easy promise to make, and the path looked clear
ahead Her father was peculiar, but indulgent.
And 80 the long journey passed like dream;
she looked out OF the window, but her happy eyes
were seeing other visions than those OF the trees
and hedges and towns boating by, and at last she
was at home, at the familiar little roadside station,
where herself and her trunks were well-known
OBJECTS, and the faces OF the station master and
the solitary porter were as the faces OF friends
IL was curious that the portly station-master
should hurry forward with a certain respectful
pity In his air that she was too absorbed 10
notice. IL was more curious (and she awoke from
her reyerie 10 notice this that there should be
face peering out OF the window Of her fathers
broogham, a wOe-begOne face that stirred In her
ut once feelings OF intense alarm
she got into the Carriage hurriedly.
What Is the matter, stratton?" she said.
'Oo, Mss patience! Ny DEAR my dear! don't
you kao,st" SAID the woman. And you In your
my colored-dress!- gasped Patience She
seemed 70 take II In at gasp-the black garments
OF the maid, the wOe-begOne face the terrible
mystery that hung around her arrival
Patience had read foolish little novel, called
Prom Gloom 70 sunlight" during her summer
tour. She found It's title floating vaguely in her
head Tow. only she was reversing the words.
PROM sunlight 10 Gloom" she seemed to be
murmuring TO herself, as the carriage rolled along
The earth seemed 10 have become suddenly dark
ened IL was warm evening, but she shivered
violently, and that dreary voice was going on at
her ear, speaking words OF Conference, but surely
IL was untrue-thiS statement the maid was max
Ing as 10 her fathers death
she had missed her letters, she had had no news
from home tor good many days, but II was a rare
occurrence for Mr.. Cotterill TO put pen 10 paper
Sne nearu, almost without comprehending, how
stratton had written, and DR. Snaresbrook-who
was there 70 the iaSt-had written and how they'd
wondered not 10 receive any other communication
tnan that bret happy little letter announcing her
Jack bad been beside her when she wrote IL: his
impatient presence had caused its breytty That
and the feeling that her heart was too full 10 pour
out us thoughts In words, and besides, he had not
spoken then.
All this confused medley OF memory-or Jack,
and the letter. ana the lawn at the Manor which
was Hooded with sunlight, ind the parting and the
lourney-and then this crushing weight, this hor-
rioe nightmare OF pain.
When the carriage drew up 20 the house amid
that strange silence that falls on closely shrouded
easements, she felt as II she was too stupefled 10
speak. She was conscious only that gentle hands
helped her 70 alght, ana a lOw-tOned, manly voice
made some plying remark IL sounded ike '.My
poor Patience!' And II was uttered 80 tenderly
that u broke IN on her dull ears. Then she was
tellntO room where there was tea, and Stratton
TOOK on her things while Dr. SnaresDrOOk-the
owner OF The kind voice and a well-knOwn friend
made her drink cup OF tea, and spoke now and
again a word OF sympathy.
III was all so dreamllke. Her mind did not seem
70 recover It's thinking faculties at ali until some
hours were passed. until after she mad been up
stairs and kissed the cold brow that was covered
with Whlte cloth, and looked at the fnanimate
form, INTO whose living ear she had luedftated
pouring her tale VI youthful! love
Ine snock OF 10 all scriued 10 throw thrt quite
INTO the oacsgroQnd IL was only when she broke
uo"n anu a terrible NJ OF weeping had Frustrated
ner that she was able 20 recall tbs. beautiful hone
that she could turn 10 for comfort. once recol-
lected IL seemed natural 10 cling 10 ~ JACK would
help hef; JACK would come 10 her IA this sudden
bnndlny sorrow, and she would not he aone And
30 az last she fell asleep, and In her dreams was