The Washington critic., 1888-04-07

famous by capturing n fine large perch 4
the largest that had been taken by !
any Of the party.
"That was well done, MISS Car
lisc,' said Nat, as he baited her hook
afresh.
81 think it is because you bait my
hook so nicely that am so success
ful, she replied,
ut is nothing else, OF course" said
Clarke Vincent, in n significant tone.
"You will find Sybif q most expert
angler, Mr.. Ellis, whether she casts
her line for bona fide fish or human
ones"
He said it in the light, bantering
manner characteristic of him, but Nat
saw tinge of color stream into the
girls face, end was conscious of flush
ing hotly himself lie thought OF
Nincent's careless remark many times
afterward, and wondered if there
could be any truth in what certainly
seemed to be implied.
But the weeks continued to slip by,
and there came time when our hero
no longer. cared TO struggle against
the inevitable. Why these feeble ef-
forts to hide himself from the truth
1t made the truth no less palpable-e
Inc was in love For the first time in
his life he had ceased to be master of
his own heart. lie was wholly, com
pletely in SYPHILIS power.
In vain he called himself an idiot;
in vain he drew mercilcss COMPARE
sons between his own station in life
and hers, compelling himself to stand
forth q poor farmer, and n country
NYNlsi In Ga n.st pro "a ll
and he gave up the battle.
Love is blind. Now that the state
Of his heart was no longer covered
from his own inspection, Nat began
TO wonder il he might not have ar
rived too early at conclusions, in de-
Gliding that Vincent and Miss Carlisle
were engaged. His first reflections
had not left the shadow of doubt in
his mind as, to the actual state of af-
fairs; but now he began to grope des-
perately for evidence TO support the
theory that he might have been mis-
taken. Perhaps some other relation
ship than an engagement existed be-
tween these two. Perhaps they were
cousins-although that could scarcely
be, for he had never heard them ad-
dress each other by that title. Per-
haps--
But no matter. 1t was absolutely
necessary for him TO coniure up these
bare possibilities or brand Sybil as q
ilirt. For she had undoubtedly Ell.
couraged his attentions, and convinced
him, in many seemingly artless ways,
that his society was especially pleas
ant to her. Was she trifling with
himP Did she seek to wiring con-
fession from his lips, and then laugh
at his presumption He would not
believe her so cruel.
1t was dull, rainy day in August.
Nat was pacing restlessly to and fro
in the narrow confines Of his room,
looking far more wretched than the
mere condition of the elements war
ranted
"I'll do i'll" he exclaimed at
length, with an air Of settled deter
mination. ~ can do no more than
fail, and even that is preferable to
suspense. They are going away next
week; this is my only chance. |
| shall make clean breast of it,"
lie threw himself into chair at his
writing desk, selected II sheet Of note
paper, and wrote a brief message
| thereon:
Miss CARLISLE: l can no longer refrain
| from telling you that which have hitherto
| feared to confess. | love you with my whole
heart and soul you love me in returnS
Please take time to study yourself before an
swering; only let me have your answer be.
| fore your return home. N ELLIS.
He attached TO the note tiny bou-
quet Of dematis and oleanders, and
| placed the whole in u conspicuous
| Il In G,rlNi nt -
when she was down stairs. -
That evening, when the lamps
! were lit, Nat sauntered into the par
lor as usual, but was surprised to find
neither Sybil nor Vincent there. His
father and mother and Judge Carlisle
We're there, and, with an assumption
of unconcem that would have bafiied
! keener eyes than theirs, he threw
himself in lazy position on a sofa
close to one of the curtained windows
that opened on the piazza. He had
scarcely done so when low voice
close to his head--a voice that was in
effably tender, he thought-very dis
| tinctly remarked:
Are you sure of yourself, Sybil ?"
Then another low voice, tremulous
and sweet, replied:
YES, Clarke, quite sure"
They were on the piazza; nothing
but the thin curtains separated them
from Nat, and every word was audible
to him. AT another time he would
have changed his position, but Just
now he was burning up with jealousy.
He lay quite still, and listened to n
conversation that was not intended
for hIs ears.
"You haven't the slightest doubt
that it is genuine love, Sybil ?"
Not the slightest. Am ! child
that ] should doubt myself? 1t is
love, Clarke-true,' pure and holy"
But this other fellow"
Nonsense Did you suppose
cared for him, you dear old goose? ?"
Il was afraid you might, and"
II assure YOU i detest him. He
had not right to think otherwise"
Nat had heard enough. He rose
and left the parlor before its occupants
had observed the deathly pallor of his
face. He went to his room and locked
himself in, nor came down'again that
night. But he wrote another little
note, and placed IL ON Miss Carlisle's q
table, so that she could not fail to see
1t when she came to retire. 1t was
couched in these words:
Miss CARLIsLE; see now what fool have
| been and will not trouble you for an answer
to my first note. lfyou think You have played
| fair game this summer, aud can find II in
| your soul to feel proud of your victory ] have
no more to say, except that | wish you Joy OF
| your heartless triumph, n. Il.
There were sleepless eyes in the old
farmhouse. that night. Mats white
face, on which had settled an express
sion of weary, hopeless woe, testified
| To the fact as lie rose ON the follow ino