The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-01-07


riice Of him. Yet he loved Cecil, and he
was the stronger,
/ No one knew that Carman grieved oyer
Kent Sherwood's departure.
Cecil went up to the cottage, and she
welcomed him in the old glad way, and
chatted and laughed as though she were
without care.
But one night, when Cecil asked her to
be his wife, she shrank, with a strange CIV
of pain, and cover ed her face with her hands
Gently, passionatelY, he pleaded with her
but her answer was the same. Yet he did
not despair.
Day after day he sought her, and grew
hopeful when he saw how she was learning
to enjoy his company, and how grateful she
was for his little tentions.
Carlnan had always liked this man with
the beautiful sad face, and poetic, sensitive
nature, and now his presence was a soace
TO her
And when he renewed his protestations
of love. and implored her to share his life
ard fortunes, she hesitated.
"Why should | not? lie loyes me, aud
we are well suited to each ether" she
thought. would it not be better than for
Inc to live alone and lonelyr' a.
And then she told him that she would be
his wife, and Cecil, in his joy, failed to no
tice her emotion.
Yet he knew she did not love him as he
loved her, and when he thought of the man
travelling through strange countries, he felt
almost guilty.
Carman was over to his home one NoYcm-
Der evening. She had been at dinner with
Mrs. Sherwood, Cecil, and few of the
formers friends, and she looked rarely
lovely III costume of wine-red MORE, with
her fair aims and shoulders cleaning
through black lace, and clusters of yellow
roses to lend her brightness.
Cecil was unusually quiet that night
When it was quite late, he ana Carmen
went TO the gallery and walked up and down
in the moonlight,
Then he drew her 10 a scat in the window,
and threw himself upon the tiger-skin at
her feet, With his head resting upon her.
His face, in that silver light, looked like
carving in mable, and his eyes were deep
and shadowy.
"You are little more than an animated
statue tonight" she said lightly II do
not believe YOU have spoken dozen words
since we left the dnner-table."
':Joy is SILENT" he said, with an upward
glance. 81 haYe listened to you all the
while, and was content"
(Which would seem to imply that am
not joyful" retorted Carmen.
"Ah, you know what mean. Carmen,
my love for you is idolatrous. 1 worship
YOU, live but for you. DO you think you
will ever love me like thst?'
81 love you now," she Seid softlg. ~
shall learn to love you more
81 believe it; such love as mine must
win return" he said. and reaching up he
wound his arm about her "But you haye
not always loved me. Carmen, you are
changed"
He felt tremor run through her slender
form. Could he have learned her secretp
''But you are mine now,' he went on
with strange eagerness. "Ah, Carmen,
sometimes think my happiness Is too great
it will not last.''
'You are depressed tonight" she wins
pered, as she leaned nearer
Then she laid her sweet lips upon his and
kissed him tendery.
Never before had she been so loving, so
caressing. In that hour she loved him bet
ter than eyer before, and when they parted
she kissed him without a thought of another
love that had haunted her for many days.
What strange influence was it that made
Carman Lisle so walSefui that night? J'hy
did she lie there with strange feeling OF
oppression upon her?
III the morning she dressed with all haste
and went down stairs looking slightly worn
and pale.
Cecil was not there. No, nor would he
ever be in their midst again.
The servant sent to waken him. found
him seated at his desk with his head bowed
upon his folded arms.
When they raised him up they saw
smile upon his white, dead face, and be-
meath his folded arms was letter.
Carmen took ii and read it through her
tears; 1t was to Kent Sherwood,
"Mly dea cousin,--rhe same voice that
urged your departure calls out to you across |
the space to return. | have been more |
than selfish: | have deceived Carmen and |
robbed YOU. Yes know the truth; she
oyes YOU | suspected is when / asked |
you to go away, and hers is heart that |
will not change. She would marry me be-
cause she thinks sou deserted her. Per- |
haps she would love me a little, but it is not |
to be. l feel tonight strange sense Of
gathering gloom; feel impelled TO write to |
Sou All. my heart the old pain is there, |
and it frightens me. | seem TO sac strange |
forms in the shadows about. What |
coward | am Yet | feel, too, her arms |
around me, and her kisses on my lips. Car
men-+"
That was the last word-her name.
Through all the shadows of approaching
death, his loYe for her had conquered fear
and pain. She thought Of their last hours
together. and was glad they had been such
happy ones.
Cecil Sherwood had been under the sod
three days when his cousin returned.
He read the letter and saw how he had
been misunderstood, how he had msjudged
Carmen.
But no word of this passed between them
till the grass was green upon the grave Of
door Cecil, and then together he and Car
men went to lay fragrant tribute above
cold clay of the man whose love had been
as deep as his own.
Then Kent drew her to him and spoke in
low tones.
Carmen, he gave you to me"
1t was thus they were betrothed, and the
sun shone down upon them, and the flowers