The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-13
the dripping well, and no more was thought of
it for a while
That is the prologue to my story.
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER Ii.
They were twelve months of happiness which
! followed. There was not cloud in our heaven
/ studied every wish and she was grateful for
| II. AT times there came a faint far-away
| doubt if she were as happy as myself-might
| be only happy i'll the second degree taking her
| life and liShtEess from me- content and at
| peace, seeing that was content, but not the
! life and light natural to her young self.
There came no child to halloW our union,
| and we both regretted it. There was never a
! child to complete the links in the home chain;
surely it would have been different had it
! been Gods viii to bless us thus l think [ see
| this now; l feel it more acute,y every day be-
| tween this and the end of it,
a little more than twelve months after this
was compelled to leave England again. The
opportunity was too great and grand for man
OF my profession to miss; it was the talk of the
/ world at that time, and was congratulated on
| my good fortune at every turn. But my mis-
sion for some three years lay in a PARKWAY
| wild quarter of the world, where womans
health. perhaps her life, would be necessarily
| in jeopardy. There was rough work, if great
| work, even for mon; so 1 was to go my way
alone for awhile, and it was arranged that
! Cicely was TO return to her fathers home and
keep house for him, as i'll the old days, until L
| came back again.
/ The last night spent i'll England was at a
| ball given by an ariStocratic friend | had not
| intend that it shouded be spent i'll this fashion.
! | had thought there was clear week longer
/ Tor me at home, when ~ telegram arrived
urging the necessity of my immediate de-
parturc.
1t was great ball in its way--that is, there
| were many guests, and the rooms were crowded
| with men and women of rank and distinction.
After our first dance together Cicely was lost to
| me amid host of partners, and | was left to
/ discuss commonplaceS with middle-aged con-
'tenlporaries, to receive various congratulations
| on my appointment, to talk right and left OF
| the very subject which L was trying hard TO
| avoid.
Presently found myself watching Cicely
| from the door of the ballroom my eyes had
| wandered in search of her for some time in
vain, and then L found her sitting on the recess
| of window, whose heavy curtains almost con-
cealed her from view. 1t was only by the fan,
| large and heavy fan of ostrich feathers
! quantity grouped together that L knew il was
| she She was sitting with her back toward me,
halt hidden i'll tho recess-it was only a half
| outline OF her graceful figure that l saw there,
| but was sure it was Ciccly.
| That was the first heart-stab which I had
ever had. On that night there seemed to open
| out to me by SLOW and sure degrees the con-
| seriousness that might not have won the love
| OF my wife so wholly and completely as to rem
| der lis safe together or apart. NV trust in her
! my own self-eSteem, had received no shock till
that hour, but here was struck the first iaring
| note OF whole souls discord. l woke as from
| dream, and l was none the better for the
| waking. There came even then to me the con-
my jealousy, Il dSd 81 wiled HAT lana am angel Ell
| should prove false My suspicion came from
| the man with whom she was conversino |
could see him plainly from my post of observa-
! tion--a tall, dark man of three or four and
| twenty years of age, with handsome and inn
! FASHIONED face and black eyes, which seemed
/ to flash like diamonds with the torrent of
| words which he was pouring forth to her.
| My heart sank like a plltnmet in the sea.
/ was aware of danger to Inc, to Cicely-I hated
him already. A friendly hand fell upon my
| shoulder and startled me. 1t was my host,
win eli 1orro bi,,,y
| surprise.
"Who is the good-looking young fellow talk
ing to my wife?" / asked, very lightly-too
| lightly to be natural but Lord Sandbourne
| was not critical. He put up his eye-glass and
stared in my direction.
Cad, don't know; | never him be-
fore" he said. Lady Standbourne sows her
invitations broadcast, and leave the crop to
her. This sort Of thing is womans business,
you see'
walked away from him. 1 made my way
quietly and almost steadily toward the recess.
felt like man playing the spy.
When | was close to them, the truth was close
toe. Neither had heard me approach; the
whlrl Of the dancers past, the Draying of
waltz from the orchestra, the place in which
they were seems security itself, and these two
did not take heed of me in their Self-absorp-
ton.
why did you marry then? Why could YOU
not wait and believe III me-" were the words
which this indiscreet raver uttered to my wife
who was shrinking back from him and trem-
bling and flushing, whose eyes were swimming
in hot tears.
"Cicely, said, with suppressed coolness as
] stood before them, 81 have been wondering
what had become Of YOU
My wife rose and put her hand on my arm.
II am glad you have come, Uric. | have
been waiting for you" she exclaimed. Take
me home. | am tired Of this" size added,
speaking very rapidly
who is this gentleman ." / asked in a low
voice
Madame Haviland will introduce me to her
| husband said the man before me, in a foreign
accent, and Cicely said, still hurredly and like
woman under SPELL
'Ihis is my old friend, Monsieur Danano,
whom ! knew once in Paris
80, indeed"
Monsieur Danano-now Of the French op-
era-oi whom you have probably heard,
| Uric"
The name was not known tonne
"leS, l have heard of Monsieur Danauo."
'AS |, sir, have heard of the name of Mr..
| Haviland, the famous engineer" he said, with
low bow and a smile which / did not return.
He had recovered from the surprise Of my APP
pearance, the excitement OF his own 0yowal
whether ! had heard any part Of his converse
ton to my wife or not did not appear to matter
to him. With perfect ease and sclf.confdence,
he said:
"You have probably been familiar with my
name, Mr. Haviand, before the Partisan
world thought it worth mentioning above
whisper.
mo. sir"
81 was an Old friend of madame s-almost
an old schoolleliow-ycry nearly what YOU
English call an old fame. 1 was saying, he
added, as he looked keenly and yet laughingly
at us both "when you did me the honor to ar
rive, that Madame Hayiland might have
waited little longer for me. But ] am van
pushed here lie bowed again-"and you, sir,
are the victor"
One could but try to smile at this bold, but
good-humored explanation, and then, with
light word on two bore my wife away from
him. She was ANXIOUS 10 get home, She said.
aud took her at her word. Why should ]
doubt il YETI
That ride home was very silent and almost
solemn.
Suddenly, and when we were within a street
or two .! home, ! said.
'Youucyer mentioned this Monsieur Danano
~ me Cicelv."
Never she repeated, almost eyasiYelv.
Never repeated.
Bot yoH had heard from father that"
j had pot heard anything from youI father.
What Ind le 90 tell me9'
"Eouiu4,' Hhc said, in a low voice.