Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-01

Chetwynd? The visitors seem scattered,
do they not? Some are playing tennis,
and some bowls, | believe. Would you
like to join either game, or would you
prefer to see the orchid-house? This is
your first visit here, believer
81 should like to see the orchids, if you
will show them to me-" Chetwynd said
eagerly.
"Oh, certainly"
Some tone in his voice, some look which
suddenly leaped into his dark eyes, sent
an added glow of color to Theo's face, a
strange thrill of happiness to her heart
"Oh, certainly" she said, and turned and
walked by his side across the lawn and
down the rose walk to the orchid-house
almost in silence. Chetwynd listened,
and looked, and admired, as Theo pointed
out the newest and rarest flowers and
descanted on their beauty, but it is doubt
full whether he quite knew what she was
saying or what he answered. He was only
conscious of one thing-that they were to-
gether again; that he was by her side;
that her dress touched him; that her
sweet voice rang in his ears; that once
again for a brief space the gates of his
They would close presently, and Duty,
the angel with the flaming sword, would
bar the way but now they were open, and
he entered in and tasted its delights, and
looked on its beauties again. The eyes
that looked down at Theo's grew SO
strangely bright and soft, the voice that
spoke to her was so full of a tremulous
happiness, that Theo noticed, and won
dered and felt vaguely happy, and excited,
and half frightened.
"Shall we go back now and see what the
other people are doing?" she said. at is
dull for you here, for | don't fancy" and
she smiled, "that you really care much
about the orchids. To tell the truth.
neither do /, but Lady Curtis is SO
proud of them that it is rank treason to
say so Well" as he was still silent,
" have you seen enough? Shall we 60
back"
"Does that mean that you want to get
rid of me-that you are tired of my COM
pany% Chetwynd said, with queer
laugh.
He never knew why he said the words,
or what the impulse was that moved him
to put his hand on the gloved hand that
was resting on the basin of the fountain
that stood in the center of the orchid
house. He did it just because he could
not help it. Theo started, but she did not
draw her hand away. She looked at him
gravely.
"Nay, it would be more likely that you
shonld tire of mine," she said, in a cold, dis
tinct voice. You do tire of your friends
sometimes, you know, Mr. Chetwyndl l re-
member a time when you seemed to like
to come to the Red House, when for more
than two months your visits were so fire.
quent that we ceased to consider YOU
visitor. Then for no cause that we could
understand, they ceased altogether. | sup
pose you grew tired" Theo added, and now
there was a quiet scorn in her voice that
sent the hot blood surging into Chetwynd's
face, that filled him with an irresistible
longing to tell her the true reason of his
absence, and so to justify himself in her
eyes.
"Did you really think that was the
reason ?' he said in hoarse, eager voice.
Nay, then, must speak. | must justify
myself. Tire of you; of your sweet COM
pany; of the presence that brought rest,
and peace, and happiness to me. Oh.
Theo, Theol" he had never called her by
that name before; even in her agitation
she remembered this, and thought how
sweet it sounded from his lips: show could
you think so? [ stayed away because l
could not come any longer; because | was
growing to love you so well; because you
were to me as you always will be, the
sweetest and purest of all women And
because | knew my love was hopeless and
l could not win you, and because | knew
the prize coveted was not for me l STAYED
away"
There was short silence. Theo stood
leaning against the fountain, looking down
into the water from which her fair
troubled face looked back at her with visit
ful, half-happy, half-wondering eyes. Her
pretty dress fell around her in soft, grace
ful folds; a great tree-fern spread its tall
fronds over her head; on every side the
orchid blossoms, mingled with other gor-
geous tropical flowers, were blooming; one
shaped like a scarlet trumpet touched her
cheek. She put up her hand mechanically
and pushed it away, then after a short
silence
"Why should it be hopeless ?" she said
in shy, soft voice, and she glanced up at
him with sweet, wistful eyes.
Again the silence fell upon them. Chet-
wynd stood by her side, his hand still
rested on hers, and his fingers closed over
it and held it tightly, but his face had
grown stern and troubled, and there was
no lovers triumph, but only a stern re-
nunciation in the eyes which met hers.
81 will tell you Why" he said, "and
then you shall judge. We priests of the
Church of England take, as you know, no
VOW of ceibacy, but none the less do some
among us think that a celibate life is de-
sirable; that man unfettered by wife
and children and home ties can give him
self up more fully and freely to his work
than one who has others closely connected
with himself to think of and to plan for.
whose interests must naturally come first in
his thoughts and purposes. The Bishop is
one of these, and l used to be- You know
something of what | owe to him, of the
ceaseless kindness which he has ALWAYS
showed to me, but no one but myself can
know all. l could never express to anyone
not even to you-how deep is the rever-
ence and love have for him. He is my
example, the pattern which l strive to fol-
low. | have no greater ambition than to
tread IN his footsteps, to be in all things as
he Is His thoughts have been my
thoughts, his will my will. l may
almost say that he is my con-
science, for l would truly rather
trust in any time of doubt or difficulty to
his judgment than to my own. | know
well what great disappointment it would
be to him if | married, and | know, also,
although no promise was ever asked or
given, that he would not have appointed
so young man as am to this important
charge if he had not thought that l, be-
ing free from any closer ties, would devote
my whole energies and life to my work.
And more than this. He has set several
schemes on foot which are very close to
his heart, but which will not in all proba-
bility be completed in his life. The COM
pletion OF these he has intrusted to me.
for !, better than any other person, under
stand his wishes and can carry out his
plans. | should feel like traitor if
swerved now from the path which he-with
my full consent, remember-planned out
for me. | count no sacrifice too great to
make for him; yes, even if it involved
the remuneration of my dearest hopes, |
would make it gladly" Chetwynd cried,
and his cheeks flushed and his ewes
frightened with generous emotion.
Again the silence fell, still the gorgeous
blossoms waved TO and fro and sent out
their strong perfume, but they had lost