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

| sat in her room by the open window, silent and
motionless, Just she had sat for the past three
| days Was IL only three days since the blow had
| fallen? IL seemed an eternity. There seemed Ia
| De no possible way OF marking out the period Of
1 time during which darkness had usurped the
l place OF light. Those days OF sunshine and love
| and hope seemed far away, almost obliterated by
the blank curtain OF despair that had closed over
/ the past and future.
her trouble, but by its hopelessness. Life had all
| on sudden become whirling vortex, I'm which
love and duty CONNECT thrice terrible because II
\ was not In the girls nature to run counter Il
what she believed her duty. and that command
lad on her by her dead father seemed TO her one
She remembered how she had said to Jack that
until her fathers approval was secured she could
| only accept his love with timid reluctance; but
she knew, with the passionate knowledge OF 6
warm-hearted woman, that she had given her:
| When first she read her fathers letter she
| seemed unable TO comprehend 1t. By-and-by
| as the hours passed on, her senses cleared, and
| she began 70 try and consider what her course
/ must be.
And before the worn-out brain was capable of
this there came TO her a communication from her
| lover, which changed again the current OF ideas.
| She had the letter open now on her lap. She had
been gazing at it until every word was imprinted
1 on her memory; most OF all the tenqer words with
| which IL concluded
| From your own Jack"
Her own two-three days ago, her own true
| sacred"
| The wish was one there was no appeal against
| solemn In its unanswerableneSs. lit had been a
question OF pleading against stern decree, facing
even wrath and opposition; but there was nothing
10 beat against excepting the blank silence OF the
| grave.
Jacks letter was of Importance, and was written
under stress OF great emotion. The shifting, hur-
rying tide OF life had swept IN upon his plans and
purposes change In that blssful program he
had laid down was inevitable.
1 By one or the strange chances that control de5-
tiny, letter that should have reached him during
| his furlough had followed him from place place,
and at last returned 10 him at his quarters, con-
tanning that before its receipt he had learned
| from his brother officers.
| The regiment was under orders for the Soudan;
almost all the time allowed for preparation had
been consumed during his absence; there was a
pressure OF duty, prospect OF few days or at most
weeks active preparation, and then they would
embark.
IL was absolutely out OF the question that pro-
| longation OF leave he had reckoned on so conf
| DENLY. He wrote In rather despairing strain to
his newly betrothed enclosing letter 10 be given
| by her to her father.
probably he will resent my speaking to you
under the circumstances he wrote; she may even
insist the whole thing being deferred TIL my re-
turn. Tie fortune OF war In this instance hits me
hard my darling"
And then followed some words OF manly hope
II there was to be no absolute engagement, as on
his side he hardly dared 70 hope, still she knew
that her image would go with him, the sweet as
surance OF her love would be mis- ending until
he could return 10 claim her.
"Wrlte TO me just word OF comfort" he con-
has done Inc no good. i used 10 be the fghteSt-
hearted fellow In the regiment; now lind IL hard
TO think OF duty, and II It were not that know
neither time nor absence can change us, l should
be down-hearted indeed"
As yet she had not written. What could she
say? Tell him her father was deadl He would
Immediately conclude that she was free. He would
long the more ardenty to protect her. Tell him
she loved him so that no time, nor distance, nor
heightened separation could affect her c0nstancy !;
there was her fathers dying wish TO check the ut
terance OF the words.
SO she sat, in a whiri Of emotion that left her
Outwardly iInpaSSiye and by -and-by StrattOn came
TO her with DR.. Snaresbrooks request.
She went down stairs almost mechanically.
There seemed no room for thought about this mat
ter, any more than about that tiresome one OF
obeyng the tn1unctions Of the servants to eat and
drink at stated times.
open, Dr. SnaresDrook saw her, ghostly little fg
ure In her trailing black garments. He made a
step torward-it was all he could do to resist the
impulse 10 take her cold hands in both his own
anu draw her scared, white face TO his breast
But he did resist, respecting the sanctity OF her
loneliness, and having the hope OF being able to
claim the right be fain would exercise.
Patience snivered d little as she came in; the
familiar figure by the fireside, with its erect man
now under a new aspect She had known DR..
Snare5broOk so long; he had been bright, genial
influence always In her life; until this time she
the expression OF her fathers desire that she
should marry him would not have seemed so terri
He seemed terribly embarrassed now to speak,
and she did not help him; but at length he got out
an exclamation.
"You know, Patience, he said. show grieve for
you"
She looked at him with those wistful blue eyes,
out OF which all clear expression seemed to have
vanished, leaving behind a tangled labyrinth, TO
which he had no clue
cit is SUCH an awful shock for you," he said 'Tr
only could have spared you 1t by teiegraphing,
but IL was so sudden"
at seems" she said at last, "like a DREAM
She looked at him as she spoke with an odd
10 tell her 1t was not real, this dreary nightmare
under which she labored- She fancied there were
tears in his eyes; II she mad only known 1t, there
was depth OF emotion concealed In the quiet
manner which threatened every moment TO break
down his barrier OF reserve.
He spoke in a Dreathless kind of voice soon.
"You must not stay here" he said. "My sister
bids me ask you If you will come TO her-to US
until"
"oh, no. said Patience, 81 could not come to
you"
HIS face flushed red up to the brow.
"You-have read the letter." he asked in a low
voice.
"Yes," said Patience, 81 have read it."
She seemed TO be repeating the words mechani-
cally. To her own mind she was conscious OF no
sensation at all, just dull darkness through
which she could hear his voice.
But her apathy was dlspeled next moment, for
shrink and tremble, he stepped toward her.
ale thought II right" he said; 'he thought It
might make IL easier for you TO know that he ap-
proved spoke 10 him OF my love and hopes, be-
cause at the point OF death his mind was intent on
you The caught his breath quickly. ''Ah, Pa
thence, how love you; 1t is no sacriege to speak
OF IL now"
He was near enough TO take both her hands in
his own. His Passionate clasp should surely have
made them quiver, the desperate emotion with
which his face was working should surely have
awakened response In hers.
But she was white still, and passive, and her
blue eyes only looked up at MIN entreatingly as If
unable 10 read the language OF his own.
He tried then TO force back his emotion, alarmed
by the aspect OF her face He led her gently TO a
sofa and stood beside her until he was calm, And
presently she spoke.
81 read the letter." she said. 81 will try to do as
he wished; but not yet, not yet viii you go
away, please nrst, for long timer,
Ny darling, -
A little cry OF pain Intercepted him. Then she
broke down ana buried her face In both han Is and
cried despairingy.
For some moments the silence in the room was
only broken oy the sound OF her sobS When he
moved from her side IL was to pace to the window
and 10 stand with his face to the glass looking
out on the trees and grass, all glistening after
heavy rain.
81 suppose am speaking too soon,u he said IN
hurried undertone. "She Is shaken and un-
neryed-"
When the sobs had ceased he went back: he had
made up his mind what 10 say.
"Look up, dear Patience" he said, at shall be
Just as you wish. l will 20 away, and not speak
70 you again-since you Wiu bear your grief
alone"
''win you promise me, - said the girl, desperately
''not TO speak TO me for Year,"
"a Year,
"There was no time fxed,r she went on "He-
he Will know that should wait-a little and
snail have time TO forget"
he thought he understood, but he was sorely
ayerse 10 giving the promise That ring OF despera
ton In her voice warned him not To wreck hrs