The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1889-10-10

making an effort to withdraw her fin
gers.
| Instantly he released her.
Il see that ] hurt you. he returned
courteously, and took up the oars
Pardon me-" he continued. II vii
not do it ever again.
A few bold strokes and the boat
keel grated on the shore. Ten min
ntes later the two reappeared in Mrs
Hurlton's beautifully-appointed salon.
On the parterre beyond shone the RED
light from mans cigar. 1t was still
there. still cleaning when she haC
gone up to her own room. She crossed
to the windew to pull down the shade
but stood minute, fascinated. motion
less.
After tonight he viii forget me, :
she murmured. sadly And l.
shall remember him-foreyer!
Then, as though sudden truth has
burst upon her, she drew down tht
shade to throw herself with quick
! impetuous motion prone upon her
couch and weep the first heart tears
she had ever shed.
1T is all over-Miss Yiner has re.
fused him." This was the general
verdict when twenty-four hours later
Jerome Fleetwell babe his friends
adieu, and withdrew to town on plea
Of sudden business.
The news soon reached Dorothy's
ear. II have not refused him. she
said aloud; mot even that satisfac-
tion is mine" she said to herself
NOR ever viii bel 1t was only the
might have been
He was not man, she knew full
well, to plunge desperately into airta.
tion, or associate his name at once
with another woman's, or to retire
later or rise earlier or in any way dis.
turb the even tenor Of his way. The
difference between them was only this
his heart was healing. perhaps al.
ready healed, but he would bear its
scar to the grave; hers was fester-
ing sore, which hurt the more that
she had let the physician who might
work its cure pass her by.
The summer wanes to a close. Au-
tumn had touched the mountain and
hillside into a glorious beauty of
brown and red. Then came winters
tagging footsteps, mercifully bearing
the exquisite white shroud of snow to
cover up all signs OF devastation and
decay.
The season in the gay world was at
its height. Occasionally murmurs
among the debutants for its honors
arose at the fact that though Miss
viner's fifth winter, her former sue
cess paled in its most effulgent light
She and Lieutenant Fleetweu constant
ly met She almost wished he might
avoid her, but at their first chance en-
counter he had approached with out
stretched hand.
How charmingly you are looking,
Miss Viner. he had said. And all in
vain she had watched for tremor in
his tone, or a shadow of embarrass-
ment in his manner.
Only a week between him and
shipwreck." she thought, bitterly.
a'0h, he has sailed so far from the
fatal rock that doubtless he would now
laugh at its supposed danger-and l.
l was weak enough to think he stood
upon the preeipice's brink.
The new year had come, and one
evening Dorothy stood alone in her
fathers drawing-room. looking out at
The last gathering darkness, when
through its somber shade she saw a fig
ure pass and mount the steps. "A visit
or. she uttered, YEARLY; then waited
the inevitable announcement she knew
must follow. But spite of every effort
she started when the servant throw
ing open the door. called out Lieu
tenant Fleetwell,r Oh. how glad she
was that the rooms were not yet
lighted as she went forward to receive
him.
May welcome you in the dark
ness?" she questioned.
las you will" he answered. Il
have but a few moments TO stay.
have come to bid you good bye and to
ask you to wish me bon voyage"
Bon voyage! You are going
abroad?"
Yes sail ON Thursday. l hesi-
tated about calling. but my desire to
see you led me to believe you would
pardon my audacity in supposing my
going question Of enough moment
TO MAKE it worthy Of a special call"
My friends are always welcome /
did not suppose it necessary you
should hear that repeated now"
Nor is il II was only morbid
fancy on my part which induced me to
question it / shall come back, /
trust, with my mind clearer. At least
| shall be some years older. When
return ] presume / shall look for Miss
Doroths Yiner ia vain, until / shall
find her ia some matron, equally
charming. can not imagine her
quite staid and portly."
So he could speak thus lightly of her
becoming the wife Of another man?
And he was going away; she might
never again hear his voice nor see his
face. 1t was too crueli He and fate
were too strong for her. The tears
gathered in the black eyes. but the
darkness hid them
He ratified on-she had no need to
speak. Then he rose to 90.
Goodbye. Miss Vinerr,,-he took
her hands in both his-''GoOlbye,
God bless your
Was it her fancy that Just at the last
his voice trembled?
He crossed the room; he had gained
the door. Another instant he would
be gone; another instant it might be
too late
''Jeromew she said. softly.