Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-12

Sara had prepared to acquiesce, when Major
Brown found himself possessed with a desire to
oppose the young mans peevish will. He car
RED his point, and had the satisfaction Of watch
ing Roger walk gloomily away with his mother,
leaving himself and Sara alone At that moment
ne realized that lie had never before been quite
alone with Sara
shall we not go and ait under the treesa We
| should hear the music better there" ne sug-
gested, gentleness in his tone that converse
with the girl alone developed.
| She consented, and the two left the terrace.
1t was darker here. and there were not many
people. The baUd was playing some low, soft
melody which did not demand entire attention,
| but seemed pleasingly to connect their fragmen-
| tary talk. They were both inclined to be silent.
Sara sat very grave and still. her dark hair the
only relief in the general whiteness Of her iace
| and figure.
| Presently the music changed. there was
| murmuriIg accompaniment of minor instru-
| ments. and the first violin took up the air.
| Clear and lingering the notes hung on the quiet
air; The majors heart beat higher and faster
| ana his breath came quickly. Then mournfully
| ana waingiy the violins sighed out the refrain,
| echoed In softest murmur by the whole orches-
ira: 20. wenn es doch INNER so bliebe."
! 1T was over and Major Brown turned alb
| ruptly 10 Sara. His eyes were bright and his
face was slightly flushed. He had forgotten
! everything hut that they were alone together
| that the moments were flying, that the time
would not remain.
1T is the song I first heard you sing" he
| whispered breathlessly.
| She turned to him with little pleased sur
prise. And you have remembered it," she
| questioned.
"Remember it," he echoed scornfuliy "why,
1t has never left me since that day. 1t has rung
IN my ears day and night. and when have
closed my eyes have seen you standing there,
so beautiful and so mysterious. with all that
passion in your voice and that stiffness on your
! face"
''Ah, don't" There was q startled. almost
| frightened LOOK In the gray eyes into which he
was now gazing as he leaned toward her. But
she could not stop him. 1t was too late. All
the love that he had silently cherished for so
| long IN ms heart was now visible on hic face and
sounded In his Quvering voice. He could no
| longer master himself, and he would not notice
her appeal.
But must. Sara. Don't you see that love
you-that have loved you ever since 1 first saw
you! No-no, interpreting her faint distress
lu gesture; Il know that there is no hope for
me, but must speak and tell you cannot
| help it any longer You will say it is my own
fault-that | knew all along that you were
promised to another-that you loved another.
| SO did, but"
| lie broke of suddenly. for he saw that her
eyes were full of tears, and her head sank.
Dear he cried, touching her shoulder with
| his trembling hand. all the passion gone and u
| great tenderness coming into his voice. "Dearl
have hurt you? l did not know; believe me, I
| did not know | would never have spoken If |
had. But" breaking out again with sudden
| eagerness, 'must it be? Oh, why need 1t be?
Must you sacrifice yourself3 Sara, you shall
| not. Tyou have no pity on yourself you must
have pity on me. You dare not ruin both our
lives"
But she was looking up again now, quite
calm. though her face was almost deadly iu its
| pallor.
! IL shall not ruin both our lives" she said.
| ''and dare not even think" her voice trembled
| somewhat, ''of what you have been saying. We
have both our duty to fulfill. You are engaged,
| are you nOt:" She looked at him with her hon
est eyes and though there was no reproach in
| them the majors lace crimsoned and he ground
his teeth. And SO am /. And think we nave
I tery. aud he cannot do without me. promised
HIM when was very young that he never should
have to. And ] must keep my word. You"
looking at him with a sweet. trembling smile,
you are soldier and brave man. You would
NOT hurt the woman who trusts yOu."
She paused a minute, and then rising said:
| "Come, L Is time we were going home"
| They walked back in complete silence. but at
the door She womanlike, looked NJ and asked
! gently: do you not think me rght!'
Il cannot. / cannot" he cried passionately,
and hurried away.
| VI.
| Major Brown took short tour. visiting Wies-
baden and Frankfort, to give himself time to
! think At the end of five days he returned to
| Homburg considerably calmer In mind and re-
| solved on plan of action.
| he would appeal once more to Sara. He felt
positive now that she loved him. and why then,
from a mistaken sense OF duty should she sacri-
| flee both herself aud him to an ungrateful and
exacting taskmaster? But though able to as
cribe Sara's conduct to q mistaken sense Of duty,
/ he felt bitterly that he dared not try his own BY
the same liberal standard. He could not yet
think of Nettie Drayton without feeling OF
| burning shame He tried not to think Of her at
all. And, indeed, it was as much to be free from
| the Inevitable bi-weekiy Bournemouth letter as
for any other reason that he had quilted HON.
burg.
Swinging up the Lusen-strasse he kept Sara
and her sacrifice firmly before his minds eye.
Such life rs she was preparing for herself To
be the vile Of a man like young Wilson. the
slave of his every whim, the object on which
every temper would be vented! The mere i'm
aginaton Of it made him hot.
| At the same instant he caught sight Of Roger
| a few PAGES in front Of him. He would have o..
| capped down side street, but that the young
man suddenly turned, and seeing him, stood still
waiting for him to come up.
The major noticed that his face was even psler
and more haggard-loOking than usual, and that
there were deep. dark rings around his eyes.
How are you? he inquired, touched In
spite of himself at the sight; and how's your
| mother?'
'She 8 deaO, answered the young man, SO
| abruptly and harshly that the major staggered
and leant up against a wall for support.
Dead! What do you mean? What CHASTITY
joke" he stammered at last, trying to force q
| smile. why, You frightened me out Of my
wits"
I'VE were far more frightened" replied the
young man doggedly, and in the same harsh
voice. land not soul here that We could turn
to. You We're conveniently out Of the way Of
| the bother. She was taken bad directly We got
| home last Monday night When Sara came In at
| last l was nearly dead. too, with terror and
misery. she sent for DOCTOR but it wasn't any
good, and she died that night. She's buried,
too" he added, after pause. looking up with a
kind Of implsh triumph that gave the major
hysterical desire to laugh.
but how terrible! and how dreadful for Miss
Levlson. What is she going to do?" he inquired
presently.
IL think it is far more dreadful for me. con-
sdering that she was my mother and not Sara's,
Roger snapped out. mot but that she was al
ways very good to her, too; quite as good as IL
she had been her own daughter. WHAT'S Sara
going to do. did you say? Why, nothing very
particular. We shall be married, and then 60
Into Italy Immediately"
You will be married-you and Sara-Mlss
Levison! Oh, but surely not? You are dream
ing-it is impossbe-so hurried, and SO quite
unnecessary"
The major could scarcely find breath with