The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-11-10

neAfd not 1eatflce, OUT Mauellne
speaking. ~
"Do not urge me to give you a reason,
! Allan she said, her voice harsh almost
to shrillness In her efforts to render it
steady "Say that am tickle. That
will cover the whole ground, and save
you the trouble of seeking an underlying
cause"
but you are not tickle, Madeline.
could say it of many women, but not of
you. The love which was mine year
ago is mine today. You dare not deny
it, Madeline"
Thus much / heard unavoidably while
retreating from my undesirable position
of eavesdropper In it found abundant
matter for reflection. doubted not that
Allan Stephenson had asserted truth in
avowing that Madeline loved him still.
Then came the questions, Why had she
given him up2 How had such sacri-
fee become necessary? What motive
could be brought to bear upon high
minded girl, like Madeline Mannering,
powerful enough to induce her to discard
Allan Stephenson, whom she loved, for
Julius Stone, acknowledging by my own
sentiment-I Thought it highly probable
that she detested? The more I studied
upon it the more intricate the problem
became. But had feeling that it was
connected, in some way, with my broth
er's frequent careworn look and the en-
barrassment had once or twice noticed
in his manner when made some inqui-
ry into his affairs Robert was so vola-
4. ~, 7 ~
Of getting a serious explanation from
him. could question Madeline, but
would she be disposed to break through
her ordinary habit of reticence and con-
fde in me2 would try it at all events
At last there came day, when the rest
of the family all went to picnic gotten
up by Julius Stone, in grounds attached
toa place he had lately purchased Mad
cline remained at home, and I, not car
ing for Mr.. Julius Stones entertainment,
recherche though it was expected to be,
remained with her.
~ fear" l remarked as we watched
the carriage driving off, that Mr.. Julius
Stone will be disappointed man today
when he sees whom the Mannering car
rage does not contain"
eff you wish to spare him disappoint-
ment it is not yet too late for you to CO."
returned Madeline, pointedly.
"I shall not pretend to have great
deal of solicitude ON his account. but,
Madeline, have on yours. How has it
become necessary that you should marry
this mapf''
"In the course of human events" she
retorted, with assumed levity of manner.
But her set face and ashen lips rather
injured the effect
snow, Madeline" I pursued, "you
need not try to put me off with such
sorry pretense of indifference. lam de-
termined to know all about it; if not
from you. then from your father; If not
is plain to me that you are being sacri-
feed. and want to know whether the
end is as desperate us the means.
SIT is" said Madeline, in low, de-
spairing tone.
'sTell me" urged, entreatingly.
She had covered her face with her
hands. For little time she sat thus in
stony stiffness; then she sat up erect,
her mien resolute, almost defiant.
"There is nothing to TELL" she said,
decisively.
tIs there no hope, then, for Allan
Stephenson"
''None."
perhaps he has deserved his fate.
You have probably discovered that he is
worthless fellow, unworthy of wo-
mans constancy."
"His peer for nobleness does not
BREATHE" she retorted with warmth
that surprised me, though had counted
upon flaming up of her womanly spirit.
"Whatl Not Julius StoneY
believe was cruel to torture her SO,
but her infexibility vexed me beyond
measure. She pressed her hand to her
forehead, like one whom sudden whirl
has made giddy In another moment
she was mistress of herself.
Look at yonder cumuli," she said,
pointing to pile of clouds lying below
the zenith. 'sWhat an accumulation of
drifting heecinessl One might easily
fancy the Fates setting their spinners to
work upon just such q cottony mass"
SIT would be an intangible warp spun
of such material" I affirmed.
"And drop off into the mist of dreams,
as do the flny threads OF our lives.
What seems most real and tangible to-
day, tomorrow will have receded into
the dreaminess of the past. 1t is q
pity that you and ! are not poets, Uncle
Raphael. We might perhaps make out
that life is of no more account than
Jonder ephemeral cloud mass"
"'Life is real, life is earnest is a no
bier sentiment" returned.
And SO our conversation drifted off
upon poets and their sayings, and there
was no chance of its reaching back to
the point from which Madeline had SO
determinedly changed its course.
When the family returned from the
picnic at iightfall. they were accom-
panied by Julius Stone. Hitherto had
usually managed to avoid this gentle
man in his rather frequent calls at the
manor, but now resolved to overcome
my distaste for his society so far as to
remain a portion of, the evening. In
consequence Of the avoidance I have
,,1ar,ftnnoI r bod ,aaxa- .o~.. 1.