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

parlor Roger shut the door after them, but he
did not sit down. He went and leant against
the white china stove and looked cpriously at
the major, who had dropped into q big arm
chair. At last he spoke.
You are not offended with me, are you~ he
said deprecatingy. and the major caught the
shadow OF certain wistfulness which ne had
sometimes observed in his manner toward Sara.
Because did not wish to be uncivi am
naturally short-tempered, and of course the
events OF the last few days"
He stopped and drew his long bony hand o-er
his eyes. when it dropped again his face was
tinged with color and his eyes shone.
but, as was telling you, We are to be mar
rled tomorrow. and we have no friends here
Not soui that we know beside the chaplain and
yourself Would 1t be asking too much" again
ne nxed his scrutiniZng gaze On the majors
face; should you greatly object to-attending
the ceremony-to--a-ins hort-acting as Sara's
relative and giving her away"
He turned, and looked at an Inappropriate en-
craving Of Werther's tomb on the wall behind
as he finished his sentence.
Major Brown sprang out of his chair and came
and stood beside him.
did you tell Miss Levison that you were GO
Ing to ASK me:" he inquired.
Yes, said Roger. still with averted Look.
"She said l had better not. But | know she
would like It. 1t is SO solitary for girl without
single"
Il will come" interrupted the major impu.-
slvely. Give me the hour"
"Half.past ten, and thank you," said Roger
as he left the room.
VII,
Major Brown had sent the sublimest bouquet
that HoHburg could offer to the bride. and had
dressed himself with due care for the ceremony.
He was only eager now for it to be over.
AS to what would happen aiterward he was
not conscious of any feeling Of curiosity; he
had not energy to form any plan. He was
dinly aware that the BourRemouth letter which
he had found awaiting him at his hotel on his
return the day before had been not from Nettie,
but from Mrs Drayron: that 1t had announced
! the fact that by Settie's express desire her
mother was writing to cancel the long engage
ment OF eight years standing which at the
same time she denounced in emphatic language
as ayoushful and incOnsderable folly. Nettie had
at last agreed to the curates patient suit Mrs.
Drayton said, aud they all felt that this was In
every way suitable marriage for a young lady
Of her convictions. Mrs. Drayton had not been
able to resist adding the satisfaction which she
! herself felt In the assurance that now Nette $
modest fortune was In no danger of bein.
| squandered in smoke and fiction. but would be
we'll laid out to the edifcation of saints and re-
Gaining or sinners. At another time Major
Brown would undoubtedly have felt relief at
| the burden that was thus Unexpectedly lifted
from his shoulders. But now he experienced Ii
anything little more ache about the heart a feel
Ing OF Increased loneliness. No one wanted him;
he was altogether unnecessary. After today he
would indeed De quite alone In the world.
Roger fastened to meet him as ne turned of
the road and made his way toward the dark.
Silent little church.
Through long night of sleepless reflection
Major Brown had puzzed over the young mans
| behavior to himself He found himself wonder
ing what Rogers motive in bringing him to his
marriage could possibly be. He was well-nigh
! sure now. since he had thought the matter
anxiously over, that if 1t was indeed Sara s
wish 1t would have been thwarted. He telt
an9rily that he had been quite wrong In con-
senting to attend the ceremony, that he had
only put himself and Sara In a painful and
| ridiculous position. 1t would have been much
better for both Of them If he had left Homburg
the day before, directly he had heard Roger
| first announcement Why should he have al
lowed himself to be used as tool in this fresh
freak OF young Wilson's suspicious spiteful-
ness.
Upon my word; you're pretty casual for an
impatient bridegroom" Roger called as the
major drew within earshot.
Major Brown paled to the lips at this taunt,
but he made no answer. Was he not about to
give to Wilson of his own free will all that he
held dear in life? Why, then, should he grudge
him the venting of his frettul temper?
Roger continued with sheer as the major
| entered the church:
Il wonder II Mr.. Cross will make an equally
| eager bridegroom? But, oh, no! of course Miss
Drayton, the Helen Of Bournemouth, is in
hn,tely more attractive than Door Sara. Cross
will be at the church before his best man"
What do You mean?" cried the major, turn
ing with Unsurpassed wrath on his tormentor.
| who was watching with evident satisfaction the
| effect Of his words "You have already heard
the Bournemouth gossip? Well don't g.udce
Cross his good fortune" Roger sneered again.
| He viii make Miss Drayton very much better
husband than ever l should have done. And I
am Aniho I - hi bal HAL
ito show you that do not grudge you your
good fortune either-your great happiness.
Pray let Us leave the subject"
While Major Brown had been speaking, Roger.
with an apparent indifference to his words, had
been ieisurely detaching little white rosebud
from his butt0n-hole
You have Dot got any button-hole." he said,
ignoring altogether the others anger. '.Its
not the thing Chat should have one while you
have none. See" he added, holding out the
flower. 81 give this rosebud to you just as
am giving her to you. think there Is some
| likeness between them"
He drew back the flower, and looking at It
kissed 1t softly. Then he thrust it into the
majors hand.
Put it In and look sharp" he said ungraci-
ousy. "she will be here in minute"
Major Brown gazed at him in speeches. as
Il do not know what you mean," he said at
last, hoarsely.
Then you must be most uncommonly thick
headed" was the others sharp retort do
you mean to tell me that you are not perfectly free
now that the distinguished Cross has cut In and
cut you out? If you are not, it would have been
wiser to have have told me so before had made
all arrangements with the parsOn and with Sara
For Sara, she's perfectly free, too-now that you
are. You would not have me marry girl that
wants to marry another man, would you?
Though she WAS far too good ever to say So"
he added gently to himself. Then, raising his
voice again. "And can't you understand either"
he said; ARE you 80 utterly dense, that per-
haps it was not hard tor man in my position to
see how matters were gOing-to see how tar you
two cared for each other? / had it all out with
Sara yesterday afternoon, directly we heard the
news from Bournemouth. She couldn't deceive
me: she hasn't deceived me all along, though she
tried her best poor child, and told her 80.
haven't known her all these years and
He broke down with a great guip, and hurried
up the aisle and down again before he resumed
with more than mis- former harshness of tone
81 would have called and explained it all to
you yesterday evening" he said, ''only you were
so confoundly curt in the afternoon and dared
not trust myself But suppose you got my
letter.
The major dumbly shook his head. knowl-
edge which he could scarcely realize was BEGIN
ming to steal In upon him. He could not speak
He hardly knew whether to trust his senses, or
to believe that great trouble had altogether
bereft him Of them. Only he grasped desper-
ately the little white rose bud as at least some