Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-08
scapegoat the walls of my wrath were

scapegoat the walls OF my wrath were
outpoured.
.Dick will be here soon" That
was the thought uppermost in my mind
when 1 awoke the next morning.
There shall be no more stiffness or
misunderstanding between us; for /
will tell him all my folly and beg his
pardon. He will forgive me, know. "
Filled with this hopeful project, |
chose my prettiest morning-dress,
coiled my brown plaits high upon my
head in the fashion that he always
liked, picked up IA couple OF the dainty
Marechal Mel roses that clustered
around my window, pinned them at
my throat, and then sailed down
stairs TO meet my lover with bright
flush upon my cheeks and my heart
beating fast with excitement.
| heard voices in the breakfast
room, and paused at the door with "a
half-delighted. half-alarmed convic-
ton that Dick had already come; but
only mother was there, Ia king TO
Susan the parlor maid, who had just
brought in letter
1T is for you, dear. and means, |
suppose, that Dick cannot come" said
mother in vexed and disappointed
tone, as she pushed the envelope
across to me; and felt my hopes die
n sudden and cruel death as | recog-
niZed the bold, clear handwriting.
"Open ii, child, and see what he
says"
Slowly / obeyed the injunction. my
fingers trembling with "A terror beside
which that | had subdued last night
seemed faint and hadowy indeed.
Slowly | read the few lines Dick had
written; then passed the note across
the table with weary hopelessness |
no longer cared 10 conceal.
''Am | TO read IT, dear ?"
Certainly; it isis it not love
letter, and is as much TO you as me, y
| replied, with qeivering lips; and
mother picked up the note and read it
carefully.
dearest Irene'-Dick had written
al hoped and fully intended when
we parted last night to have passed
the morning with you; but "A circum-
stance i cannot at present explain has
changed my plans, and l am off to
town by the first train. | may be
away three or four days-possibly
may return tomorrow. Please ask
Mrs. Gerard to forgive my broken
engagement with her, and believe me,
always yours. Dick"
..NEan Z, ,,.,,., L.. loo,> 400. "a
mothers Indignation was much more
vehement than mine; her eyes spark
led, her cheeks flushed, as she said
quite angrily, Il scolded you for be-
ing exacting last night, Irene; but
think you have the right to show some
little spirit and resentment now; for
Mr.. Martineau is certainly not treat
ing you with kindness or consider
alton here. II were you. | should
tell him so when he comes back"
when he comes back ~ | echoed
dreariy. mo; do not look at me
like that, mother. | am not talking
wildly; / am not angry-not so angry
as should be perhaps. l only feel
AS thoughts though p"
LAS though what, my poor dear
child ?" mother asked pitifully, and
the kindly look in her eyes, the ten
der loving way in which she drew me
down into chair and stroked my
smooth plaits-the hair | had dressed
for Dick-only made me laugh wildly
and unreasonably.
LAS though were fighting fate -
/ exclaimed, with feverish sharpness,
land that is such "A hopeless fight
l had better give it up at once -
"And give up Dick?"
/ did not answer her: | did not know
perhaps it might even come to that
that | should have to give up Dick,
or even, rs thought with a sharp
pang of wounded love and pride, that
he would, unasked, set me free. The
thought was more than torture-it
dazed and bewildered me. had been
so proudly sure of Dicks love, had
never dreamed that my changed cir
cumstances would change it-that in
any trial of life it would falter or fail
and now
/ tried-Heaven knows, tried hard
and honestly TO bear up against the
terrible despair that seemed to be set
Ting down upon my soul But, / fear
without much success. l would not
creep away, as | longed to do, and
nurse my smarting wounds in secret.
| went out and about as usual, laughed
and talked more than usual perhaps,
and flattered myself that / threw dust
in the gossips' eyes; but could neither
eat nor sleep, and every time / looked
at a mirror my pale cheeks and hollow
eyes seemed TO mock my poor and in
effectual efforts to disguise the anguish
at my heart
TO BE CONTINUED.
XIvl& XITA.... HN..