The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-08-22
THE CAUCASIAN.
CONTINUED from First Page. /

stand me-
:" 'Sh / thought heard the
rustic Of her dress, said the
friend.
"Mr. West rose hastily from
I,is chair and stepped to the
door, which was shaded by
heavy draperies. Some one had
just passed from the next room
INTO the hall, for the porliere
was still swinging; bnt no one
was to be seen.
The mem bers OF the little
cj!rle soon came together again,
aEi he evening was amOst ell
joyable one. Just before the
family separated for the night,
Mrs. Dallas asked for mo
meuts conversation with Mr..
We I. Her manner was some
what constrained, AID ~ they
stood face to face I,y the
window she grew very pale and
trembltd perceptibly.
"Fear ny she had heard ~,
words ard had misconstrued ~.
taken offense at them, he be
came almost as much agitated
as his fai: companion, and
scarcely knew what to say. At
length with an evident effort
she broke the silence.
"You were saying heard
you speak of a girl-at the
Seminary Was She
"Nb, my love. and did you
hear what ! said? Did you
lie ar all that | sad: My darl-
ing, 90 you not knOw---'
by this time Mrs. Dallas
had i'll measure recovered
herself, and in low voice said:
Stop! You said you had loved
her always-that you loved her
now-that you would give all,
all but your life for her. Who
was shea
'lndeed | do not know he
said earnestly. q never could
find out, although ! tried faith,
fully, | admit that; but she is a
memory, u shadow, an ideal
Can you not forgive me my
words, when tell you that nc
ether love ever found q mo-
ment's place liz my heart, only
that little "Reminiscences, AND
that to day you are all the
world t. me"
"Are you certain that this is
SO p she asked, fixing her eyes
steadily on his face.
"AbsOlutely certain, my own
how can | prove it to yOu?'
"By becoming the custodian
of this little parcel, and of this;
and she laid her delicate hand
containing d tiny packet, in the
one he had extended to her il
appeal.
He rlasped the little hand in
his own, and cove'ed it with
kisses. Then, wondering what
the parcel could contain, he un.
tied the ribbon that bound it
and carefully opened it. Folded
within a sheet o [ note-paper
yellow and discOio~ed with
smoke and years, was a piece
of court-plaster about the size
and shape Of a ten cent silver
coin.
"And so you Wee really
ohe of them, he said, as he
looked thoughtfully at the
sheet of paper and its contents
"Ye-yes,' she said slowly
Il was one of them
"And did yOu eycc know who
the girl was, and why they all
wore these " he asked hurriedly
h heart beating rapidly-he
could not tell why.
ooh, you stupid, stupid goose
10 son think any girl would
keel a thing of that sort simply
because the preceptress bade
her wear it"
ale clasped her in his arms
and murmured God has beer
very good to me, my darling
better than | can ever deserve
Have you known all of thu
time " lie asked after a pause
NO: | never suspected unit
| heard you tel Charlie and
never could get the slightes
clue, although ! went down tn
corridor frequently, MAXIM
excuses to find the girl who di
the rooms. They We're all 5
much alike; and was so frigh,
toned that | did not take partiC
ular notice
r "And have you always RI
membered me !? he asked.
l., "Remembered youn she o.
claimed; and with quiverin
: lips and fearful eyes she wi
pered , Have / remembere
Vpu3 Whv NV nUn hay