The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-29
it is not your fault, you know. YoI
have no cause fol-. self-reproach."

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docs he know about tomorrow ?"
"Of course. of course. l told him ev-
erythiDg, and he only wants just to say
goodbye You can't refuse him that,
poor fellow, if it's any consolation"
No Doris felt that she could not re-
fuse, She went into the drawing-room
where Wilfrid was waiting, telling her
self proudly that she should. at least,
know how to meet him as Philip CHS
holms bride-she, Doris Carew.
But the proudest woman sometimes
over-rate their strength. She had not
realized what it would be to stand face
to face with him once more, to feel her
hands in his, to meet the eyes and hear
the voice for which she had hungered so
long in vain. She stood mute and pale,
unable to utter word.
There was cloud of pain and wonder
in Wilfrid's eyes, and his face was al
most as white as her own.
'Doris," he said, Doris |" There
could be no pretense of commonplace
greeting between them, but till she heard
his voice she did not realize how much
better it would have been that there
should have been no greeting at all. She
looked up, too shaken and agitated to
speak, but perhaps her silence seemed to
both more natural than speech. In that
supreme moment of meeting, neither
thought of conventional civilties, neith-
er thought of anything but the other.
Neither of them even saw that a gentle
man in evening dress had come in unan-
nounced, and was standing just within
the door as if turned to stone.
"Doris," said Wilfred, al will not take
your fathers tale without word from
you. Is it true And IS this thing of
your own free will p
She bent her head silently, and he let
her hands fall.
"And l thought such different things"
he muttered. "Do you not know how l
loved you Doris, did you not know ~
"How could / p she whispered in a
toneess voice. "They said-they said''
Her voice faltered, and traied off into a
despairing silence, but Mr.. Lyle under
stood.
"They told you l was married Your
father had heard some foolish story about
that. suppose there was some confu-
sion with my cousin Charley, who was
married little while ago but surely
] you might have known !"
1T was Wilfrld," she interrupted.
"Wilfrid G. Lyle"
"Of Wilfrij Charles. Wecall
him Charley to distinguish him from me,
, but he is always called Wilfrid at home,
, Was that the dreadful mistake that
rotbed me of you? Oh, Doris, Doris
how could you believe it-you? Had you
forgotten that last night, and what you
/ gave me then ~
: She hid her face with sharp and bit
ter cry, and the man who was watching
them, himself so unthought of and un
3 seen, scowled fiercely, and clenched his
: hands as he looked.
"Did you not care for me when yoI
gave me this ?" said Wilfrid, and hi
tone compelled her to look up. He helC
. out an open pocket-book, and on it lay
e small withered flower, scentless anC
: brown; and dry. Did you not care fol
, me, then p he repeated and Doris coulC
a not speak, could not even control thu
trembling that shook her from head tt
: foot.
r "You loved me, then p he cried will
T swift conviction land Doris, my Dor
is ! believe you love me now !"
it. A moment Doris bent her head on he
D clasped hands, and then she stepped bacl
] pace, and looked at him, and tremb
ling as she was, her gaze neither shranl
] nor wavered. Her face was set and pale
but there was something so noble ant
lofty in her look that both men hell
o their breath.
t Dear" she said, ''this is the last tim
= l shall ever see you, and II it is any com
fort to you to know that love you, TAX
D.. it? But even for you can not go bacl
on my word, or wrong the good ant
8 noble gentleman whose wife shall b.
Q tomorrow. Did you not yourself teacl
{ me 'NobleSse Oblige'?"
I Her tone and look went to Wilfrid'
heart, and not to his only. Sir PhiliI
3 Chisholm strobe suddenly down thu
/ room, and conf onted them with eyes tina
d, held great sorrow and great resolve
8 "Miss Carew," said the gray haired
soldier, whom Doris had called, not un
truly, a good and noble gentleman
"Miss Carew, have come to bid yol
good-by. love you too truly to sacri
8 flee your life to mine. Yes, Doris, m.
e darling know that you were willing
4 l know that you would have kept you
4 word and done your duty-and broker
= your heart in doing it Do you think
: will let you do it, or that an old soldie
> shall be outdone in heroism by girl?
: too, have duty to perform, and that i
to set you free. /, too, have watch
word, and it is, like yours and his
: : 'Noblesse Obli9e'. ."-CdSSeWS Family Nag
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