Telegram-herald., 1889-10-31

=
bsrs wira Der true I9se-AaPpy. yeg LaEd-
" sSare q tks depth u her kappiz~ss.
snd no~ win what 3 different gaze shs
looks uuoa the world Kno~le de las
come u her zoo late. Only with ths loss
q 4 has eouas ths fal appreciation Of the
ghinx sae hAs lost.
sometAing 10 the scene before her
brings prominently forward doubt that
ever since Ter last Interview With Ponson-
by LA oeen weighing heavily upon her.
Now, - it asserts Itself fully, u sen1s =
little chill q her heart
In spite or al Der cousin has said may
not her lats reckless encouragement Of
SIR George have killed the love Onse
felE for her by Ponsonby; This terrible
thought grows stronger the more she
dwelLs upon il, and At length grows into
such trenfndOus proportions that her
heart dies within her.
II she now seeks q second explanation
with-with Mr.. P0nsonby, viii he not 10
justified Ia thinking she Is seeking ~
throw herself upon his mercy. and that
shs Is desirous Of renewing old associa-
tions with him al any cost
She grows crimson as this thought
CONES 20 her, and tears Of modification
rise % her eyes. MOI she can never
speak 70 him on this subject-neyer! She
will not. She puts up her hands 70 her
face, as though 20 hide her shaIned eyes
even from the tender moonlight, and IA
so doing hastily decides that she now
forever .bandons al idea Of seeking an
interview with POnsonby.
She viii not speak 70 him; she viii
not see him again. II possible! Deriving
some mysterious comfort from this reso-
luton. and feeling therefore somewhat
better, she takes down her hands from
her eyes, and in so doing finds herself
face 10 face with Ponsonby.
She turns as white as death; but with
the necessity for speaking comes rush
Of womanly dignity that reduces her TO
instant calm and adds tenfold 70 her
girlish grace and sweetness
LET me speak 10 you for one mo-
ment." she says impulsively. with
slight motion toward him. His sudden
presence has convinced her that her late
cOwardly resolution had in it no element
of right, and that an explanation is due
not more TO her than 10 him.
Certainly" he says very gently. All
the sternness Is gone from his tone, a set
tied melancholy having taken its place.
Encouraged, though weakened, by this
change in him. she goes on hurriedly.
There is something must tell you,
she saws tremulously. But first
throwing up her head with little proud
gesture that becomes her infinitely
would have you understand that what |
have to say cannot in any way alter the
relations now existing between US. We
are separated forever. No one q am
glad to think at this momenD can know
that better than you"
No one" corroborates Mr.. Ponsonby,
in tone that has acquired even a deeper
dye, so far as misery is concerned.
Al am glad of that" says the girl
readily. Yet an intelligent observer
might have failed 20 see where the glad
ness lay-certainly not in voice, or lips,
or eyes. Mr.. Ponsonby, l regret tc
say, proves himself on this occasion (only
wanting in intelligence, as he openly &C
cepts her statement at her own value
and grows in detection thereby. Il an
very glad of it, repeats Alys unsteadily
and with now averted eyes and paltry
assumption Of content, because l car
now safely tell you. without fear of mis-
conception on your part, that it was al
| mistake about that marguerite / SEN
/ you an hour ago. At that time" (by hel
manner, it might reasonably be supposed
again by the intelligent listener that tn,
time mentioned is a year agone) 80
was troubled, and-and ashamed o
myself Il am neither now, and anx
ious 10 let you know that-that
had not changed toward you in AM
way, in spite of anything foolish in m,
that might have induced you to thinl
otherwise"
There is something in this rebellion
speech so sadly regretful, and so yer,
near to tears. that instinctively Mr. Pom
sonby goes a step closer to her, and put
out his hand as though to take hers; bu
she waves him back imperatively.
when | sent you that flower" sh
/ goes on, her voice taking a still proude
ring as she feels the humiliation of he
confession, and with her soft eyes suf
fused with tears Of childish grief an,
agitation. II thought firmly believe,
it was conveying to you the messag
Il love your l counted the petals care
fully: / made sure not one was missing
but I suppose / counted badly. tell yoI
this now. for no motive but the natura
wish that you should not believe me al
together heartless. You understand me
You must knOw'-passionatel ely-"tha
for this reason alone have spoken &
You tonight"
Il DO know SAYS the young mai
earnestly. Again he goes nearer TO her
There is suppressed hope and growini
excitement in his face and manner.
"N0t that it matters now" SAYS Mis-
Disney, her voice trembling more am
more. Nothing matters any more a
all. We have both learned to be indif
ferent to each other. and-and-I hope
shall never. never, never see you agaii
after to-nichtr'
Here the voice passes beyond all trem
bling. having broken down and givel
place to bitter weeping.
g3u-CG ! A.o5