Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-03


 ''Marcia! Could you make up you,
 mind to go with me to Rome, and spend
 the winter there? know, dear, it is like
 dragging up tree by it's roots, but if you would, should feel grateful. canno, stay here, Marcia. It is torture to me. ] cannot settle down. Let us go to Rome, dear."
 "I will go to the end of the world with you, Geoffry."
 "No, dear" he answered with faint smile; 'I will not put your love to such test as that. Rome will do."
 "When do you wish to start, Geoffry?''
 "Next week. Will that hurry you too much?''
 ''Not in the least" answered she cheer fully. But, as her brother had said, it was like dragging up a tree by it's roots; Marcia's placid happiness was enshrined and centered in Estcourt. The house, the gardens, her pets, her poor, "the trivial round, the common task" fur nished the quiet, useful life that suited her.
 But for Geoffry! why, she would sac rifice everything if needs be.
 VI.
 Col. Massingbird, his daughter and cousin Adela were at Plymouth. An Sudian friend, to whom a very charming cottage belonged, was under orders to rejoin his regiment in India. Col. Mas singbird offered to take the cottage off his hands. The arrangement so agreeable to both parties was carried out, and thus it came about that the little family mi grated from Mayfair to the old world seaport of Devonshire.
 The weather was still warm, though the air was fresh, and it seemed to Gar men that the only pleasure left her in life was to sit out and watch from pretty myrtle bower at the end of the garden, overlooking the sea, the lovely panorama spread out before her eyes. The sparkling sea, the rocky hills that sloped down in tender tints to the water, the long breakwater, with the swelling waves that dashed against it, toss ing their spray like jewels in the the busy sailing vessels as they came and went freighted with merchandise; the little rak- ish yachts that floated hither and thither, Carmen could even hear the gay of their occupants borne up- wards by the breeze. The bands of the garrison, their music distant but clear. would wait strains of harmony so famil- far, so dear, that she and Geoffry had so often heard together.
 Bitter sweet! But it soothed her as nothing else could have done. Her father rarely disturbed her, as he found with almost womanly intuition that for ,he present solitude seemed the greatest balm for her wounded heart. So she spent hours, idle hours, no doubt, with 10 company but nature, fresh, sunny, ever changing nature.
 Cousin Adela was perfectly happy. There were no wearisome dinners, no lot, stuffy theatres, no fatiguing flower shows, no standing about on damp awns, no ''at homes," with their ever Instead of all these drawbacks to happi less, as she understood the word, there vas the cool, delightful market, where he could bargain and price to her hearts content, and arrange delicious little din lers to tempt sybarite. And she de- -outly hoped that this freak of her spoilt, learly loved young relative would last.
 The colonel on the whole liked the ,lace. He found several congenial and the delicate health of his | nly daughter was an all sufficient req on for the quiet life lived by the inmates # The Myrtles.
 ion for short time?'
 "Why, certainly, papa. am yer table lotus eater''
 'I have heard from Seely and Balm ridge this morning."
 "Yes," she answered with evident nxiety.
 My poor child, your marriage cannot e dissolved; it is legal, binding, irrevo- able. Your unfortunate husband can e prosecuted for perjury, and it's pen lty IS, two or more years penal servi-
 "What can you mean, papa?' cried ,armen. ''I do not understand"
 ''The lad must have made false de laration. In fact it is proved that he i'd. He stated you were both of age l; and for that-he has committed per ury."
 'Oh, papa, papa. But surely"-
 Carmen, instead of prosecuting him or perjury, must write and find out 7here he is, and urge him immediately ) return to this country. And you lust both live as man and wife,"
 "Oh, fatherr' And the terrible bitter ess of her cry went forth. It sounded ae final kneu of all chance of Geoffry's we, of all hope indeed.
 ''1 shall allow him an income" con- nued Col. Massingbird, "and you will 8 of age almost immediately, and re- eive the fortune bequeathed you by our godfather"
 "Suppose-he will not care to come fter what I told him in my last letter?' ''There will be no alternative" said her Ither with emphatic sternness. There as no more to be said, and the colonel fit the room. She sat as one stunned. he young husband had no place in her loughts; it was Geoffry, always Geoffry. nd then, if Allen did return, she would } compelled by law to live with him: Id all her heart, all her love, gone out another! And yet she had loved Fitz- are. But it seemed so long ago. She l. ko l