The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-10


Ue waited brcathlessly. But as the
waiting lcnqthens dark frown gathers
ON his brow, and savage expression
curves his lips. Nadine, faint, termed,
and still with that terrible numbness
ovcrpowcring her, draws back step or
two and presses her hand convulsively
against her face. Anncrley, laying his
hands upon her shoulders gives her
violent shake. a low cry escapes her
This cry releases her from the nervous
bondage in which she has been held.
"Spcak. girl" cries he roughly. at
is true YOU never yet told me that yon
love me. Am now TO learn that you
have made that confession to another
mani"
ooh, MOI no. The assurance falls
from her with fcrvOr which he places
10 wrong account. With passionate
thankfulness she tells herself that she
can at least answer this last question
with truth. To 10 man has she said,
~ love you"
"Ahr' saws Apnerley. drawing n long
breath Of eager relief, 'that is well for
my rival had he existed"
There is such snbdued ferocity in his
tone that Nadine shiycrs.
BE content" she says. calmly, "you
have no rival There is no one can
marry
Except me That is as IL should be"
He signs heavily. and still regards her
with n lowering brow "Now for my
news he says.
Tomorrow. VIII not tomorrow do"
asks she. family. feeling tired and over
done.
"To-morrow ! shall probably be out OF
town. Yes answering her glance Of
surprise II shall be abroad for week
or two-on business. -
"The same business demands she,
eagerly.
you re n wonderful gucsscr,N re-
turns he. There is n vague suggestion OF
a sheer i'm his smile Before going.
however. want 10 tell You that Il stroke
! Of luck has at last fallen at my feet. To-
| day thc-my-my chief sent for me ana
offered me "a higher stool in the Office,
in fact
lie hesitatcd n good deal, and seems in
decd singularly ignorant Of the proper
terms TO be used with regard to his rise
in his position.
IL am very glad" says Nadine, in her
clear. cold, girlish voice, SO devoid OF real
interest.
"This rise will enable me to marry
continues he, watching her closely. She
is evidently aware of his scrutiny. be
cause her face remains impressive. even
while her fingers interlace each other and
grow into a clasp that leaves her knucklcs
white She mods her head softly in an
swcr 10 his remark, not trusting herself
to speak.
"But it will take me ont of town. He
Is watching her still narrowly. Bat this
time she manages TO meet his gaze. IT,
indeed, her fate is 10 marry this man,
and 20 with him whcrcsoeyer he goes
then it will be only kind Of fortune to
drive them into the country, far from this
great London, where one meets every
one, and where those known TO her in her
present life might sometimes (cruel
thought he seen by her.
"Wcll:" she says.
at viii take me out OF the country.
The fact is " continues he, rushing at the
rest of his communication, IL have been
offered post of-of trust that will take
ne TO America
you 10 there in search Of this man
who has stolen the sapphiresT says she,
quickly you are hunting him down.
Is this your post Of trust; Are you "a
dctcctiycW
Something like vague smile fits
across his face as he notices how she
shrinks from him.
Not exactly" His tone is full Of mys-
terry. "If detectives are abEorrert to
YOU. he happy in the thought that have
nothing in common with them: that. in
fact, detcst them quite as much rs yOu
do No; am going there in advance Of
the detectives, as / hope. You'll be
ready 20 come with mef'
is il TO be sOOny'
at may sound soon to you, perhaps. In
about month from today 1t is now
growing toward the end Of July. But
may have TO art earlier than that. You
viii be rcady?'
lie is very pale as he presses the ques-
ton. If she rcfuscs-if she even bar
gains for more time. il Will cause confus-
ion But She does not refuse 4 pro-
found sigh escapes her. but she says:
Eyes, shall be ready in voice sub |
dued but void Of trembling. II she is to
marry him, and thus to resign all good
the world can give her, it viii make lit /
tie difference whether she lives with him /
here or in that far country he has !
named; then sudden thought occur /
ring. she looks at him eagerly; My |
MOTHER she says.
"Will OF course accompany rs.
"Will your stay there he long,
IL hardly know-f0r some years Ger /
tainly; after that it is undecided"
"Eycrything is undecided ths, lies in
the years beyond" she sighs again. |
you are going abroad tomorrow, you |
saysn
YES, for week or two-perhaps |
three But ! shall be lock in time for |
our wedding"
lie attempts to speak lightly, but the |
sad look on the girls face checks him.
He is however, too elated by the victory /
already achieved to know any fear for |
the future. No doubt she is pining at the |
thought of leaving her home, but once !
married to him, the power and persist
encc of his love will conquer all regrets. |
so he thinks; so he vainly believes.
Don't look so grieved, my darling, |
he whispers fondly. pressing her |
hand between both his own. Think |
of the long and happy future that |
lies before you, with me forever |
as your slave The time viii come. |
Nadine, when you will not regard any
ties but the one that binds me to you.
Ties Of home and kindred will be as
naught beside il. Though now, perhaps, |
You give me your heart unwillngly, |
then you will love even as you are be-
loved. Oh, that that glad hour were |
blended with thisw lie presses his lips |
ecstatcally TO the hand he still holds
His whole face grows bright with the |
affection that glOws within him Then !
one word that he has used returns to him
with unpleasant force. "Unwillng,n
he goes on musingly. frowning slightly. |
YES, You are unwilling to give me your
heart.
"Ah, no'' says she gently, and with a
troubled air of uncertainty, IL am not |
unwilling You mistake me. | would,
with all my soul, that could love You as
YOU desire, and perhaps, indeed, in
time she hesitates, as though lost
IN labyrinth Of painful thought. mo, |
] am not unwilling" she repeats again.
feeling how good thing it would be for
her could she indeed obliterate from her
mind all the too dear past and give her