The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-28
CHAPTER III-[CoNcLUDEpl.


PARTING.
NM:F1AS there ever such rain since the
TgEat4So world began? Mrs. Gilmore thought
eEUsS not, plaintive'y. General Gilmore
thought not, angrily, as he made his
rchipo poles blaze. But, oddly enough. the
weather did not seem TO effect the spirits Of
Marie Antolneite in the least and rs for young
Carson, he appeared positively to delight in it.
AS it had rained on the night when he stood on
the soaking station, and Marie Antoineite had
taken compassion on bis fOrlorn condition, as it
had rained on the day when General Gilmore,
anxious for the entertainment OF his pretty
daughter, had brought the son OF his old friend
out OF the smOking-room TO the drear drawing
room, so il rained The next day and the next. To
20 ont was impossible, except to creatures under
the Gluten of commanding destiny, or TO natures
that were well-nigh amphibious. Marie Anton-
elite hated wet as cordially as the daintiest cat
could and as nothing compelled her 10 go out she
remained indoors, and did not find her mprison-
ment at all dreary. For IL must be admitted that
young Carson was very interesting companion
In acknowledgement seaside hotel. She soon
knew all about him, for lie became astonishlngly
communicative under Marie Antolnette's dark
eyes, and his story was quite Interesting enough
to be- worth The telling. There was no one else
for him 10 tell 1t TO now except Marie AnIolnette
and her family for his companion, the Hon. Tom
Tiimbull, Lord Bulcote's cousin, had lost pa
Hence with tie rain aud bis friends datoriness
and had run across 10 France, declaring that lie
would wait for Carson at Paris, where be could
eternal ram and The absorbing devotion which
Carson displayed toward Miss Gilmore. As
Irimbull ailerwaid sala TO ms cousin Lord hul-
which l.al Carson doubled up al the sight OF CID
GilmOre's daughter.
Tiimbul had an aggressive way OF putting
things when he was annoyed. because he was
very fond of Carson, but the matter was accurate
If the manner was not exactly elegant. Lal Car
son was completely conquered by The beauty of
Marie Antonette. He was not The first. He was
not the last. That delicately oval face so ex-
Quistiyely cOlored which looked dainty dis
Dam that was not In Marie Antoinette's heart at
all. that gracious presence which would have
moved SO cnarminey through the gardens OF
TrianOn and The avenues OF Versailles, had been
rayed about good deal before ever Lal "a rson
saw it; was raved about much more long after
Lal Carson had carried IL away rs all abiding
memory in his heart. To make those great dark
eyes glow with interest, 10 make those softly
tinted cheeks wear warmer hue with pleasure,
could recall of Indian life and ex-
periences. He had experienced n good
deal in the northwest provinces and lie
had an art Of telling bis tale wildly. so that lie
gave Marie ADtOlnetle more lively picture OF
Ind ian lie IN The north than the more matterof
fact CT her father had ever given TO her.
AS for himself he was back in Europe for Il short
Tine upon sick leave. he had been wounded
pretty badly wOuuded-in the left leg in a little
fer CO frontier race, Tho LushaiS, and before his
wound was well he was gripDed by jungle fever,
and between the Two things lie had had pretty
bad time of il. He was better now. IL he was not
WELL II lie still limped from his wound, that he
was confident would wear off IN time, and us long
as he was careful he might dodge the jungle
fever successfully In The meantime lie seemed
remarkably contented where he was. boxed up
in that solemn hotel, with the d,eary drawing
room for Eis playground and the endless drip
ping rain outside for his accompaniment.
Yes, it was very pleasant. very pleasant while
IL lasted. But II did not last forever. Even rain
comes 10 an end sometimes, and on the third day
after the day on which Carson had been formally
intro dueed 10 Marie AUtoinette The rain ceased.
the clouds lifted, the sun shcDe. Folkestone put
IN holiday welcome
merry morning. Only Carson did not seem TO be
overpleased with the change Of The weather.
The sunlight that frightened everybody else
seemed TO lower his spirits wofuy. Marie An
ionette, all radiant at The change saw him In
The morning and saw how grave Ills lace was,
and ask ed him what was the matter. lie forced
little laugh.
"Wlll you lake me for a little walk, Miss Gil
more?" he asked. Just little walk, and l Will
tell YOU"
Marie Antonette's kind heart was full OF sor-
row at once. Something had happened TO her IN.
Perhaps bad news had come with the mornings
post. perhaps he felt hints of jungle fever. Any.
how she was quite willing 10 70 Tor walk. She
did not entertain any very profound reverence
for the ordinary conyentionalities; there could
be no harm in taking waIk with an Invalid
young soldier from India. whose ialher had been
such close friend OF her father. SO They went
Tor their walk.
An that walk. Carson will remember 1t TO tn Q
end OF his days. Through the thick tangle and
growth Of Indian forests, across the biistering
level Of Indian plains. The memory VIII come TO
still shining with the late long ram, and then tile
walk along The windy DOWN, and the distant
curve oil the cBalky cliffs ahead, bending like an
elephants tusk, and Tie sea as blue as The SAD
pbire in a RAJ abs ring, and the sea as still now
as tile waters OF some Lotus-girdled tank, and
the sky above, such a delicious wondet OF milky
blue and snowy clouds as one only gets IN En-
gland, perhaps and as one never gels IN India.
All, lie VIII remember all these. aud the way III
which the audacious wind blew into Marie An
t0ine,te's face and brought warmer red there,
and futte.ed lhe little hinge oil dark eurls gu
her forehead.
lie had dropped into silence for a while. They
were well out on the downs and by themselves
He paused for moment, and then pointed with
the stick on which lie leaned as lie walked
pointed at The horizon where deep blue sea and
pale blue sky met and melted. Marie Antolnette,
standing by his side. wondered what he was
thinking OF that lie seemed 50 grave. Then as
II In obedience TO her unspoken query. lie found
his voice and spoke, ana made the great mistake
Of his life.
MaIie Antoinette,n he said, and even as he
spoke he was in dim kind OF way amused at
the unnatural sound OF his voice and the way IN
which 1t quavered over Its audaeity In calling the
girl by her Christian name. Marie Antoinette,
l love you; VIII you DO my wite?"
He was sorry lie had said IL the moment the
words had passed his lips not so much for him
SELF but because OF the look OF Intense and
wholly unexpected pain that came iuto Marie
ION" she sIammered, "what a pity, what a
pity" Aud then, In the unexpected way of
women, she began to cry. not nolsily or pas
siouatey. but very nretlily, as she did every.
hing tie tears yelling up into her eyes aud
making them look larger, darker, more lustrous
than ever.
Young Carson felt a catch at bis heart as II
the lean, brown fingers of 4 Fakir had cIutcned
1t and wetc squeezing 1t dry.
"Why is IL a hty?" he asked, doggedy. al
love you with all my soul, aud am 1. do you
think, me-OI course, l know l am, though
quite unworthy OF you?
her voice was as fearful as her eyes. "No. no,
IFS not that. But you have spoiled everything
somehow. Let us 30 home"
EarS Papprtv tn her
as there no hope? can well understand that
you do not care for me, but perhaps you might
His voice trailed off into silence. Marie An
toinete looked fixedly at him. Her eyes were
full Of tears, but her voice was quite firm.
you make me hut you. but l have nothing else
10 say, aud never shall"
Carson looked At the slight gitsh figure, at
the fair girsh face with an agony IN his sonl He
knew as well as II it had been written upon HE
SKY In letters Of fire that there was no hope for
him Of Marie AntOinettes love.
They walked back 10 the hotel In silence Just
as they got TO the drawing-room lie spoke again:
eyer2n
Marie AntoIneite shook her heau.
Neither now nor ever" she said.
MAY write 10 yOu?" he asked.
"NO, please" said MaIieAnt0iDette Her eyes
were quite grave and her lips guile steady. he
knew that she meant what she said. He took
III very gently then he turned and went slowly
out OF the room.
1hat aiteihoon General u iim0re learnt from
note that was left Tor him that Captain Carson
had crossed over 10 France 10 rejoin his friends
at Paris.
(" Rather sudden departure" said Genera
Gilmore TO Marie Antoinette. who sat opno-l
site to him at luncheon. But Marie Antolnette
answered very slowly.
mo, think not. He said, you know, that he
1t has stopped, you see."
And SO 1t had, outside, but there were tears in
Marie Antoinette's eyes. "
What Trimbull said to bis cousin after Carson
had returned TO India, long before his leave Of
absence was:
man so bOwed over as poor Carson was Won
DER II he'd have any chance II lie tried again 2i,
And Lord Bulcote answered, looking medlta-
lively out into Pccadly: