The National tribune., 1890-03-06

keen eye noted his troubled look, and she said
as soon as they were alone, What has gone
wrong to-dayP"
Adolphe expected the question, for he had
long been accustomed to give her history of
the days experience; but he shranlt from an
swering it. Silently he rose and paced the floor
back and forth, till his companion, filed with
apprehension, said Ia il So serious then"
Katherine was sitting with some light work
in her hand at one side of the fire: after lit
tie he came near and leaning ono elbow on
the mantlepiece, watched the little fingers 20
in and out. AT length, with bitter smile, ho
said:
Maj LyaIl has been paying his respects to
me to-day. He has written to Col Carver"
Katherine looked up in surprise and said:
About you? Not to your disadvantage,
surely"
- know not what he wrote, but it Is not
likely in compliments" :" and then, hesitating,
he added :" am ordered to leave here as soon
as my successor arrives"
Had whirlpool cngullod Katherine she
could not have felt more utterly helpless. The
past and the future SWAN round her in rapidly
widening circles. and then the whole world
passed away in undistuguisbabe darkness.
1t was not long. but when she recovered il
was to come back TO another life. The heavy
weight still hung about her heart. but hero by
her side kuelt her friend, kissing her hands,
tender word to calm herself; to come back to
him. She was his darling, his beloved. and
so, amid pet names aud CareSsos, Katherine
opened her eyes. In vain she tried TO bury her
face in her hands; he held them tight against
his breast, saying:
NAY, nay, hearts dearest but listen TO mo
just this once! ] thought to go away and bury
my pain where none should know | had dared
To lift my eyes to you, but it is too late now.
and You must let me tell how beautiful |
thought you the first evening ! saw You and
little Guy in the garden, and now in all those
months my heart is altogether gone out of me.
So many times | have said TO myself You poor
silly fly! Why do you remain to scorch your
wings by her too bright eyes and then /
would try to stay away, hut when longing for
little breath of heaven, / came again would
FORGET ALI MY GOOD RESOLUTIONS.
When Maj Lyal told me Of this order, Mt first
| lost all my courage, but | thought again 1t
is well; you could never bo to her more than
her humble slave, and though you cannot for
get her, 1t is better you go far away where you
will never see her more! But now what shall
| sayP Non do care n little, and that makes
ii, oh so much harder"
katherine's eyes swan in tears rs she said
almost in a whisper :" When do you goY"
That j do not know, but ] am sure Mai
Iyail Will send me as soon rs possible"
They both remained silent for few mo-
menls, aud then Katherine said gently. Go
now. ! am not fit 10 talk of this tonight. ]
will see you again tomorrow"
Roemer slowly rose TO his feet pressed tho
little hands in bis own and then, bending low,
as though in act of worship, kissed them once,
twice, thrice, and was gone.
Katherine never know how long she remained
buried in the folds Of that easy chair; but the
fire burned down. the cmbers slowly died out
one by onc. and still she sat with wide-open
eyes gazing into the darkcucd CRATE For
months she had rosoutely ignored the future
and all thought of consequences. Sho only felt
that whereas her life had been dull and com
monplace, latterly il had powcd with the
brightest sunshine. aud for this she had to
thank Adophe Roemer. For long she had
fought against the fascination Of his visits had
obstinately shut her eyes To tho brightness
along her pathway. aud maintained herself on
the memory OF the past. Ia vain ahe had
schooed herself TO remember that between an
enlisted man and an officer there was a great
gulf fixed that her standing IN the Army WAS
je0pardized by admitting such au one 70 her
house on the most distant terms of equality
All this she summed up ON one side Of the bal
auce-shect. On the other hand. she checked
of that he was not like any other soldier she
had met, but so far as education and breeding
went was the equal OF any officer she knew
Then, lac was sober aud industrious which all
officers were not. Lastly, be was kind, thought
ful and patient. So much for what she knew,
and in the same list she added what she be.
lieyed, viz, that
HE BELONGED TO SUPERIOR FAMILY
In Germany aud. best OF ALL he loved herself
Could she permit her heart 10 10 out 10 bim in,
return Pride SAID No" With all the adj :
vantages truth compelled her to sum up, lao
WAS au enlisted man still. &" But" said con-
science, " how would it have been il he was
not2 Had you met him without any con.
nection with the Army7" All! that WAS n
different matter. and IA imagination she bcbeld
him stripped OF hia uniform and clad as other
gentlemen are-the hated chevrous buried for
ever out Of sight. How noble lac would look
How proud she would bo OF him. But con-
science was still unsatisfcd. aud whispered,
It's the clothes alone you shrink FROM the
man you love will you send him away from
you c0mi0rtlcssI lie has asked but 81 little
crumb; will you give him only st0ne2 But
Katherine recOiled from the alternative. Even
TO herself she would promise nothing She
would be guided by circumstances And so
the night wore away.
Adolphc did not accept his little sweetheart's
love without many pang. lie realized far
better than she the sacrifice she had made aud
IN bis better moments lie shrank from IT,. At
the best another lS months must elapse before
his term Of enlistment would expire and how
could he leave her a prey 10 the melancholy Ho
knew was nevitablcf How could he bear TO
eat hig own heart out on the frontier, knowing
she was unhappy at home? And when he was
once more free man, what thenf Could no
appeal for assistance TO those at home, who
! had probably long mOurned him as dead
| What could he do with this delicate woman
| aud her boy in daily struggle for bread ?
! True, he was better equipped for such an effort
/ than when before he had so dismaly failed
! but IL would be weary work. And then, for
| KathcTine's sake, their love must be kept Sc
cret. What language would be strong enough
! 10 characterize Col. Caryer's scoru Of his con
! ductY What act too severe for Mai. Lyall's
! hatredF All! IL was hard, but their precious
/ gecrct must not be known beyond tho little
! cottage.
TO Katherine these last days were not un-
! happy. Now that she had broken over the
| barriers that pride and reserve had erected be-
tween them, she seemed resolved 10 atone
/ for all her past cOldness. Whatever burden oil
fear for the future there might be she had rolled
| upon her lover, aud never had she been so gem
| tie, so altogether lovely. Every day he sur
| rendered himself more and more 10 the charm
OF her presence, and each day pang went
to his heart-the parting was by that much
| nearer.
| To be c0ntinued.l
1
Youthful Soldiers.
/ LPiah IndependenLl