Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-08-06
CHAPTER XII.


CHAPTER Kill
Marjorie Castillain had driven Mrs.
Esdaile's ponies so far along the Blea-
borough road that Mrs. Esdaile's groom,
from the seat behind her, felt it at last
duty to remind her where they were.
Marjorie acknowledged the reminder
with her quiet, pleasant smile, and slow
" turned the ponies heads back toward
Churchill. Even when they reached the
cottages in Neither Lane she waited still
in her seat, so unwilling was she even
yet to disturb the brother and sister.
At last, rousing herself from her long,
sad reveris, she gave the reins to the
groom, and went up to the door of Mrs.
Cheere's cottage.
eyes, they are together there, Miss
Marjorie" said Dorcas, quite gently, in
answer to Marjorie question. "Ikeep
in here quietly they don't want me. I
was glad in my heart to help a little
when he first came to put fire Cfor he
was starved, as if it was December in
stead of May), and something of that !;
but I'm not wanted now"
And you, Jet, have you seen him,
dear ?" asked Marjorie, with her gentle
hand ON the child's dropping head.
"He would be there all the time, if he
could, Miss Marjorie, " said Dorcas, with
a wonderful softening smile upon her
face; "but we know-Jet and I both
know-what quiet is worth for those
that are i'll and tired. So we wait bit.
With her own ewes growing little
dim, as she met those OF the woman
whom she had always known hard and
callous until the story of Gerard's life
had stirred her, Marjorie turned quietly
away, and tapped at the door of the
other cottage.
sit is good to have you back, Mr..
Spendir." she said. as she stood with her
hand in Gerard's her pitiful eyes be-
traying, against her will, their sad sur.
prise at the change in him.
90 1t is good to see you, even for a no-
ment, in this room, " he said, a feverish
color mounting to his cheeks.
81 will stay a little if you will take
your old place, she returned, sitting
easily down beside the couch. "Lie
back, Just as you were lying when l
stay more than a moment. promised
to come for Lima but know it would
he useless to ask her to return with me,
unless you came, too"
GratefTlly.Lina smiled her thanks.
81 could not leave Gerard" she an
swered, almost in a whisper.
"Miss Marjorie" he said, 81 have
never seen you since you spoke so kind
" and so bravely for nae IN court. May
I thank you now for the remembrance
of yous words is as clear to me yet as
il was on that first day. And L want to
tell you how I did it-yss, please let
me; 1 want to Tell it you myself the
lNest-all about this last journey of mine
nd its result-Magda1eh will tell you
aft, inward. We fought together, as they
said. on the very brink of the pool.
We h,Nd met there, and, in our anger
and i'm ,patience, we hardly needed where
we stood. We fought equally, as the
world would say-he had the greater
skill and I the greater strength but
often and often since then-GL1UdyS since
them have known that 1 had no real
excuse in Gods sight for that deed.
hardly more than 1 should have had If
I had k'ao,0n that flung him to his
DEATH"
1--WE all understand" began Mario
RE, earnestly, but he stopped her with
a quick, beseeching glance.
"No, please don't excuse ne. can
have no excuse to offer presently before
the Judgment seat above. had my
own work to do why did think of his2
Miss Marjorie, he continued, presently,
,"I should like you to know how often
YOU lightened that work for me, and
frightened the life I led here, giving me
a little glimpse of what other mems lives
hold"
"And / want to tell you, Gerard
Marjorie spoke in grave and unaffected
simplicity, as if she knew this talk be-
tween them was no ordinary talk, and
needed no ordinary forms" how you
have helped me (without knowing it, in
making my own life a little less useless.
But-but, after all, I cannot tell it you,
/ see. Gerard" she broke of, "you
have found that church, and proved Sir
Gerard's first marriage. I know what
you went to do, and have been almost
as anxious as Lima. can see that you
have succeeded, and expected it, for I
always felt the story was q true one.
All, how different all our lives might
have been, if this truth had never falsely
and wickedly been concealed But I
must not stay longer and weary You,
she added, seeing how the feyerish color
came and went upon his worn and tired
face. Sometime you will let me come
at wish" said Gerard, leaning against
the couch. when he rose to bid her good
by, and speaking with grave: earnest
ness at wish felt sure you would be
happy when-when you bear my moth
er's name. Let me think Of it as my
mothers name, Miss Marjorie, and to be
one day yours wish felt quite sure
you would be happy then"
Chow 2" exclaimed Marjorie, while q
bright flush mounted to the very roots
of her hair. "Your wife will be Lady
Adhesion, Gerard"
He looked into her face with q little
of the old warm happiness in his eyes.
| cit would not be worth while taking
the title from Sir Neil, just for such a
little while," he said; "it would only
have to go back to him. And his wife,
and his sons wife, and his sons wife, on
and on, will be those who wear my
mothers title, though SO much that has
always gone with it must now go to
Lima. like to think Of you wearing it,