Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-19

HE SAT BRooDISG N THE LAMPLIGHr.
He sat with his head bent over the empty
dessert-plate. and the untouched glass Of claret
which the butler had filed unbidden He sat
brooding in the lamphght for nearly half an
hour; and then. with a deep-drawn sigh, he
rose slowly and went to the drawing room
where his wife was sitting by an open window
looking out at the moonlit water, very sad of
heart
He went over to her and seated himself by
her side
Cyril is gone from Us for good, Clara" he
said Il suppose you know that"
Il know that all is over between him and
Daisy; but 1 thought you did not know. 1
feared you would not be able to take the blow
so quietly. knowing how pleased YOU were at
their engagement"
Il pleased because 1t was link that
drew me nearer to you. 1t was of our union
Clara. while have you"
Did he tell you why he and Daisy had made
mp their minds to part?''
Yes, he told me his reasons"
"And hers. You will blame nv daughter for
fckleness, l fear, Ambrose"
Blame her. blame Daisy Your daughter
and my pupil. Why, she was the bond between
US years ago, when i was but the stranger
within your gates. Ny love for your daughter
Is second only to my love for YOU"
His wife took up his hand and kissed it in
rapture Of grateful affection. t,
How good you are to us, Ambrose" she
SAID softly. Harsh words never fail from
your lips. II could only see you happy my
heart would be full of content"
Il am happy. Clara. happy in having won
my hearts desire. What can a man have in
this world more than that-the one desire of
OF his life, the boon for which he has waited
and longed through years of patience and
silent nope. ii there Is happiness upon earth
have attained il"
- believe your metaphysicians teach Won
that there is no such thing as happiness"
ION, they only preach the gospel OF doubt
The whole science of metaphysics consists in
the questioning spirit which analyses everv-
thing. without arriving at any definite conclu-
sion about anything"
Poor Cyril" sighed Clara after a pause of
contemplatlye silence. which seemed in har-
mony with the stiffness of the summer night
and the beauty OF the moonlit landscape gar
den and river, meadow and woodland and dark
church tower.
Poor Cyril II seems SO sad for him to
leave US, TO go out into the world as a wan
derer; and yet, of course II would be impos-
sible for our idle life to go on, now that he has
broken with Daisy"
No, the old life would not be possible. 1t
belongs to the past already. Did he tell Daisy
where he was goIng!"
TO Australia he said. He consulted with
you as to his destination, no doubt"
NO; he told me he should 90 away; but he
did not enter upon his plans"
Poor fellow. He was very unhappy. fear. /"
nc ulu NOT COhnue MS sOrrOws to me. He
had made up his mind; and it was not for me
to try 70 change his resolution"
His whole manner altered as he smoke NJ bis
SON. There was a hardness in his tone that
surprised and grieved his wife, who a minnie
before had done him homage as the most adj
mirabie of men, His manner in speaking OF
her daughter had expressed the utmost
tenderness. The tone in which he spoke of
his own son was cold and stern almost to vim
dictiyeness. Clara feared there had been a
quarrel between father and son and that Am
brose Arden had resented the cancelment of
Daisys engagement with an unjust wrath.
You must not be angry with Cyril" she
Said. softly.
Il fear that it is Daisys fickleness that is the
beginning and end of our disappointment.
enc owned as much to me. poor child. She
gave her promise too lightly and repented
almost as soon as II was given, although she
mad not the courage to confess her mistake :"
well, we will say 1t is Daisy's fault. or that
peth are nckle. There are no hearts broken.
oeheYe. Cyril goes out into the world, a
stranger TO US henceforward"
NOT a stranger, Ambrose Your SON will
always be dear to US both"
He VIII be IN Australia where our love ar
our indifference cannot touch him"
There was bitterness in his tome which
warned Clara TO pursue the subject no further
She could not doubt after this that there had
been a breach between father and son--that
these two who had been SO fond Of each other