The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-09-12
NUMBER 80.

The others must have thought me
unusually quiet. felt as if 1 were
the guilty one and dared not look in
their faces. And yet L was not an.
cry, only sorry. 1t seemed like mis-;
fortune.
After luncheon they went out on
the piazza together.
l waited little, then went up to
Edith.
She was lying down. with her hand
held to shade her eyes. The room
was darkened and could hardly see
her face. ...-.s.s ,s,..s..
t"Are you better now, dear ?o /
asked.
YES. am much BETTER" she said.
"Where is Charlie 2"
"GOne out with Mr.. HASKELL" I
answered, almost painfully. SomeS
how | felt as though the fault were
mine.
Edith spoke abruptly then.
Charlie is in love. l believe"
| started.
I'm love Yeu :hink so?"
"HeS, am sure o. it. 1t may sur
prise you when tell you,"
"SurpriSe me ?" L repeated with
indiris0n of tone.
Yes, because Charlie is in love
with Mr.. HASKELL"
"EIlth ~ [ said with a shocked
accent which was not all assumed
for il seemed really horrible to hear
the fact announced in cold .bIOoded
English" Edith, your fl ilnce-"
"A few words will alter that" she
snpIied. calmly. "Y0u see, Nora, we
are all apt to make mistakes"
you do not love him" [ inter-
ru9ted
Edith forced Il laugh.
"Y0u see, it will be all right event-r
ualty-riGht for all OF Us. They love
each other, and Il never could
marry him"
l Isighed with intense relief to hear
that.
II shall want little conversation
with Mr.. Haskell alone" she went
on. After dinner will do. If YOU
promised promptly.
That dinner. Shall 1 ever forget
how silent we were-aIl ofus? How
painfully The time dragged!
Charlie went out afterwards dur
ing the evening, to walk with me,
but we had not much to say to each
other. 1t is almost impossible for
me to dissemble. Charlie finally
strayed off, and stood alone, gazing
ont upon the sea. 1 myself turned
back to the house. not Intending to-
enter, nor for moment supposing 1
should see or hear aught of that final
interview.
But Harold Haskell's words came
floating through the open windows:
Il tnOugnt-1 Ieareu-"
Then Edith's voice stopped him.
'The woman who persists in low
ing man who does not love her has
fallen very low indeed. Am l not
right 2"
"Yes, you are right" he answered.
quickly.
Edith stepped to the window and
called Charities name.
Charlie had already turned to come
back and continued at the same not
rapid pace.
| did not go in with her, but stood
without, gazing through the window.
Edith stood before the door into
the library. She had reached be-
hind her with one hand to part the
curtains.
Charley" she said, smiling faint
| ly, II could see her looking very
pale.) "Charlie, Mr.. Haskell and T
have been making mistake for
some time past. / have just been
explaining myself on the subject and
(returning his ring) 1 think perhap s
you are interested in knowing about
it,"
Charlie burst out laughing and cry
ing at the same moment:
"Oh, you dear Edith am so glad
you don't care for him J" and rushed
to his arms.
Editb moved slOwlow backward. I
have seen Just such motion in plays
the slow motion Of one suffering
yet concealing anguish.
The lovers looked in each others
eyes, but I-out in the night-iooked
only at Edith, moving slowly with
pale face and piteous smile, backward
through the pa ting draperies, back
into the dinness of the library
whence she mi ght pass unobSeryed
New York Mercury.