Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-08-05


asked, only anxious now that he should
feel dread of her travelling, because
she dreaded it so much for him.
And while she softly moved about the
room, giving it, with the sweetness and
brightness of her presence, a look of home
which it had never had before, he fol-
lowed every movement with q deep sad
ness in his beautiful eyes, wondering If
the worries and the troubles he had
meant (of which she had so large .
share, and which she had borne so much
more bravely than she guessed of were
over now, at least for her.
SCI shall go up stairs presently, Ger
ard, to make your bedroom pleasant !;
but Mrs. Cheere has put a fire, so need
not go quite yet," she said, coming as
she spoke to sit beside him, where she
could gaze into his face, without his
reading all the yearning and the fear in
hers.
How long will they let you stay with
me to-day ?"
Glow long, Gerardr' she echoed,
with smile. "For always, now. Do
you think l could go anywhere without
You, now?"
Lima, will you go back to the old
farm, just to 5 g grandfather once again,
my pet?"
Observation-Disclosures you take me,
she whispered, softly, in her new, keen
anguish of fear
You will find him greatly changed"
he went on, quietly, leaving her words
unnoticed, except by the mute gesture
of taking in his the small, thin hand,
which she had laid caressingly upon his
shoulder, "and know you will never
remember anything beyond his disap-
pointment and the long punishment of
his suspicion; nothing else-nothing
again him, dear. And-and he wishes
to see you"
81 will go with you; shall be glad
to go them" Lima answered, emphasiz-
ing the last word.
"Not yet, perhaps; but you will go
when you can it will cheer and comfort
the old man, and it will do YOU good,
too, dear. 1 am very glad saw him 1
am very glad had that happy news to
take him. I-I-like to remember how
his face grew changed and softened
while L was there"
In the silence that followed his words.
Gerard could hear Lina's quick, panied
breathing, but he only drew her hand
tighter and closer in his own.
"And you will go to our mothers
grave, Lima, and you will have a stone
put above with her name on it, Just as
she saw that name upon the grave when
she was married-there, as it is in my
sketch. But herein the chancel here.
where the names of all our house have
been emblazoned for so many years
hers must have its place. You will have
it added, Lima, just belo her husbands.
with the title and the dates and all. The
space is there, you know, and her name.
should be with his. She loved him, and
was his first wife. / owe this to my
mother. You will remember p
"Yes, just as you will remember it,
she said, still fighting with the fear
which was growing more and more cruel
ly tangible.
"And you will do it for me, dear, Just
as should have done it for myself?"
he added, with quiet content in his
voice. But there is one thing more
that you must promise me. Listen,
Lima, and promise it solemnly, for I will
not speak of it again. There is the stain
of murder upon my name, so it must
have no place among those of our house.
Lima, make me this promise. While
that stain rests upon my name (and I
know now that it must be always there),
no marble or stone shall be engraved.
for me-"
"Gerard," the girl whispered, when
she had promised Gas she would have
promised anything he asked herr, and
laying her hand upon his brow, burning
now, as it had been chill before, "what
has given you this-this cold, I sup
pose it is ?"
Sometimes I fancy that I caught it
that night in the church-yard," he
answered tiredly. Sometimes I fancy
have felt it coming CD ever since
tried to escape. Don't think of it, love-"
he added, checking himself suddenly,
when he met her troubled eyes. "When
will they come to fetch you from me ?"
Miss Marjorie will be here soon, but
not to take me from you, Gerard. can
never go"
"Lina. he said, looking up lovingly
into her pale face, lyon look better than
you looked that terrible day two months
ago; and just as beautiful beau
wonder that the people here who have
known Sir Gerard Adhesion did not see
and remark your likeness to him. Could
they think the beauty which they boast
of, and which fills the house with por-
traits of him, was a common thing among
our Cornish cliffs ?"
Then Lima, glad to turn the subject
from that other thought, told him of the
vague idea of resemblance which both
Sir Neil and his mother had often puz-
zled over in vain.
"Even Miss Marjorie Castillain, " she
said, twas struck by it once but she
knew exactly of whose portrait I re-
minded her."
"Did she?" asked Gerard, thought
fully. But, of course, she never GUESSED
why. Lima, I am so grateful to think
that she will always be your friend
Your inheritance will bring you no truer
blessing than her friendship, dear. If
right had been done us in the years gone
by, she-she might have been my friend,
too but it makes coward of me, even
now, to think of the breadth and depth
and height of that il, while our lives have
been But that is over" he said, again
himself at sight of the pain up
on her face (; "and, Lima, you will make |
up for all when our inheritance is yours.
You will make up, as far as you may, for |
the long years that its owners have
wasted You understand net Won will