Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-02-08


again, and Sir Edwards promised
bride. Tonight | was Frank Bas
comes faithful lover, forsaken, heart
broken, and despairing. | sent up al
exceeding bitter cry to Heaven for TIL
love | so priced and had lost.
Oh, to recall the past-the fatal
cruel, torturing past-that is gone be
yond all recall Had he been true tt
me at the frs, after all Did | wrong
him, as he said-as he swore? Was i
the mad folly of my own jealousy ina
first put the thought of Viola into his
mind? Was it my own hand that hat
struck down the happiness of my life
Vain, vain questioning, to which
there never comes an answering voice
One thing alone was given me to know
surely-that | loved him, and had LOST
him forever!
A long, long night of tears and jeal.
Gus pain.
"This night I will give to grief" ]
thought; "all the rest of my life TO en-
durance'
The gray light of dawn stole in at
my window before at last | sobbed
myself to sleep.
My maid awoke me, standing by my
bed. | lifted an aching head and
burning eyes. | was bewildered at
first; then suddenly the recollection Of
my grief returned like fresh calamity.
| hid my face upon the pillow with a
groan.
"My head aches sadly, Rose, why
did you wake me? p
The girl looked distressed.
ga lady was here to see you, miss.
It's ten o'clock. l told her you were
asleep, and she said she'd come again
in an hour. Here is her card, miss.
| took it listlessly. What was the
lady to me?
81 will not see her, Rose, whoever
he isl
Then | read the card Mrs. F. Bias
come" She | let it fall as if a snake
had stung me. She-she seeking me !!
| sprang up from the bed.
"Dress me quickly, Rosa loose
white wrapper only. Tell them to send
a cup of tea to my boudoir; when the
lady comes again show her up there"
OF course | must receive Viola.
Appearances must be considered.
Why did she force herself on me I?
That question racked my brain. Had
he told her of our love in those old
days, and had she come to feed her
pride upon my sorrow? Oh, but
she shall lose her time, then Last
night has gone, like all the rest Of the
sweet and bitter past-to-day finds me
Sir Edwards promised bride.
Viola stole into the darkened bou-
doir like a stray sunbeam in a gloomy
day. 1t is easy for happy hearts to be
gay and bright. How easy for her
She had stolen my share Of life's sun
shine to add to her own.
"You poor dear girl !" she muir
INJURED, gently drawing my unwilling
head to her breast, and softly caressing
my hair. "How glad l am to see you
again, and how sad it is that you are
suffering! suppose it seems cruel of
me to persist in talking to you to-day,
but | must, Christine, for your own
sake and another's."
l felt my face flush. He had told
her, then, and the little fool thought to
set herself right with me, perhaps. |
would not suffer it.
81 fear | must beg you to excuse me
to-day" | said, Jelly. 81 expect a
visitor shortly, for whom l must pre-
pare. Sir Edward Vane, my future
husband-"
She stopped me with little cry of
horror. mo, no, Christine don't say
that. You don't know that man, dear
No woman who knew him would
marry him. He is bad. He is wicked ;
he is heartless, Christine. His first
wife died of his cruelty. | assure you
his character is known in London well,
and still better in the village where the
fine estate lies of which he asks you to
be the mistress. Oh, Christine all
those who love you would rather see
you in your grave. | promised Frank
| would tell you. He would not let
me rest until I came. Christine, we
stayed near Sir Edwards home for a
while. Oh, Christine !'-the lovely
earnest, sympathetic eyes watched me
now through streaming tears-"oh,
Christine, pause before you ruin your
whole life. VIII you marry this wretch
Just because he is rich and titled ? Can
wealth atone for the want of respect
and love? For the sake of the old love
you once bore Frank-Frank who
loves you so we'll"
But | stopped her there. The pas
sion of her words had fairly borne me
down and carried me beyond my proud
reserve. l forgot my pride. re-
membered only my wrongs, my love
my pain.
"You say this?" l cried, trembling
with passion. "You speak to me o
Franks love! You-you-
Resentment and anguish choked me
/ burst into storm Of weeping. She
drew away from me, startled and sub
dued.
II am sorry if / have done wrong,
she said, half timidly. 81 but yielded
to your lovers prayer. Perhaps | hat
no right to interfere. He had bette
come to you himself. But | though
Christine, that, as we were old school
fellows and friends, and as by my mar
riage to Fred / am Franks sister nov
sprang to my feet with suddel
cry. What-what was she saying?
caught her hands in mine.
Franks sister-not Franks wife ?