Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-05-16

not the faintest scent of saltness in the
air-no more than if had stood by the
shores Of an inland lake. 1t was q dead
calm. The water lay almost black,
tinged with faint dark purple. the gift
Of the sun. which had just disappeared.
/ listened for the ripple Of the sea among
the stones. 1t was low tide-I heard
nothing; the ripples were asleep, or per-
haps dead.
a few Irish children sat fiat on the
sand, with their feet In the water. They
did not talk loudly; the atmosphere was
such as subdued even their garrulity.
Far off, low down in the northern sky,
there were flashes Of palo lightning. but
there was no thunder. 1t was silence
that reigned now-more awful, more op-
pressive than the crashes Of tempest.
1t seemed to me that breathed with
difficulty; the pulses of my heart were
weakened; this great, brooding stiffness
was suffocating. l stretched out my
hands toward the silent sea- implored
It for one breath of its sadness. It gave
me nothing save sense Of infinite.
weariness-almost Of stagnation.
Unable to endure this longer, turned
and walked back. had reached the
house next to the one where lived, sep
arated from it by littlo garden. AS l
passed slowly along inhaled the per-
fume of heliotrope. Quickly, with
memory acute and painful, l glanced
at the window l was passing. 1t was
open, and on its ledge stood a pot of
heliotrope. My heart no longer beat
languidly-it bounded. At that moment
thought recognized the plant. 1t was
larger, it had grown, but it appeared ia
miliar to me.
Had l reasoned upon that belief
should have laughed at myself. but did
not reason; felt inspired.
mounted tho steps Of that house and
rang tho bell. and with tho fragrance
still floating about me I asked If Miss
Clare was in?"
knew that had but to apologize il
she was not there.
The servant did not hesitate. She re-
piled:
"Yes, sir; come in." She opened the
door, and saying, Miss Clare. gentle
man to see you," she closed the door and
left me alone with lady who sat near
where stood.
That lady was Viviane Clare.
Her face was paler, her eyes were
larger, her hands were thinner. saw
that while the servant announced me;
saw it with a pang Of sorrow for her
suffering.
watched the expressions chase each
other over her face-of surprise that
any one should come to SEQ her-of
frightened inquiry of relief unutter-
able.
Tho hand I took was cold, but not
colder than mine. Though I watched
her SO closely it did not seem to me that
was self possessed In the least. It was
all could do to bring my rebelling
frame into subsection.
looked into her eyes. How famished,
starved I had been for the giances Of
those eyesi How had lived when I
could not SEQ them7 wondered at that
moro than ever, now that saw them
again.
thought frstof relieving any anxiety
she might feel about Gnroy. Isaid:
"Mr. Gilrey b neatly we'll"
Eyes. I know 4, with . sigh Of thank
fulness.
"How long have you been hssr I
asked.
Ever since I came from R. !" mention
ing tho place where we had stopped.
"You came directly to Bostonr' ! in
quired incredulously.
"Yes; directly" A momentary silence.
"Win you cit down. Mr.. PerromT
We had been standing, our hands joined
as We had met.
"But the man ut the r. station said
that no lady took passage that day for
Boston," I said.
II believe he did not see me. I was
barely in time, and didn't 60 Into the
depot; paid my passage in the cars"
She looked ut me inquiringly.
because, Miss Clare, went to Mon
treal and searched o month there for
you. had reason to believe that you
had gone that way"
She flashed a glance at me, then low.
cred her eyes.
continued. speaking rapidly:
II never was so utterly unhappy a.
when l was forced to believe that could
not find you in Montreal. It was ALSO
lutte torture to me to think that you had
gone; that you might still think Gilroy
fatally injured; that you were alone with
no friend to soften that dreadful soil
tude."
Miss Clare's head drooped to her hand
her eyes were shaded.
"You are very kind"-witl, an intona-
ton that expressed how grateful she waA
"Kindr' | cried. "But you are not
kind. Miss Clare. You have made me
suffer. You only can repay me for thot
misery
Silence that seemed dreadful to me,
for she sat turned from me, her face
hidden. Did r"t. then. this girl care
for me?
rose. Lad reached that pitch of
excitement when -rneared cold, be-
cause il did not shoy;i. fall into the
other extreme. l spoke. and my voice
CONCEALED ON the mir ia it left my lips.
Miss Clare. once | offered you my
life. which. since have seen you. IL only
another name for love. You did not nc
cept It: il may bc TINT ought to have
believed thu: thu; meant only rejection,
but for the sake of my future have
tried not to think so"-
| Miss Clare looked up and interrupted:
"Mr. Perrom. you may call tomorrow
night; now beg that you will leave me-"
Her face was calm. her eyes dcep and
steady; only her voice had an almost i'm
perceptiblo tremor in it.
In the afternoon Of the next day let
ter was left ut the door for me. When
asked who had brought it. the landlady
said 1t was the servant who lived the
next door below
was from Miss Clare. AS l read I
felt that the mystery Of her past lifo was
melting before me 1t conlnenccd:
It Is my desire that Mr.. Pcrrom know
something Of the life of her to whom he
has shown himself every way noble. !
am Cuban by birth My mother was
descended from an old Andalusian fam
lily whose pride is only exceeded by their
love. To me my mother has always been
the handsOmest and best woman ! have
ever seen. No scorn. no jeers could ever
prevent me from reverencing her as we
reverence embodied truth and purity.
OfArchibald Clare, only know that he
was villain and my father. That hand.
some LOuisianian came to Cuba. to the
plantation Of my grandfather. on o visit
to my mothers brother. 1t was only
necessary for him to see my mother in
order to love her. ! do not mean TO
love; call it what you will We never In
jure those VIC love. My mother loved