The morning call., 1890-04-01

itself seemed unnaturally calm, as though
under the somnolent influence of the hour.
,Celia's own eyelidS felt heavy and she
was not surprised, ON turning the corner of
q iutting rock. to come upon a man lying
prone upon the ground in its shadow, evil
IDENTIFY in profound slumber
She was about to pass on when some feel
ing of familiarity about the color of the
tweed suit arrested her feet and made her
look again. 1t was Joseph Singleton.
His right hand was in sling. Celia stood
staring at him, wondering greatly to see
him there after all this time.
He was certainly very fast asleep. She
drew little nearer, half shyly. and made a
more minute inspection than had ever be-
fore been in her power. Really he was not
so very bad-l0Oking after all. His nose was
too large, and his eyebrows too black and
thick. His naturally dark skin. tanned by
the summer sun, gave him foreign appear
ance; the deep lines in his forehead and
about his mouth made him look years older
than he really was.
Poor fellow! She felt very sorry for him.
so sorry that her eyes grew wet, her hands
trembed, and the novel she was carrying
slipped FROM them TO the ground.
The sound of the falling book aroused the
sleeper i'll an instant. He rose to hisfeet,
reddening to the roots of his hair. 3
You are back again, and never let us
know" said Celia, blushing as deeply as lie
did. How long have you peen down
;: II was only in London one day. l found
This sprain. (which L thought at first but
slight, was too serious TO allow me to think
OF writing for some time. so L came BACK
:. you. must. have taken great pains to
avoid u.s.: for we have never seen you, Mr..
Singleton.
lie looked at her, then away, with all
those lines she had been observing bec0m-
ing more deeply lndented.
+ ''Shal tcii you why -
"Y es, /" said Celia.
=. because knew il we met should not
2 be able to keep from telling you that love
YOU. | do love YOU. should have teld
you long since il / could have found IL your
manner the slightest ground for hope that
you could care for me-. l never did. For
give me for paining you with this. confess
b sion, but tits some poor satisfaction TO me-
to speak. out for once-to know that Tor
once in" Here he stopped abruptly, see
ing how agitated she was, and when lie
spoke again'it was;in different tone.
" FORGET what. L have said. Miss Nash,
and don't look so disturbed. 1t is not your
fault that have fallen prey to so hope
less feeling. YOH have shown me plain
enough all along that 1t was hopeless. and
had no right TO force it on your notice"
r Celia struggled with an inclination to
laugh historically 70 How could he be- 50
stupid-so' blind? If ne gave her up SO
completely. how could she correct tie mis-
take her own manner. had causedPs She
made no re Wy, until he held out his hand
g She gave him hers and raised her eyes,
half hoping that they would tell what she
could not put into words unasked. - -
'Good-by,", he said, and bending, kissed
her on the brow oe'e.
mot good-by." she faltered, her fingers
q Tightening on his as he was about. to: move
away. %
Nothing more was said, but by some
Strange means they; understood each other.
'Astonishment, :incredulity and doubt
face. to be in turn chased away by deep.
intense gladness, as he gathered Celia INTO:
his arms and thanked heaven for the gift
of a womau,s love- ... 3. ~. G..