The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-07

Of absence made it necessary for him to re
Join his regiment.
Arthur was sorry to lose him. For al
though Marshall had not overburdened hin
with his company in the course Of his visit
he had contrived to brighten up tho rattle
sombre household by his constant. spright-
| ~ cheertulness. The squire, however, wal
too busy in the execution of his variou
schemes to have much leisure for missinl
been gone couple of days his brother
might, for any sign he gave to the contrary
have entirely forgotten that he had eye]
been to visit him at all.
One evening. about week after Mar.
shalrs departure. Arthur was sitting in his
library, thinking out some improvement
which he meant to introduce into the vii
lage: The expression on his face was unu-
suaiiy fine Just then, and pleased smile
as of triumph, played around his lips. HI
was rejecting, doubtless, how, by all hi
work and labor, he was fighting a good
battle for the cause of purity and right, and
carrying out his true duty to his fellow
creatures: While he thus unused a knocl
came at the door. and a servant announced
that Miss Kinglake, the schoolmistress
wished to see him.
"Show her in here" replied his master.
There was nothing unusual in the visit
for the squire was, as We have stated, man
ager of the school, and Miss KinRlake otter
came to see him on business matters con.
nected with it. A minute later the foot
man ushered her in and departed, closing
the door behind him. Then, as she drew
up her veil and the light of the lamp fell
upon her face, it became clear at glance
that something serious was wrong. She
was deadly pale: heavy black rings. telling
their tale of Watching and weeping. encir-
cled her eyes, and her lips quivered GO
mnNh thQk ~ xu1,i1o k,ofr oh
could utter word. The young man, nat
urally disturbed and rendered uneasy by
her appearance, waited for her to state her
errand. At last the words issued from her
quiverinR lips 80 low, however, that he
could SCARCELY catch them.
II have come, sir, she said, ''to ask YOU
for your brothers. address,
my brothers address," cried Arthur
Graves, his vague uneasineaa thus suddenly
assuming a defined shape. pardon me;
but why do you want that2''
Because he is gone," she answered, land
3and' with half choked sob) ''he has
deserted me!''
Deserted you?'' he calculated. his own
face now turning very pale. "What do you
mean! For heavens sake. axplainr'
Her only. answer was to cover her face
with her hands and burst into torrent of
sobs. But by and by the truth came out in
broken fearful fragments. II was the old
story. The handsome Young soldier had
fallen in love with her rare beauty and
wooed her, and won her promise to marry
him. But his love. "too hot and strong"
had ''soon burned to waste" He had rap
idly tired of her, and finally left her.
Il knew she continued, tearfully, that
he was obliged to 20 away from here to re-
join his regiment, but never thought-oh.
never thought-that he meant to cast me
off, until received this cruel. cruel letter
from him this mOrninpr'
As she spoke, she drew a sheet of paper
from the bosom of her dress and handed it
to the squire to read.
He quickly mastered itscontents, for they
were very short, comprising but few lines
of writing, in which Marshall babe the
school mistress forget all about him and ali
that had been between them, since it was
quite impossible that he could ever marry
her. The letter was dated from London
bnt bore no definite address. .l.s
As the tale OF his brothers treachery was
thus uufolded to him, the sources agitation
woman. Indeed, to a man SO honorable,
pure and true ms he was, the revelation must
have caused painful shock, more espe-
clally as there was something else about his
brother of which the schoolmistress was
plainly ignorant, and the knowledge of
which would very much aggravate her
misery. From revealing this fact to her
Arthur Graves shrank with the sensitive
ness of one who hates to cause fellow
creature pain. Yet he must tell her. DUTY
enjoined it. Besides, it were no real mercy
10 keep her in ignorance.
You wish for my brothers address, he
began, in low, panied voice. which would
you"
"May write to him" she interrupted, with
energy. Appeal to any gen
'rous feeling that he may possess, inn
olore him to carry out his plighted prom
sc, and to marry me!'
The squire put his hand to his throbbine
'orehead and replied-heaven alone could
Miss Kinglake, the truth will seem
'ruel, very cruel. to you; but to keep it
back would be far more cruel still. Il il
for my brother to marry you,
'ince he is-married alreadyn'
What!' she cried, wildly, gazing at him
With stupefed wonder, as il she had not
.rasped the full import of his words.
for, though my brother has ceased to live
Nth his wife, he is no less bound to her in
he ties of wedlock. Thus, even if he
would, he cannot"
Before he could finish his sentence the
lapless girl. how having fully realized the |
uli meaning of his words, uttered low
rail OF misery. and staggered suddenly for
s0AUs AAO O0ukAG IAc1 kdlIltluX 10TH 1uSt IN |
ime to save her from falling to the floor.
|he had evidently swooned away, for she |
lung dead weight upon his arms, her eyes |
losed. and her face white to the lips. And |
I was the squire's first thought to call in |
liz housekeeper's assistance. But it &C. |
urred to him that if the matter once
cached the servants' ears it would spread |
ike wildtire throughout the parish; there
ore, he found it his truest kindness to lay
Ter upon the sofa and quietly wait till she
eRained consciousness. This he accord
ngly did, tanning her motionless face with
newspaper. In few minuEes-sooner |
han he expected-she came to herself, sit |
ing up and looking round her in dazed !
ort OF manner, as if she did not realize |
1aere she was or what had happened, |
men, a. full consciousness returned. she |
ave little shudder, and burning her face |
n her hands moaned out:
what will happen to me? What will
eople say and think2 They have seen me
ut with-with-him several times: and
now that they are talking of nothino eIsa
nd casting vile and shameful imputations
pom me; one or two. more spiteful than the |
est, have tainted me with my conduct to |
ny face! And when l hnye answered with |
urning indignation that he-your brother |
had no intentions but those Of honorable |
carriage, which he had already promised |
ne, they have scOffed iEcredulously. How.
hen, will their cruel doubt find confirma-
ion now? Not q soul will believe mo in |