Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-05-16
CHAPTER II.
b MAE.A L. FGJD.

her cyes-and L W. already preparing
10 maintain my rec est, when she sud-
denly yielded and gracefully went with
me.
The ground v-as frozen stiff, icicles
hing Ga the old well sweep. and the
dying sycamore looked wilder and more
melancholy than ever. siiuddered
with an undeiinablc dread OF something
evil to come. looked at Hiss Clare.
She was gazing abser.!y at tho clear,
far of sky-that sicily, beautiful sky
which .;oI.>iiines seems so far away from
us. Her face was reserved and sad;
not sarcastic, as had feared it might
he. had thought of numbcrless things
TO say to her. while | sat al, lie il my
room; now they all left n,o, and spoke
III an Indifferent tone.
Now that our New England winter
has really set in, | suppose you will be
returning to the gayeiies of your home.
She turned toward 100 and spoke
quickly:
"Of my homer"
"Yes-of Boston," l replied, a little
surprised at the peculiar expression of
her face and the ironical ring in her
tone. "You will prove false to feminine
nature 10y staying away from q city
homo during the winter season."
cav that / had chosen an unfortu-
nate subject, but some evil whispering
tempted me to continue.
Are you going soon!" asked.
The voice in which she replied pre-
cluded the possibility of speaking upon
that topic again.
Really, Mr.. Perron. I have not yet
decided"
had called the cynical expression to
her face, and there was no moro genial
kindness that morning. l wondered ut
my stupidity-I had forced her to walk
with mo and then studiously made my
self disagreeablc. Invent out alone the
next day and every time after.
Soon resumed my morning horse
back excursions, snd after one or two Of
those rides / felt the glorious elixir of
health again Pulsing in my frame; was
no longer weak; l was once more man
among men.
Ono cold, still morning In January !
took my pistols from their case and en-.
tered Mrs. Jerdan's sitting room in searcl,
Of Mis- Clare. She was reading by the
fire, and received me with tile easy cor
diality which sometimes distinguished
her. and which appeared entirely a. vari-
ance with the moods In which che occa-
sionally INDUCED
"You remember I promised To tcacl,
you to shoot. said: II have cor.c to
claim my pupil"
Her eyes shone with pleasure. "You
arc very kind not to forget" she said.
II must acknowledge it Is no. disin-
terested kindness," ! responded. allow
ing the Impulse of my heart to bc.ray
itself In my face. / held those eyes to
mine for IN instant that was forever
after remembered by me. Men do not
forget the first time the woman beloved
comes near to then, in ono full glance
She did not give mo back tho rassion
that burned in my eyes: tho language l
read was that Of surprised inquiry, not
Of repellant scorn that dcspiscd its dis
covery.
We went out toward the field where
abe had left her target still nailed to the
tree. No merciful preironition of that
which was to come gave ne warning to
turn back with the girl who walked with
mo Happily we went ON. Over Miss
CARES face was the soft pride that SO
enthralled me. Gentler. more kind than
! had ever before seen them. her eyes
seemed a. she talked: in their gray deeps
q luminous shadow seemed to dwell that
bafled while it drew me on. llovcd her
entirely. devotedly. with heart and soul
and strength, and nov only waited the
opportunity to tell her what she might
have seen
II am going to astonish you" she said,
- shs took her place to shoot, and fred
with the same careless air which | had
noticed before. Tho result showed her
improvement
You have been practicing." I ex-
claimed ut Is unfair il you have sur
passed your teacher"
As handed back her pistol after load
Ing It she said in sutdued voice:
do you know. 1T seems rs If were
Infatuated with this shooting? | have
Nme here day after day. did not ex-
city like It. but somehow | could not
scl2 it. believe am superstitious. It
GEMS, Mr. Perrom. that some demon
aas impelled ME to perfect myself in this
vnwomaniy pastine Ihave sluddered
- think Of some horrible object to
~hich h may lead Am l talking
Strangely She paused moment. and
then continued with flushed cheeks and
Wild eyes: "Ahi to what will not my un-
govesnable temper lead me If am
tempted too muchi | try to control Il,
but sometimes am not mistress Of my.
self It Is very humiliating to think Of
t."
She put tho pistol in her cloak pocket
with gesture Of disgust and looked up
ut me with eyes In which there was q
strange, Unconscious, besscching look
that thrilled to my soul
Miss Clare" said. in q low, steady
voice. .ths. unaocustosned solitude Of
your NE has made you morbid. The un-
healthy tmpulss you mention is common
TO sentative mindA particularly when the
surroundings favor It. Pray. has your
demon presented himself in tangible
form Has he an eye OF co.L and a
tongue Of 1ameY
She turned away her face with look
of relief.
Il know am childish solnetimca l
did not use to be So" I'm fa!tering
voice: do trouble and persecution
faakc one grow imbcci!eY" she asked sud.
denly. looking at me.
They do sometimes" | answered.
But they never would have that effect
upon you-it would be a worse effect, !
am afraid"
Worse! How Is tllat7" she asked.
cunning step nearer me in her interest.
Make you cynical and unbelievinS-
make you doubt tho existence of faith.
love and purity in the world. God do
liver you from such q fate, for there i.
nDne worseg'
uttered the hast words with all the
fervency l felt. l took the hand that
hung by her side. She did not withdraw
it Immediately. She looked down an.
said with unutterable sadness:
Il have distrusted everybody. every.
thing; ! have almost lost faith in God
himself Such treachery, such vile, in
human wretches as have known-and
TO think that once blindly believed and
trusted In them! Can you, Mr. Perrom.
after your years Of tottle with the world,
can you still tell one to believe in human
believe in trustworthinesso once