The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-03-09
! lie SUNDAY MoRNING NEWS -MARcH- q 1880

eager, disconnected fashion
1t is hardly necessary to say it's it,
You must have known-have seen--for SO
long. To say now that | love you seems
to say-so little. Joani you are listening.
You do not forbid me TO 90 ont
He waited a moment, during which her
lips grew whittier, and her fingers closed
even more tightly on the luckless fan. It
broke
Why should / forbid your she said at
last. eoldly, but very distinctly.
The light Of triumph shot into his eyes.
Do you know what that means? You
accept me, then--at lastl'
He put out his hand TO take hers. but
with little stifled exclamation size rose
to her feet, and, going quickly to the open
window, flung back the silken curtain and
let the moonlight stream into the room.
As she stood there, leaning rather heavily
against the framework, he could see that
her face was white as death.
what is it, You are faints'' he ex-
claimed, anxiously.
Mono, indeed; it is nothing. But
that room inside-it was suffocating.
She looked at him as she spoke. and
compelled q shadow of smile to her lips.
You arc sure you are welly'
Quite well =
.Give me my answer, then, y he en-
treated Joan, you will marry neg''
She hesitated--even then. Ii vas, how
ever, a very rnoinentary hesitation; one
little word and she would be countess
the richest in England: and yet-and yet
the little word was said nevertheless
Yes, she answered, in low tone
He put out his arm, as II to draw her to
him, but she siiranl away and turned her
face to the deserted room within, as II
seeking for escape. In her large, bril-
liant eyes there was curious, hunted ex-
preston.
At this moment, as though in answer to
her secret desire, two people strollea into
the room, talking briskly.
.sAh!--Capt. Greville,ii cried Miss
Ffrench, in her soft trainante voice. She
went up to him with certain cmpresse-
Inent that made Greville's heart lwho had
loved her from afar many a month"; beat
with unpleasant haste stYou. too. then.
have discovered this contest nook in all the
world See, Lord Durnsford and I have
let the moonlight in upon it--one more
charm added, we thought, ehsH
A little excitable laugh broke from her
She swept past him. without waiting for
an answer, to the open doorway that led
into the reception room beyond, Lord
Durnsford accompanying her.
II shall go home, she said gently.
DO you think you can take me to Mrs.
Travers? / feel very tired y
ssYou are too pale, indeed Tomorrow,
then. May callg
Tomorrow? Yes. But until them
she regarded him earnestly you will
give me your word TO mention nothing OF
Certainly, replied he. gravely.
She found Mrs Travers presently and
induced her to leave, although the night
was still young. She was so pale, SO
silent on the way home, that Mrs
Trayers, who was a born Giplomatist,
guessed how matters stood at once, and
had If all out of her in less than seven
minutes.
You lucky girll' she cried. ito land
the event of the season. Ny congratulate
tiens come from my heart. Bless me.
won't Bella feel anyhow when she hears
of i'll You viii be the enemy of hundreds,
let me tell you-a fact sufficient in itself
TO make any well regulated girl happy for
life. y
We'll, can't say feel specially
happy said Joan, in rather depressed
tone.
More shame for you then, returned
her sprightly friend, who indeed had small
patience with such ingratitude toward q
kindly fate. Now do hope you are not
going TO be silly about want of love, etc.
Ali that sort of nonsense is exploded long
ago And good thing, tool When YOU
have been married to him for six months
you will adore him--because he loves you.
] know all about it. I've seen dozens OF
girls married who hadn't spark of affec-
ton for their husbands, and they'd be
awfully mad If you told them so now.
And Durnsford is specially unobiectiona-
BILE. Very desirable, indeed, in many lit
tie ways. ! expect you viii have a real
good time with him; better time than
most. Oh, il 1 had only had your chance,
how | should have jumped with joys'
rs that entirely truef Would you
give up Harry to be Lady Durnsfordg'
Mrs. Travers laughed.
"Ohi-Harryr' she said '.Harry Is
such a fool And besides, you trench on
delicate ground, my good child Would
you have me give him up now, after all
these years of married bliss? Think what
the world would say"
.s0hl you know what mean. No, You
loved Harry. You may call him a fool,
but you don't mean 1t. And even SO, as
it seems to me, it would be better TO marry
a fool than any other man, provided you
loved him y
You are younger than yeu look, y said
Mrs. Travers, with fine contempt.
Here they arrived at the house in Park
lane, so that perforce the discussion came
to an end, never, as it happened, to be re-
newed. On salver in the hall they
found some letters awaiting them that
had come by the latest post, and taking
them up, they went into the morning
room with them, which was well lighted.
The handwriting being unknown to her,
Miss French opened the first of hers
lazily; she scanned its contents, aud sud
denly low but terrible cry broke from
her. Mrs Travers, looking up huFriedly,
was good deal frightened by her express
sion She stood at the table, white and
shiyering.
.'4e is dyinge' she cried sharply.
dying. Whos Durnsfords" asked
Mrs. Travers aghast, whose mind just
then ran upon one man only.
s.Oh, no; no, mol Would to heaven it
wereI But Victor ictor.'' She sank
into a chair. and, letting her arms fall
prone upon the table. buried her face on
them. Sect she said, pushing the letter
toward her friend without looking up.
AIRS. Travers took it. The writing was
altogether unlike the clear caligraphy on
the envelope. It was indeed wild and