Telegram-herald., 1891-01-17

INTERRUPTED MEDITATION.
tation; and here he was being led
tamcly to the villa again.
Somehow, he was more than usually
glad to 60, although his conscience ex-
ertsd feeble restraining force. Why
was it? Rays favorable view of him as
. possible son-in-law meant nothing to
him. He had no shadow Of an idea that
he should ever take advantage Of it.
But that ''word of encouragement" as
Ray had called it, was a matter Of a very
different nature. Could Ray possibly
have given such hint on any weaker
grounds than absolute certainty? Fa-
ther and daughter wore on terms of the
closest confidence. Russell had often
observed 1t, with feeling that tho mill
ionaire had been blessed in other good
things than dollars. Ray should know
the state of his daughters heart as soon
as she did herself. and II he said that
she thought kindly OF man it should
be infinitely encouraging.
There was only one ground for doubt,
and it lay in the old fellows firm belief
that he know very nearly every thing
that was passing in the minds of those
about him. He was one Of those men
who believe that thcir eyes are electric
search lights which they can turn upon
the souls Of others and expose all hidden
things.
This belief in him was coupled with
. total inability to read tha ordinary
external signs Of emotion. It always is.
These esgle-eyed fellows are the ones
who can see man poisoned with strych-
nine and swear that he looks pleasant,
and stick to it with q con fidence un-
moved, after the unfortunate has died
In commissions. Russell thought OF all
this, and it seemed to him probable that
Ray had not received any verbal intima-
ton from his daughter, bat had de-
pended wholly upon a glance Of his in
fallible eye.
''If that is the CASE" said Russell to
himself, "she does not love me''-and
his exultation was immediately changed
to gloom. But his reflections had con-
WINGED him that he loved her, long boz
fore the two men reached tho yacht,
and he had resolved to tell Ray the
truth about his supposed offer, and to pre-
pare some way of backing out of the
whole ENHANCEMENT.
Yes, he resolved to do all this, but he
did not do any part of it.
He changed his mind when the time
for a disclosure came: resolved to keep
his secret safe. to pursue q strictly
guarded course with Alice which should
show her what hero he was. OF course
she oorldn't helm noticing that he loved
her. She would see that he avoided
food, and grew thin till bis eyes took on
hollow look and his coats began 70 flap
around his whitening form. He would
lock his love mp In tho dungeon of his
soul and have fun with tho misery Of II.
Then when Brown came back, full Of
misgivings no doubt, he would take the
wanderer BY the hand, and say, with .
hollow cough: 81 have been faithful to
you, old man. but 1 am martyr to my
love.
81 say, young fellow" cAed Ray, I'm
terrupting Russell's meditatioxls at this
point, 'if you stare ut me any longer In
that soulless fashion. without saying
any thing ~ listening TO what I'm talk
ing about I shall think you've gone
crazy.
They had bssn sitting on the deck Of
the yacht faoe TO face, and Ray had
been talking In . lively and - he sup
posed entertaining fashion. for shout half
an hour, when IL had suddenly davned
upon him that Russell's face hsd taken
on an expression Of deep misery Wholly
uncalled for by any thing that hsd been
said. His question brough4 Russsu back
- RATIONAL frame of mind. snd he va
able 10 conduct himself 81 The villa - II
nothing unusual had happened
II Vas hh last visit there dsFsns the
sesson TIE Rays came back 10 their
town hoEas In the follssine week R.s-
cell called within few days afsr their
return. and his welcome Nus the sane
- ever. There hAi bean no change in
the horseback Hat nee many days
after Nat ~ fannssA shAs n no<icsa
differences Tsess w. % fnAefnAA3s
sonetAins sa ths BEARING Of Mxs. Ray
sad Alice Which paUied Nm At srst
bat Which - scor sxp1ainsd In man
nes atsias saossiy 10 the observed fscA
10 seemed evident Ehas the ssorss Of HE
talk with Gslbert Ray h~A feakpd eat:
that IL haA - ~ hsccuse the general
property 81 &c fssnsly. He ooxld not
believe ssas Ray lad toA A1ices shs
nssss hs-s svsvheArS son,sxAfng wascA
hetray>a tAs trssa- At any rs<s Rzs-
ell ~ss sufsa certain that ske krew
hry matters ssood. haA "a wxa - fae