The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-01-09

ment as he flung about the room, then
she threw herself on the lounge and
burst into hysterical tears. Naturally
this brought him to his senses at once,
and he patted, and petted, and soothed
and paciied until the storm was over.
| ii.
Thursday, the 1st of October. dawned,
but it brought no prospect of the Ferrises
dining at Kensington.
There came instead small note which
read as follows:
No. 10 SALISBURY STREET Oct T.
| NY DEAR Miss STANnoPE-My sister Is SO very
much worse today that it will be impossible for us
| to dine at your home this evening She desires
me to convey 10 you her regret and disappoint-
| ment. Yours very sincerely
| PAUL FERRIS.
Margaret received it at luncheon time,
and after she had read'it twice or thrice
she turned to her huge mastiff who was
sitting bolt upright beside her, and thus
addressed him: christopher, l am
afraid your sex is hopelessly obtuse.
Now, what would you think of letter
like that coming from an individual
whom you had known in childhood, had
played with and squabbled with hun
dreds of times?'
Christopher gazed at her fixedly, and
solemnly thumped his tail as dirge like
| accompaniment.
"Never mind, Christie, you love me
anyway, don't you, dear? There, old
man, don't lick my fics. You think /
am crying, don't you? But it is not so,
l assure you. Why, Christopher, do you
think would shed tear for Paul Fer
ris? Come, we will get ready and go to
Stella, since she cannot come to US. An
errand of love, my son, with roses and
| jasmine for our Offering"
There were many such errands of love
in the ensuing week, for Stella grew
weaker day by day, and her recovery
seemed far off and uncertain.
The poor child would fain have been
well. She would talk for hours between
spasms of coughing about the things she
would go and see, the books she would
read, the places she would visit when
she would be better again.
1t was Christmas eve that the end
came. There was n sudden attack of
hemorrhagc, message sent TO Paul at
Her Majesty's theatre, few hours of
hushed waiting, little struggle-and it
was over. Margaret Stanhope was there,
and it was in her arms that Stella's life
llicliered and went out
Toward the last she begged Paul to
sing to her.
Something that will make me go to
sleep soon," she said wearily.
And Paul went to the piano in the
adjoining room and touched the KEYS
softly.
Sorrow and care may meet
The tempest cloud may low'r,
The surge Of sin may beat
Upon life's troubled shore.
| God doth his own in safety keep
He giveth his beloved sleep.
| When he had finished he felt light
touch on his shoulder. He turned and
saw Margaret with tho tears like rain on
her face.
"She is asleep at last" she said brok-
tnly.
LII.
When Margaret had done what she
could she went away and Paul did not
see her for months.
1t was better so, he told himself. Her
way was not his. Their paths lay far
apart, and he could not attempt to bridge
the gulf between them. And SO life
went on for him DULY, drearily, with
never break in the monotony until
spring came. Then one morning he met
her on Regent street. She was just STEP
ping into her carriage, but she stopped
him and gave him her hand and drew
him aside for few moments converse
ton.
II am glad l happened to meet you,"
she said. II wished to speak to you on
on matter of business. 1t is favor
I am going to ask of you.
mo; do not be SO rash as to grant it
beforehand, but promise to come to the
house tomorrow morning and we will
talk it over. shall be in until 10.
Good-by, for the present"
When Ferris was shown into Miss
otanhope's drawing room the next morn
ing he found it deserted. A cheerful
lire was burning in the grate the sun
struggled in through the lace curtains,
and on the window seats boxes of snow
drops were lifting their delicate heads
to receive the warm rays.
Margaret appeared very shortly, and
greeted him with her usual frank kind
iness. She asked him to be seated, and
after few commonplace remarks evil
IDENTIFY made an effort to plunge into the
subject weighing on her mind.
81 asked You to come here because
lave something to say to you that con-
Germs us both-something I wish to ask
of you," she began.
Anything that can do for you, Miss
Stanhope. You must know l am yours
to command"
"It is rather difficult for me to tell you
now that you are here" she went on
nervously
"The fact is, Mr.. Ferris, l think of
sailing for New York in fortnight, and
IL want You to go with met! Paul
leaned forward and passed his hand over
his eyes.
but I do not understand" he said,
| with a nuZzla1 aYpraScion