The times., 1891-04-17

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John Fletcher abruptly one morning,
when he chanced to find himself alone
with Winifred.
They were in that rigidly arranged
parlor, with the same table between them
across which he had stretched his hand,
that she would not see, two years before.
Winifred looked up, but before she
could frame reply he went on, hurried
ly:
"You know did not have an oppor-
tunity to say good-by."
"Ah, then, you came back to say good
by?" exclaimed Winifred.
ITO say good-by, if that be your pleas
ure," he answered gravely; "but-to say
something else first. came to confess
myself-a coward"
Winifred looked at him in surprise.
"When l saw you last" he went on,
impetuously, sin this very room, beside
this very table, let mere uplifting of
your hand impose silence upon me,
though had a right to speak-the right
of every man with a heart to feel. Twas
coward not to tell you then what have
come to tell you know. Alien though
you deem me, l love you; were you to
proclaim g thousand times that the war
is not over, still, still love you"
Winifred turned her face away.
Between you and me there is great
gulf fixed" she faltered.
81 love you," he repeated, and came
and stood beside her chair. 81 love you
with love that can bridge over any
gulf"
You forget-you-forget she sigh
ed; but her voice died away; she coulo
not say again that the war was not over.
81 do not forget; told you that /
should Aever forget Col. Thorne's un-
compromising daughter. Whether you
wish it or not-you are all the world
to me-"
Winifred uttered little cry and raised
her hand, as If in protest; but John
Fletcher did not choose now to obey that
gesture; he clasped her hand in both his
own and Winifred did not take it away.
She said to herself that all this availed
nothing-that they must part, must
surely part presently-must say good-by
forever, since all the world, on her side
and on his, would be against their union;
but she would not deny this little mo-
ment its feeting happiness. She shiv-
cred, but she did not take away her
hand.
How had it come to pass that this
man, but little while ago stranger,
should stand between her and all that
she held dearest-father--br -brother--home?
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and devoted heart a tenderness that
dwarfed every affection she had known?
She had not been willing to love him, she
had struggled hard against it; but she
did love him, alas! Why had he not
stayed away? And yet, though her heart
should break in parting from him now,
all her life long she should rejoice and
be glad that he did come, that this
moment at least had been her own in
which to enjoy her empire. Come what
might, this moment at least was hers,
now and forever, and she bowed her
head upon the two hands that clasped
hers and cried out, with passionate la.
ment:
"If YOU knew how I have hated your
"That makes no difference, if you love
me noww John Fletcher declared, with
an exultant smile.
81 have not wished to love you," Win
fired said, as she lifted her head, and
withdrew her hand.
"Must 1 say good-by then-forever?
he asked.
She turned her face away, and there
was long silence. John Fletcher wait.
ed; he desired that Winifred should
make her own decision. At last, "I can
not help it," she exclaimed. 1t was not
a radiant face that she turned toward
him, but John Fletcher knew that he
need not say good-by. 81 never should
have hated you so if I had not loved
your
She turned very pale and bowed her
head on the arm of her chair. She had
braved the shadow that waits on Love,
and she was ready to defy Sorrow for
Loves dear sake, but Loves glad eyes
she could not meet.
John Fletcher bent over her with Q
smile ineffable, and laid his hand upon