The Delta independent., 1891-03-10
mariner clings to a floating DRIFT q

| yes, 90 you know ner!
~ have heard of her-yes, I have
heard of her. should like to be Miss
Cevington's companion. Where does
she live? Let us go to her at once!"
| "Not till you've had cup OF tea
DEAR" said Mrs. Truman, secretly
beginning to believe that travel and
excitement had unsettled the pale
young girls senses.
"Yes-oh, yes-lct us 60 now," plead
ed Alice, beginning, with quiverinf
hands, to tie her bonnet strings
"Some one elsemay have got the situa
ton. IL should like so much to bt
lady's-maid to Miss Clevington. Dc
you think she will accept my services,
Mrs. Truman?"
"of course she will" said the old
lady. bridling up little. "My recon-
mendation's worth something, though
l say it myself. And if you're in such
a powerful hurry, why, can put the
tea back an hour or so. Only brush
your hair, dear, and pray don't look
so CHASTITY pale"
Virginia Clevingto had just come in
from drive-come in with cheeks tint
ed like a ripe peach, and her brown
hair tossed about by the fresh wind,
and stood there, with Chantill lace
shawl dropping over her shoulders,
and the pink gloves half pulled from
her fairy fingers, a lovely picture Of
glrlish beauty i'll its prime. Yet not
more beautiful to look at than the
pale girl who was sewing in the shadow
of the emerald silk curtains. Only
over one had swept the equinoctial
tempests OF life's sharpest grief, while
hn <Nf1, t,,A
shine.
"You're tired, Alice, dear" said
Virginia Clevington, softly. Put by
your work-rest little while.''
1t was part OF her benign nature
| to be sweet and tender to all created
| beings, but to Alice the words of sym.
pathy were inexpressibly grateful
She drooped her head on Virginia's
soothing hand, and burst into tears.
"Alice."
at is only the sharp pain at my
heart" groaned poor Alice. "Oh, Miss
Clevington, may l tell you the story
of my life? Then, perhaps, you will
not deem me weak and fanciful when
give way to these foolish bursts oi
grief"
"Tell me-" whispered Virginia, kneel.
ing at herpale lecompanion' side:" "tell
me all"
"But if it should bring a sharp panp
to your heart, Miss Clevington?"
~ cannot imagine how it should do
So"
Alice hesitated moment, with the
white and red fluttering like wind
stirred banners across her cheek.
"Miss Clevington," she said, "the
surgeons hand should not hesitate to
probe the hidden wounds, will not
falter longer. Is it true. that you are
to bemarried to Mr.. Horace Calthorpe
next month";"
"Yes-it is true"
Virginia spoke frankly, with the
sweet roses deepening over her delicate
face-as one woman speaks to another
with her whole heart trembling on her
lips.
"Let me tell you the history OF my
marriage, Miss Clevingt on"
The afternoon sunshine faded into
purple tides OF sunset-the sunset died
into silver-bright star beams-and yet
Virginia Cevington knelt there, listen
ing to Alices soft measured tones
Which OF those two women suffered
IIosO NolllcIl HlOSI WOulu ut
difficult to tell; it was like the bitter.
ness OF death to both,
~ am late tonight, I know, m a ca
ra, said Horace Calthrope, caressingly
as he lain his hat and gloves on the
table, and dput his arm round Virginia's s
slight waist; "but indeed it was the
fault of unavoidable business. What!
shrinking away from me, love? surely
SO slight fault should not be visited
with penance like that. Let me seal
my forgiveness on your lips, my dar-
ling!"
Virginia Clevington drew back as
she might have recoiled from the ap-
proach of deadly serpent, or kissing
adder.
"Never again, Horace Calthorpe!
You have been false to thenoblest and
truest instincts of your being-you
have proved yourself u william and
hypocrite! From this moment our
lives shall no longer mingle in the same
channel of daily intercourse"
"Virgnial"
But she went on, with flushed cheeks
and sparkling eyes. Horace Cal
thorpe, how dared you approach me
withfalse smiles and hollow words OF
endearment? How dared you aspire
to my hand when your wife-your wife
in the sight of heaven and man-was
pining away unacknowledged and for
gotten?"
"DIy wife! Dearest Virginia, some
impositor has been practising on your
credulity. l have no wife-Inever had
one"
For answer, Virginia Clevington part
ed the azure folds OF the heavy silk
en- curtains, and revealed a slight
figure in the deep embrasure-Alice-
whittier than any sculptured stone
"There is your, wife Mr.. Calthrope?"
Horace elevated his handsome eye
brows.
~ don't deny that may have firt-
ed with that young woman at times,
while l was ruralizipg at Grovedale;
but as for her being my wife, that's sim
ply ridiculous. Let her prove it, if she
canl"
Virginia Clevington, pale and reso-
lutte, opened the folding doors that led
into the little study beyond.
MIR. Wayne, your evidence is need.
ed to decide this matter"
Had corpse risen from it's winding
sheet, Horace Calthorpe could not
have been more aStOunded or be.