The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-02

| THIS Crisis, ana, az the same time, she
would write to him for particulars of the
present attitude of Julian Gray's people
toward him.
Weeks glided on in a sad, monotonous
routine of sick nursing; and il seemed to
Katherine Villiers as though her life had
begun and ended in that dark, sordid room
appear probable that Julian Gray would
ever recover; but good nursing, combined
with an originally tough constitution,
pulled him through
During this period she was of course
thrown very much into the company of
.Melia; and without wishing or question
ing on her part. heard all the girls pitiful.
so very, kind to er, an give 'er 3
meal, oh, ever so of'en, when FER old
granny, wot she lived with got blazin'
drunk an turned 'er out of doors, after
a-beatin 'er till she was black and blue /;
an 'ow, after granny died. an she was lef'
alone, she crep UP ere one night an
asked i'm might she live along with i'm !;
an he larfed, an called her little fool for
'er pains; but still he was down in the
mouth an seemed afraid of bein' alone.
don't yer know, and so she stayed An
an that was all i-on'y she was orful fond
of him. an if he was TO die, there was
nothin' for FER but TO make hole in the
wateri"
At length came day when he was pro-
nounced out of danger; and after that q
long, lingering conyalescenoe.
When he could manage to sit up in big.
comfortable armchair by the ire the room
was so transformed that he could scarce
believe 1t TO be the same. Curtains COW
cred the smoke-grimed windows. towers
bloomed in pots-an air of refinement. if
not of luxury, reigned there altogether.
On seat by the window sat 'Melia.
clothed and in her right mind If one
might judge from the way in which she
diligently pursued her task of needlework
He looked away from this pleasant pict-
ure very quickly, however. and up at Cap
tain Kitty instead, who stood carelessly
leaning against the chimney piece oppo.
site to him.
you have done it all" he said, feebly
How am | to thank you for saving my
life2 Not that it is worth much any way"
he added as bitter afterthonght.
She looked at him thoughtfullY.
Not TO you, perhaps, +" she replied, in a
slow, dreamy tone, but God knows better
than you the real value of your life"
How can it ever be anything now but a
broken. worthless thing? But that is not
the question. | owe it to you, such as it is
not to God; you have saved it. What
must do with it?"
Give it to Him! If, as you say, il is
mine to do what | will with, l here call
God to witness that | give it into His
hand. TO deal with as He may think best.
Julian, | prayed for this-for years |
prayed for this-and it has come at last.
You will not disappoint me now, dear
Julian ?'
exquisite, thrilling modulations that were
wont to draw tears from the most hard
ened eyes, and those of poor Julian were
very soft and weak just then.
"What do you wish me to do?" he
asked, in hoarse whisper
She knelt beside him, and took his feeble
hand in hers.
Il want you to give up drinking, gamb-
ling, all sorts of wickedness; l want you
to lead new, healthy. and happy life,
with the light of heaven shining into 1T;
want you to go home to your own people,
and-and want you to marry 'Melia."
You ask that?"
II dol She loves you. She has given
herself to you, and you are all she has on
earth"
But you forget! She is unedcated, vul-
gar, with no moral sense-a wretched lit
tie gutter brat! Katherine, you are not seri-
ous?''
Katherine rose and stood over him, like
an avenglng angel.
you should dare to disdain an immortal
soul? Have you made so grand career
for yourself, with all your education and
ability? If she has no moral sense, so
much the less is she to blame for any sins
she may have committed. And if she has
done wrong, she has the one supreme grace
of loving-loving grandly and unselfishly.
But you-what is there in you to justify
you in despising her?"
The sick man covered down among his
pillows. and put his hands before his face.
''Do not-do not be so severe, Kath-
erine," he demonstrated, in broken voice.
II did not mean to despise her; God
knows how far more despicable am N.Y.
self. But-but-for you to ask me to
marry her-it is that seems so strange"
Nevertheless, you will do it for my
sake, and for your own, will you not, my
friend? 1t is the last request / shall ever
make of you, Julian! Surely you will not
refuse it?"
Once again she knelt by his chair and
looked up into his face.
"You ask me-ask me to marry another
woman?" he repeated hoarsely.
Their eyes met and seemed to cling to-
gether as though drawn by some irresist-
ible power.
II do" she answered in faint tone, yet
firmly.
"Then, Kitty, II will obey-if you will
kiss me-kiss me-only this oncel"
Their faces were close together. The
same attraction drew them nearer. With
out another spoken word their lips met in
a long, lingering kiss.
Then she turned away and hid her face
in her hands for moment.
THE last tlme-the last time" she said,
at length; and her voice was like music
broken and tangled.
Then she rose and went over to the win
dow. 'Melia was watching her in sullen
silence.
Come with me- said Captain Kitty,
imperiously, and the girl obeyed. When
they got outside, however, 'Melia turned
savagely upon her commanding.
"Why do you go for to kiss i'm before
my FACET she cried, in jealous anger. "If
I've got 10 lose i'm, there amt any call for
that, anyways"
YOU'RE not to lose him, 'Melia! He
has promised me TO marry you. and that's
what l want to talk to you about"
ITO marry me? That's good UNI
What right have you to go a-kissin' of i'm,
them"
Captain Kitty flushed. For just one
moment original sin got the better of re-
generation, and she would vain have re-
torted:
Il bought him for you by just that kiss"
that is hat she would fam have said,
but the evil impulse passed and the words
remained unspoken.
do not let that trouble you. child"
she said; 'he will never, never kiss me
again! | have said good-by to him forever.
You can nurse him yourself now, and his
mother is coming to help you"
II was true His elder brother had died
of fever in India, and Julian was now the
only hope of the family, who were there
fore prepared to receive him with open
arms. Whether they would equally APP
preciate 'Melia as daughter-in-law
NAMED 10 be seen. But he would keep
his word; Captain Kitty was sure of that.