Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-02-06
CHAPTER xLTv.

Catherine listened to the fall of water IN
the basin OF the fountain. She was con
sciOus of faint hOpe-a hope unworthy oil
her-that Kitty might get weary of the gold
| fishes, and might interrupt them. No such
tnlng happened; no stranger appeared on
| the path which wound through the garden.
She was alone with him. The influences OF
the still and fragrant summer evening were
influences which breathed of love.
"have you thought of me since yesterday
he asked, gently.
She owned that she had thought Of him.
us there no hope that your heart will ever
incline toward me%'
Il daren't consult my heart i'll had only
to consider my OWN feelings" She stop.
ped.
what else have you to cOnslder"'
my past life-how l have suffered, and
what have to repent Of"
HAS your married life not been happy
one?' he asked
Not happy one-in the end" she an
swered.
Through no fault Of yours, am sure?'
Through no fault of mine, certainly"
"And yet you said just now that you had
something to repent OFF"
Il was not thinking of my husband, Capt.
Bennydeck, when l said that. II l have in
jured any person, the person is myself"
She was thinking of that fatal concession
to the advice of her mother and to the inter.
ests OF her child which placed her In false
position toward the honest man who loved
her and trusted her. If he had been less in
nocent in the ways of the world, and not 50
devotedly fond Of her, he might, little by lit
tie, have persuaded Catherine to run the risk
Of shocking him by confession of the truth.
As 1t was, his confidence in her raised him
high above the reach of suspicious which
might have occurred to other men. He saw
her turn pale; he saw distress in her face,
which he interpreted as silent reproach to
him for the questions that ne had asked. Il
hope you will forgive me-" he said, simply.
She was astonished. What have to for
giver'
my want of delicacy."
"Oh, Capt Bennydeck, you speak of ono
Of your great merits as if it was fault!
Over and over again have noticed your deli
cacy, and admired it,
He was too deeply in earnest to abandon
his doubts of himself.
s0rrows," he said; sorrows that cannot
SOiiooAC' uoh uCoCINc W D6 forgiven.
May make the one excuse in my power?
May speak of myselfT'
She told him by gesture that he had made
needless request
1.-THE life have led," he resumed, FAC.
counts, perhaps, In some degree for what is
deficient In me. At school was not pop-
ular boy; l only made one friend, and he
has long since been numbered with the dead.
OF my life at college, and afterward In Lon
don, dare net speak to you; l look back at
1t with horror. My school friend decided my
choice Of profession; he went into the
navy. After awhile, not knowing what else
to do. followed his example. / liked the
life-l may say the sea saved me. For years
! was never on shore for more than a few
weeks at time. saw nothing of society:
l was hardly ever in the company Of ladies.
Tho next change in my life associated me
with an arctic expedition. God forbid l
Ihould tell you of what men 60 through who
are lost In the regions of eternal ice! Let
nae only say was presefved-miraculously
profit by that dreadful expert.
ence. 1t made new man of me; it altered
ne q hope for the better into what l am
how. Oh, l feel that ought to have kept
my secret yesterday-1 mean my daring to
owe you. should have waited till you knew
more of me; till my conduct pleased you,
perhaps, and spoke for me. You won't
augh. ! am sure, If confess lat my age)
hat am inexperienced. Never till met