Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-10-02

though lao was speaking OF some piece of
music to her, and, forcing back from eye
aud LIP all that made his heart beat 30
wildly, said earnestly
al should not pain you, lima; let my
words pass-not as II Jest-no-l wounded
to-day by u jest, born Of my own pain--but
as a thought too hastily spoken, thought
that my life is not barren OF at least kind
iy memory"
What Il bitter moekery TO him were such
wordsl They panied her. but they gave
her self command, and she was for the
time even grateful to him; later, ian the ST.
lence of u sleepess night she saw their hol-
lowness, and knew that his heart had spok-
EN- in that first look and tone.
"Kindly memory" she repeated very
low. "Wby should you not think so, Sir
Philip ! owe you too great debt Of graf
itude TO fall short Of SO much as kindly
memory"
"You give me a problem to solve, lima;
for, by my faith, L cannot discover how L
am your creditor. l thought was a debt
or. Hush! Give me the wOwan's priYi-
lege, the last word, unless you will take it
in music; and l would rather listen to
Schumann than fathom enigmas."
So lima played again; and, when she
rose to leave the piano. she forgot the poor
damask rose, and the piano-lid closed over
it, and it died there neglected.
But when lima dressed to go back 10 the
Grange, she took sir Philips flowers care
fully from the water and hid them in her
breast, knowing not where else to put
them, for she dared not carry them in her
hand lest they should be seen. Miss burn
ford and lima were TO return in the car
riage, and Zuleika was to follow them
AS the farewels were being said, Roland
continued to whisper to his cousin
"You remember what l asked tonight
about explaining to your"
EYES," said the girl wonderingly.-
"What do you mean"
"May ! come and see you, llma?"
81 suppose SO; but not yet, not--not be-
fore Thursday"
"But you will come here before then?"
"Maybe. Good night. Auntie is wait
ing"
She ran away quickly, and Darrell hand
ed her into the carriage; then he mounted
Hassan, and rode with the ladies as far as
the Grange. lie would not go in, but babe
adieu to them OH the steps, lifting Ilma's
hand TO his lips, rs his custom was; but
this evening the soft moustache hardly
touched the little hand, and he turned
away without parting word.
But there was deeper meaning in that
reticence than even in lingering kiss and
passionate words. And when he was gone
lima stood quite still for II moment in the
summer night, and pressed her hands over
her eyes with low quick sob that was half
bitter pain and half the very agony of joy.
Did Philip Darrell love her? was the
question that lima asked herself over and
over again that night. Had she been a
few years older, there could have been no
doubt as TO the answer.-scarcely any need
for the question:; but, even when there
seemed none other than one solution to
what had passed that day and evening,
still the torturing thought came that she
was foolish and only child. lie might be
fond OF her in Il fashion, but love her! And
yet Did he fear to bring sorrow OIL
her? SO only could she read what must
otherwise seem like trlning with her; for
his looks, words, and tones that day, his
manner when he parted with her, would
not agree with a mans affection for a
! child; that would be frank and free, quite
different. lie did not then regard her as
"only child" but sometimes tried Il
make her think he did for her sake, not
for his. lie would not seek her love; but,
alas, had lie not Won III
TO BE CONTINUED.