The Dickinson press., 1892-02-20
LOVE FOR A DAY.
CHAPTER XII.-ooxr1xuxp.

2OA 0yC, saw MARX OlSQeSe0.
l!isved with the misery Of a lfe-time on
BE Ace, forgot my wounded love for one
lhort moment. How could I refuse him
anything to whom l had never said nav?
How could l refuse him pardon when he
nsked it with tears in his eyes2 He had
AArred my life, ruined my happiness,
eade every hope bankrupt; but I loved
Nm still. | held my hands to him; l
FED TO smile, although the raining tears
Minded ME.
II will forgive you Mark" l said. "Ah,
py. dear. l could not, i'll would, be angry
18th you! We must never meet again,
f1ark. The wide world must be ever be-
eNesn US two who were nee to be always
s9Aethsr; q deep grave lies between us,
levS you, even as I hope to be forgiv-
He held my hand in his for a moment;
end then said, with tears that did not
oAAAe his manhood
my dear lost love FAREWELL"
I knew what he meant. 1t would be
better for him, better for me, that we
leaving. in a few days and we should sec
eAoh other no more. Better so!
Trembling, fainting, dazed by my own
Rtsery, l dared not go back to the house
3uSe then, lest any one meeting me should
VI what allied me. / had a strange, vague
yees that ! had changed my own identity,
pnd that the sorrow-stricken woman walk.
las BY herselfundert the summer trees could
Aet be Nellie Chester.
That evening Lady Yorke came to my
room. She was always kind and consider
ats TO me.
You have not been we'll today, Mis-.
Chester. Masham tells me that you have
ead one ofyour bad headaches. Are YOU
bssterY You look very pale and changed il
ssepe way. l came to ask you ifyou woulc
hiring your music to the drawing room thi!
svening. 1t would be a great help to me-
Thought for a few moments before
answered her. l could crush down my
own pain and anguish, Tor l had plenty o
s4foontrol; and l longed to see Mark:
"Mark's wifel" l kissed the white jeweleG
lend laid so kindly OIL my shoulder, anG
MD what was true-that would do any
wing to please Lady Iorke.
III you feel tired" she said, edo not join
y for a little while; come later on And,
Aisa Chester. make youtselflook nice. We
aust not let Lady Severne think herselfthe
Aand,omest woman in the world. Bring
some OF your best songs. Lord Severne is
very fond of music"
Iknew that. Had l not sung to him a
hundred times by the river and in the
Voods3
That evening it seemed to me that was
W. W W -NldlkS WIZ. w as IL lOOllSl
p wicked that l went to my box aor the
IsnE plain blue silk dress that Mark liked,
endthat made the most ofmy golden hair,
that l found some white roses for it, and
mat l tried to look bright and happy while
ny heart was dead?
I need not speak ofthe other guests. My
story deals only with Mark. and Marks
her visitors. l had. gone to the drawing
room before the gentlemen had left the
4lning-room. I could not have entered
With Mark looking at me. l remember no
names, no faces; my whole soul seemed
waiting until We reached Marks wife. ,
Lady Seyerne,"' said the clear voice by
wife-the most beautiful. brilliant, dazzling
voman / had ever beheld.
She had the vivid bloom of a %carnation,
? fAoe OF exquisite Grecinn type, n wide low
brow. straight dark eyebrows, lovely.
mouth, though the lines and curves were
rather proud than tender, a beautiful chin
Nth a delicious dimple. As thought Of
Mark kissing those lovely lips, the pain in
ny heart was more bitter than death. A
superb woman, with dark blue eyes and
dark hair, she was dressed in white velvet,
believed by a rich bordering of purple
heart's-ease; a diamond necklace clasped
Tho white firm throat, a diamond cross lay
on her white breast: and the very moment
] stood before her l noticed the sweet odor
of violets.
Marks wife! She looked at me with a
kindly smile; and then l noticed that there
was something peculiar in her face. l did
pot like it, beautiful, brilliant as it was.
There was q vague ineXplicable something
- metallic brightness in the eyes, a hard pc
euliar color on her cheeks. Love for Mark,
interest quickened by affection, made me
Wonder, and, as | looked at her, SO beauti-
~, SO brilliant, | asked myself, What was
his sorrow2 What was the secret that
0ouded his liieF What was the mystery
that Slapped all the pleasure and happiness
sfhis existence? What could it be-?
Lady Severne drew aside the folds of her
yyolyst dress, and asked me to take a seat
beside her.
LADY 1orke tells me that you have a
beautiful voice, Miss Chester" she said, 81
hope you will sing for us. Lord severne is
bpd of music"
Long before her fair face had wiled Mark
nom me l knew that. What would she
&at-Ah, what nonsense! Was l mad?
Aark was no longer for me- She talked to
a kindly enough for a few minutes. / felt,
rather than knew, that there was something
orange about her, but l could not define
.. I7' bogg gentlemen sa8 in came cam in; My
VII. iva Was ky . W p n1s lily0 eonscion as
Of his presence. ! knew where he went;
yhsn he spoke, l heard no other sound.
6ut my eyes never sought him. Even when
Lady Yorke introduced me to him, l never
Jaw him; but five minutes afterward, when
! went to the piano, the music fell from
ny nerveless hands. All, woe was mel
The hrst song I found was this-"Remem.
bsf and Forget"
Il sat beside the streamlct;
I watched the waters flow,
AS we together watched it
One little year ago.
The soft rain battered on the leaves,
The April grass was wet
All. folly to rememberl
IT'S wiser to forget.
"The nightingales made musical
June's palace paved with gold;
I Watched the rose you gave me
Its warm red heart unfold.
But sight Of rose and song Of bird
Were fraught with wild regret
It's madness to remember;
'Twere wisdom to forget.
II stood among the gold corn
Alas. no more l knew!-
To gather cleaners measure
Or thel love that fell from you.
For ME no gracious harvest.
Would God we meier had meu
For, cruel as remembrance is,
IT'S hardert to forget.
The streamlet now is frozen.
The nightingales are fled,
The corn fields are deserted,
And ey'ry rose is dead.
1dt beside my lonely fire.
And pray for wisdom vet,
For cllmness to remember, or
For courage to forget"
There was no oundi in the room "A ths
last notes died away. l knew tlley had
gone straight to Marks heart, for lie left the
group Of with whom he had been
talking, and went to one of the great bav.
windows. The May sun had set, and tie
hkht was dend in the sky.
Lady Yorl;e's voice broke the spell. She
va asking for her favorite, and the words
sane readily TO me-Virginia Gabriel's
hsandful song, '.Ruby:"
u ePsned the leaves of q book last night
~ 4ust on its cover lay dusk and blown,
-! held It toward the waning light
AVtAsesd fowerlet fell rus,ling down.
Twas only the wrath of a woodland weed
Which a dear dead hand in the DAYS of ole
Had placed 'twixt the pages she loved tc
At the time when my news oflove wa.
And memory sweet, but as sad as sweet,
mi ~ ,o.l-