Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-03-18
SIDNEY Lorraine
Or, The Counts burden.
CHAPTER III. CONTINUED.

NiiAi iEh lie NONliNbED'
Her voice was steady now. She had
brushed the tears away. Perhaps his
words had inspired her with u faint
shadow of hope, perhaps some remem-
brance had come to her of the resoiu-
lions she had formed whilst listeningto
the bells ringing through the calm sum-
mer evening-resolution which in her
passionate pain and suffering she ha6
broken-that she would spare him as
much as might be any share OF the
trouble which had fallen onSher; he had
quite enough to bear himself, and he
was ILL And over and over again had
not the doctor said that all worry and
anxiety, and above everything all excite
ment, was, if possible, to be avoided?
And she knew it. AS she looked at him
now, and noted the little red flush on
his cheeks and the feverish brightness
of his eyes, she knew that it was through
her fault, her foolish emotion, that he
was suffering afresh. What was the
good in crying out? She was hurt, per-
haps, but, as they were circumstanced,
there was nothing he could do, only feel
as stab all her passionate words.
81 WISH" she began at length-but she
did not move her cheek away from the
hand against which it rested-"1 wish
ment of ones death; l think / should
say now. Tomorrow L shall be so I'M
happy, but now, at this moment-I have
forgotten that"
Forget it STILL" he answered.; sand
believe me, if can make the future
easy for you, | will"
Putting it into words has broken the
charm" che said. But you see for
yourself that my wisdom has come back.
DO not fear, l am not going to make
you miserable any longer. am going"
tightening little her clasp upon the
hand she held, ito say Good-night'-for
you promised you would not stay up
late'
at is Goodbye" he replied quickly.
Il am going early tomorrow. No." as
she would have spoken, 1T is better; far
better. You know, l wished to 60 days
ago. / think" his voice faltering lit
tie, 81 would rather not say Goodbye
again"
81 will not again break my resolu-
tion," she said. Il will do whatever you
think best. 1 am not very brave, but 1
can be obedient."
She stood up as she spoke, and, "See,"
she went on, Il am trying to act as [
speak. am going at once. This is
Goodbye"
He was standing beside her on the
hearthrug, looking down into her troub-
led eyes, noting the slender hands clasp
ed above her beating heart, perhaps
recognizing the efforts she was making
to be calm, for his own eyes grew sad
der as he watched her.
But his voice was quiet and steady,
as, placing his hands upon her shout
ders, Sydney" he said, "try and trust
me. If 1 live, will come back; if do
not come back, will write. Doyou I'M
derstandw
"Yes." 1t was sigh, not word,
Her eyes did not droop-they looked
steadily up into his. The tear-drops
were all gone. There was faint reilec-
ton of his calmness and determination
about her grave mouth.
"Dear child" with one hand smooth
ing back the hair from her aching fore
head, 81 can say so little. You know,
you understand. If you never see me
again, you must be free, with no shad-
ow between you and happy future
"Ah, but you cannot do that" she in
terposed. "You may destroy my future,
but YOU cannot take away my past.
And / would not have it otherwise, do
not think it. / shall always believe that
you loved me-"
"You cannoy doubt. But" breaking
off, you believe me; that is enough.
You believe" speaking quickly, that if
1 could say all wish to say, if l could
kiss away your tears, and bring back
smiles to your eyes and lips, there is
nothing / would not acrifice-nothing
if it were only myself had to think
Of"
AS he spoke, the color swept up in a
scarlet flame to her cheeks, and the gray
eyes wavered away from those looking
into hers.
Goodbye" she said, softly; your
love makes it easier"
Goodbye" he repeated.
She lifted her eyes once more to his,
and then turned slowly away. But, hav-
ing reached the doorway, she paused
and looked back.
He had thrown himself down in the
big armchair where she had sat the
earlier part Of the evening, his face hid
den in his arms outstretched on the
table beside 1.-THE whole attitude one
of such suffering and despair, that al
most involuntarily she paused. And,
after a seconds hesitation, she came
back the few steps to his side.
"Esme," she said, low and timidly,
and, as he did not move or make any
reply, Goodbye is bitter, heartbreak-
| ing word" she went on gently. Does
it comfort you to know that ii you suf-
fer, so do l; that if you are heartbroken
30 am 1? Does it comfort you-it must
to know that day and night | am pray.
ing God TO keep you until we meet
again?"
There was a moments silence; then
Esme Won Lindenheim felt her arm
about his neck, her soft kisses on hail
and forehead.
Goodbye" she faltered, and Good.
bye" he repeated, lifting his eyes, full
of tears, to hers; and then he knew that
if he did not regain his freedom he had
looked his last into the gray eyes he had
learnt to love, heard her say Goodbye
for the last time.
| CHAPTER III.
"UND WAS DU EwIG LIEBsT, IsT EwIG
DEM"
Hayes in August. under cloudless