Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-03-30
Thorne came across the room and stood
OPPOSITE,

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| OppoStt,
The weeks rolled by, and gradually
Mrs. Mason grew convalescent. She was
still confined to her room, but the worst
of the pain was over, and she could lie
on the sofa by the freside and have
Berkeley read aloud to her in the even
ings. Blanche, if she happened to be
there, would sit on a low chair beside the
sofa, busy with some delicate bit of fancy
work, and later in the evening Berke
would take her home. Sometimes Poca-
hontas would bring her work and listen,
or pretend to listen, with the rest, but
oftener she would go into the parlor and
play dreamily to herself for hours. She
had taken up her music industriously
aud practiced hard in her spare moments.
She had been playing long time one
evening in April, and had left the piano
for low chair beside the open fire. She
was tired. Although spring had come,
the evenings were chill and the room
was large. Her hands were cold and she
spread them out to the blaze. The heavy
curtains billowed and sank and billowed
again, as intrusive puffs of wind crept
oficiously through the crevices of the
old easements. Blanche and Berkeley
were with her mother and they were
reading Lorna Docne." She had read
the book week ago and did not care to
hear it over.
The front door opened quietly-it was
always on the latch-and footsteps came
along the hall; quick, eager footsteps,
straight to the parlor door; the knob
turned. No need to turn her head, no
need to question of her heart whose step,
whose hand that was, to guess whose
presence filled the room.
Thorne came across the room, and
stood opposite, a great light of joy in his
eyes, his hands Outstretched for hers.
Benumbed with many emotions, Poca-
hontas half rose, an inarticulate muir
muir dying on her lips. Thorne put her
gently back into her chair and drew one
for himself up to the hearth rug near
her; he was willing to keep silence for a
little space, to give her time to recover
herself; he was satisfied for the moment
with the sense of her nearness, and his
heart was filled with the joy of seeing
her once more. The lamps were lit, but
burning dimly. Thorne rose and turned
both to their fullest brilliancy; he must
have light to see his love.
II want to look at you, Princess" he
said gently, seeking her eyes, with a
look in his not to be misunderstood; sit
has been so long-so cruelty long, my
darling, since l have looked on your
sweet face. You must not call the 9TH
ers. For this first meeting want but
you-you only, my lovel my queen"
His voice fingered over the terms of en-
dearment with exquisite tenderness.
Pocahontas was silent-for her life she
could not have spoken then. Her gray
eyes had an appealing, terrified look as
they met his; her trembling hands
clasped and unclasped in her lap.
"How frightened you look, my dar-
ling" Thorne murmured, speaking soft
ly and keeping tight rein over himself.
"Your eyes are like a startled fawn's.
Have been too abrupt-two thought
less and Inconsistencies? You would for
give me, love, if you knew how have
longed for you; have yearned for this
meeting rs Dives yearned for water-as
the condemned yearn for reprieve. Have
you no smile for Inc, sweetheart-no
word of welcome for the man whose
heaven is your love? You knew 1 would
come. You knew loved you, Princess. II
"Yes"-the word was breathed rather
than uttered, but he heard it and made
half movement forward, the light in
his eyes glowing more passionately. Still,
he held himself in check; he would give
her time.
"You knew 1 loved you, Princess" he
repeated. Eyes, you must have known.
Love like mine could not be concealed
it must burn its way through all obstar
Ir1aa from, baopf 10
and fusing them into one. Don't try tc
speak yet, love, there is no need to an,
swer unless you wish. 1 can wait-fol
l am near you"
Pocahontas rallied her forces resolute-
ly, called up her pride, her womanhood
her sense of the wrong he had done her
If she should give way an instant-if she
should yield hairs breadth she would
be lost. The look in his eyes, the ten
derness of his voice, appeared to sap the
foundations of her resolution and to tur1
her heart to wax within her.
"Why have you conner she walled
her tone one of passionate reproach
Had you not done harm enough? Why
have You Gomez"
Thorne started slightly, but command
ed himself. It was the former marriage
the divorce; she felt it keenly-every
woman must; some cursed meddler hat
told her.
"My darling" he answered with pa
TENT tenderness, "you know why havC
come~-why it was impossible for me t.
keep away. love yon, Princess, as {
man loves but once IA his life. win yct
CONS - ~sl WIZ you be my wifeg'
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