Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-06-24

Snc uluOI care lOF nun, ne ChItu lOt
her. Now that she has too late
awakened to the fact that she loves
him, he-he does not love her.
AS for Anketel, TO see her-to go to
her-to take her hand and coolly press
it has been torture. Oh! did she
ever look so desirable as at this mo-
ment, when he so fully realizes what he
has lost in her-so much loveliness,
but not for him. A shabby frock in-
deed! poor little frock! but did ever
woman yet wear u frock SO altogether
bscomingp Such u shabby gown and
without ornament OF any kind; but
what ornaments could compare with
that sweet, soft neck, with those
snowy, slender armsP what jewels
could outvie those cleaning eyesP Oh,
what pale but perfect facet and the
head-it seemed born TO wear crown!
How sad she looks-how sad! Re-
Numbering, no doubt.
She had almost thought his glance
cold. She could not see that his heart
was well-nigh broSenl She could not
know, seeing him there talking plati-
tudes to his host with his eyes deter
Intimately turned away from hers, that
yet in his soul he is looking at her,
see ng each curve of her gown. 1t has
come to him that, If she can look so
charming in that Indifferent garment,
how beauteous she might be made TO
look in something better! Oh, that
he might be allowed to give her such
things as might deck her dainty benu-
ty to its utmost! that he might give
her all he possesses! Some part OF
him she has already, pure gift OF his,
that she will carry to her grave,
whether she will or moths heart!
The dinner is over at last, and the
dreary half-hour afterward in the
drawing-room. The snow is still fall
ing, and The McDermot has elected
| that his guest shall spend the night
beneath his roof. No going home
until morning. Dulcie had gladly left
| them to see "a chamber warmed and
sheeted and prepared; and sick at
heart, and seeing no chance OF a tete-a
tete with her betrothed in which TO
betray to him her one small act OF fol-
| ly has refused to come down again.
She has gone to her own room, and,
! still dressed, sits covering miserably
over the huge fire that the old nurse
! had built for her.
en-eleven-twelve has struck.
! Rising at last, she goes to the window,
and, pull ng aside the blind, looks out
upon the silent night. The snow has
ceased! There is no wind. What
not even rain? She opens the win
dow, and leaning out, looks Srst up
at the heavens bedecked with stars,
then down at the earth beneath
The latter proves infinitely more
interesting!
| Below runs b,lcony from which
! The McDermot's den, that in other
richer houses would be called the
smoling-room, opens. To her sur
prise a lamp shines through the win
dow, casting dull, half-shado Ted
Light upon the night outside. Not
gone to bed yet? Surely her father
II any one is there she could. from
where he now is hear them talking.
Leaning little further out, she
strains her ears; but no sound csmes.
No voice floats out upon the chilly air.
They must have gone TO bed and for
gotten to put out the lamps.
She had better run down and extin-
guish them.
She is about TO draw in her head with
view 10 aCcOlnp pushing JnlS purpose,
when the window beneath her leading
from the smoking room TO the balcony
is thrown open, and man dressed in
evening clothes steps on to it. He
has cigar in his mouth and the red
tip OF it shows through the mirk of his
surroundings. To mistake this mar
for any other than Sir Ralph would be
impossible!
Dulcinea, drawing back hurriedly,
leans against the shutters OF her win.
dow. The first impulse was not to be
seen; the second compels her TO stand
upright and face situation, although
it be with blanched cheeks. Now
now Is her time-to speak.
He is alone. She is sure OF that II
she hesitates now she may not for q
long time, perhaps a whole intermin.
able week, get a chance OF squaring
herself with her conscience. She
must tell him. Then why. not now
1t takes but little minute to rur
down the stairs, open thu smoking
room door, and crossing it reach th
balcony.
'Dulcier' says Anketell sharply
as sharply as though he had seen
OhostI