The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-25

sion! Was the saint you just now adj
mireo IN Father Eeteban's chapel ridicu-
kneeling before it ~
..Hushl This 10 wickedl StopP She
ielt that she was not on firm ground and
made the most Of it in voice and manner.
she must draw the line somewhere and
impiety.
mot until have told You all, and I
must before lose you. loved You when
came here-even when your husband
pitied the foolish boy who in the very in
nocence and ignorance Of his passion
might have revealed it to him a. he did to
everybody-but one. And yet / some
times think you might have guessed it.
had you thought of me at all. It must
have been on my lips that day sat with
You in the boudoir; know that / was
filled with it-with it and you-with your
presence. with your beauty, your grace Of
heart and mind-yes. Mrs. Peyton-even
with your own unrequited love for Susy!
Only them knew not what 1t was"
but think can tell you what it was
then, and now" said Mrs Peyton, recov-
ering her nervous little laugh, though it
died moment later on her lips. II re-
member it very well. You told me then
that reminded you of your motherl
Well, / am not old enough to oe your
mother, Mr.. Brant, but am old enough
to have been and might have been the
mother OF your wife! That was what you
meant then-that is what you mean now.
was wrong just now to accuse you of try
ing to make me ridiculous. ask your
pardon. Let rs leave it as it was that day
In the boudoir-as it is now. Let me still
remind you of your mother-I know she
must have been good woman to have so
good son-and when you have found
Uipl IN kn uny
happy. come to me for q mothers blessing
-and-we will laugh at the recollection
and Misunderstanding of this evening"
Her voice, however, did not exhibit that
exquisite maternal tenderness which the
beatiic vision ought to have called up, and
be evaded in the shadow: II said you re-
minded me of my mother" he went on at
her side, "because knew her and lost her
only as child. She never was anything
to me but a memory-and yet an ideal of
all that was sweet and lovable in woman.
Perhaps it was dream of what she might
have been when she was young in years as
stand me it may please you also to know
that there is reminder Of her even in
this. have no remembrance of word of
affection from her, nor a caress; l have
been as hopeless in my love for her who
was my mother as of the woman would
make my wife"
"But you have seen no one; you know
no one; you are Young; you scarcely
know your own self You will forget this
you will forget me. And if-ifAI should
listen to you what would the world say?
What would you, yourself, say few years
hence? Oh, be reasonable. Think of it;
it would be so wild. so mad, $3.50 utterly
ridiculous"
In proof of its ridiculous quality two
tears escaped her eyes in the darkness.
But Clarence caught the flash Of her with
drawn handkerchief in the shadow and
captured her returning hand. 1t was
trembling, but did not struggle, and pres
not only fool but brute, he said in q
lower voice. Forgive me. have given
died"
they both stopped. He was still hold
ing her sleeping hand. His arm had stolen
around the bournous so softly that it fol-
lowed the curve of her figure lightly as q
unfelt. Grief has its privileges, and suf-
fering exonerates aquestionable situation;
in another moment her fair head might
have dropped upon his shoulder. But an
approaching voice uprose in the adjoining
blley. 1t might have been the world
eyes, he is good fellow, and an intelli-
gent fellow, too, but perfect child in his
experience of mankind"
They both started, but Mrs. Peyton's
hand suddenly woke up and grasped his
firmly. Then she said, in . higher but
perfectly level tone:
Eyes, 1 think with you we had better
look at it again in the sunlight tomorrow.
But here come our friends; they have
probably been waiting for Us to join them
and go in"
The wholesome freshness Of early morn
ing was in the air when Clarence awoke,
cleared and strengthened. His resolution
rancho that morning to enter the world
again and seek his fortune elsewhere. This
was only right to her whose future it
should never be said he had imperiled by
his folly and inexperience; and if in
year or two's struggle he could prove his
turn. He had not spoken to her since
they had parted in the garden with the
grim truths of the lawyer ringing in his
ears, but he had written q few lines OF
farewell to be given to her after he had
left. He was calm in his resolution,
albeit little pale and hollow-eyed for it.
He crept downstairs in the gray twi-
light Of the scarce-awakened house and
made his way to the stables Saddiing
his horse and mounting, he paced forth
into the crisp morning air. The sun, just
risen, was everywhere bringing out the
fresh color of the fower-strewn terraces,
as the last night shadows which had hid
den them were slowly beaten back. He
cast q last look at the brown adobe quad
rangle of the quiet house, just touched
with the bronzing of the sun, and then
turned his face toward the highway. As
he passed the angle of the old garden he
hesitated, but. strong in his resolution, he
put the recollection of last night behind
him and rode by without raising his eyes.
"Clarence!"
1t was her voice. He wheeled his horse.
She was standing Behind the grille in the
wall as he had seen her standing ON the
day he had ridden to his rendezvous with
Susy. A Spanish manta was thrown over
her head and shoulders, as if she had
dressed hastily and had run out to inter-
cept him while he was still in the stable,
Her beautiful face was pale in its black
hooded recess and there were faint circles
around her lovely eyes.
"You were going without saying good
by" she said softly.
She passed her slim white hand between
the grating Clarence leaped to the ground.
caught it and pressed it TO his lips. But
he did not let it go.
No! No!" she said, struggling to
withdraw it. ut is better as 1t is-as-you
have decided it to be, Only | could not let
you go thus-without word! There now
see / am behind these bars. Think of
them as the years that separate us. INV
poor. dear, foolish boy; think of them as
standing between us-growlng closer.
heavier and more cruel and hopeless as the
wears go or"