The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-20

/ heart"
"oh. my child. what are you sayinsi rnsvsl
dreamed Of such thingr'
"Oh. Howard. Howard. the things you havs
uttered when you were forgetting to guard
your tongue have betrayed you"
"Things have uttered when I was forget.
ting to guard my tongue2 These are hard
words. When have remembered to guard
it2 Never in one instance. It has no offloe
but to speak the truth. 1t needs no guarding
| for that"
Howard. I have noted your words and
weighed them. when you were not thinking
| Of their Significance: and they have told me
more than you meant they should"
do you mean to say you have answered
the trust had in you by using 1t as an
ambuscado from which you could set snares
for my transporting tongue and be safe
from detection while you did ftf You
have not done this surely you have not
done this Oh. ones enemy could not do
It,"
This was an aspect Of the girls conduct
which she had not clearly perceived before.
Was It treachery2 Had she abused trust?
The thought crimsoned her cheeks with shame
and remorse.
"Oh. forgive me-" she said. 81 did not
know what was doing. have been so tor
tured-you will forgive me. you must have
suffered so much. and am so sorry and so
humble: you do forgive me. don't you-dont
turn away. don't refuse me: 1t 10 only my love
that is at fault. and you know love you. love
you with all my heart: I couldn't bear to--oh.
dear. dear. am SO miserable. and never
meant any harm. and didn't see where this
insanity was carrying me. and how It was
wronging and abusing the dearest heart In all
the world to me-and-and-oh. take mo in
your arms again. I have no other refuge. no
other home and hope!'
There was reconciliation again-immedlate.
perfect sll.embracine-and with It utter hap
piness. This would have been a good time to
adjourn. But no. now that the cloud breeder
was revealed at last; now that It was manifest
that all the sour weather had come from this
girls broad that Tracy WAS lured by her rank
and not herself. he resolved to lay that ghost
Immediately and permanently by. furnishing
the best possible proof that he couldn't have
had back OF him at any time the suspected mo-
tive. SO he said:
LET me whisper little secret in your ear
q secret which I have kept shut up In my
breast all this time. Your rank couldn't ever
have been an enticement I am son and heir
to an English earl !"
Tho girl stared at him. one two. three mo.
ments. maybe dozen. then her lips parted:
YOU" she said. and moved away from him.
still gazing ut him in blank amazement
"Why-why. certainly am. Why do you act
like this? What have done now2"
what have you donef You have certainly
made a most strange statement You must
see that yourself"
"Well." with timid little laugh. It may be
q strange enough statement: but Of what con-
sequence is that. II 1t is true7"
III it is trueP You are already retiring
from it."
"Oh not for moment! You should n OF say
that. fhave Rot deserved It I have spoken
the truth: why do you doubt it?"
Her reply WAS prompt.
simply because you didn't speak Il eaG-
lior!"
"On" It wasn't groan exactly. but It was
an Ineligible enough expression OF the fact
that he saw tho point and recognized that
there was reason in II.
You havc seemed to conceal nothing from
me that ought to know concerning yourself.
and you were not privileged to keep back such
a thing as this from me q moment after-sfter
we'll. utter you had determined to Day your
court to me-"
Its true. it's true. know It'll But there
were circumstances in-in the way-circum-
stances which,"
She waved the circumstances aside.
We'll. you see." he said. pleadingly. "You
seemed SO bent on our travelling the proud
path OF honest labor and honorable poverty
that was terrihed-that is. I was afraid-of-
Orwell. you know how you talked"
"Yes. I know how I talked. And also
know that before the talk was finished you
inquired how stood as regards aristocracies. |
and my answer was calculated to relieve your
fears"
He was silent awhile. Then no said. In dis
couraged way:
II don't see any way out OF t. Il was mis-
take. That Is In truth all It was. just mis-
take No harm was meant no harm in tho
world. I didn't sec how It might some
time look. 1t is my way. Idon't seem to see
far"
The girl was almost disarm cd for moment
Then she Jared up again.
AN earl's sonl Do ears' sons 60 about
working in lowly callinCs for their bread and
butter2'
God knows they don'ti Ihavs wished they
did,"
DO earls sons sink their degree In coun-
try like this. and come sober and decent to sue
for the hand Of born child Of poverty when
they can 60 drunk. profane and stepped in
debt and buy the pick and choice
Of tho millionaires' daughters Of America |
You are an earl's son! Show me the signs"
Il thank God am not albeit those are the |
signs. But yet I am nm earls son and heir. |
1t is all I can say. wish you would believe |
me. but you will not. know no way to per- |
suade you" |
She was about to soften again. but his clos |
Ing remark made her bring her foot down with |
smart vexation. and she cried out:
"Oh. you drive all patience out Of me. |
Would YOU have one believe that you haven't |
your proofs at hand. and yet are what you say |
you arep You do not put your hand In your |
pocket now. for you have nothing there You |
make claim like this. and then venture to
travel without credentials. These are simply |
Don't you see that yourself?"
He cast about In his mind for defence OF
some kind or other. hcsitated q little. and then
said. with difficulty and diffldenco:
Il will tell YOU just the truth. foolish as It
will seem to you-to anybody. suppose-but
1t Is the truth. ! had m ideal-call it dream.
a folly. II you will-but wanted to rsnounoe
the privileges and unfair advantages enjoyed
by the nobility and wrung from the nation by
force and fraud. and purge myself Of my share
OF those crimes against right and reason by
thenceforth comrading with the poor and
humble on equal terms. earning with my own
do ha 7 M "A ria ali hv |