Middletown transcript., 1892-03-10

| 1stenc6 snouiQ ever fecur 70 MIN,
which was merely possible, as reten-
tive memory was certainly not one of
gifts.
Presently he reused himself from
his speculative mood, and. in low
voice, began to sing to her some
graceful, triding verses of his own,
which musically enough rang to the
changes on her own name. He bad q
certain gift of this kind, which dis
tantly resembled genius, end which
he found a valuable auxiliary, in
deed. in his favorite pursuit.
You like my name. then?" said
Margaret, when the song was ended.
He smiled down into her eyes. and
quoted
'J'ai toujours sur mon cour ecrite
LIE nom 81 doux de Marguerite
and laughed lightly at the puzzled
look, in the hazel eyes which sought
the Interpretation in his.
GA free translation Of which, my
pretty bird, is:
"sFor ever In my heart Is set
The sweetest name of Margaret"
"For ever r. echoed Margaret,
with certain wistfulness in her
voice VIII you love my name and
me for ever"
He rose and laughed, and lifted her
from the beach in his arms, and kiss
ed the questioning lips with such ten
derness, that she was more than an.
swered. Then he released her some-
what hurriedly, for Judith's voice
was calling her. and Judith's firm
step was advancing toward them; and,
while the slight figure sped away
through the silvery twilight, he re-
lighted his cigar, and, smiling, sat
under the vines in the quivering
moonlight, until the chilly breath Of
the nightwind from the sea warned
him into the house.
Mr.. Vanceleigh's portmanteau was
packed, and everything was in readi-
ness for his departure, on the morrow,
from the Garne Homestead. He had
only one act to perform before he
should GO; and, having had consider
able experience in such affairs, he did
not allow it to trouble him materially,
az be strolled slowly along the cliffs
with Margaret, pale and sorrowful, by
his side.
That he was going to leave her she
knew, and that knowledge alone
would lave wrung her tender heart; ;
but of late, without suspecting him Of
faithlessness to her, a shadow had
crept into the sunshine of her happi-
ness.
He still spoke frequently of love,
and he was more determined than ever
on keeping their Encouragement a
secret from the family. Yet it was at
his request that, this evening, they
had chosen the lonesome cliff,road for
their last stolen walk. He could not
forego the pleasure of watching her
face when he should break to her the
stern fact that the parting between
them would be final. and here they
were not likely to be interrupted. 1t
was necessary sacrifice to his all
absorbing vanity.
The evening was ominous of storm.
The sky westward was dull, yet lurid
sheet of crimson, imparting sanguine
hue to the leaden.colored and motion.
less ocean, and heavy banks Of sui
phur-tinged clouds were rolling in de.
tached masses over the heavens. To
the east lay a dense line Of unbroken
'blackness, through which long flashes
of lightning quivered, and the air was
full of that mysterious vibration which
portends coming tempest. Occasion
ally sudden gust of wind struck the
ocean, scattering shower of spray,
and the ghostly forms Of several white
gulls glided close to the surface of the
water.
Their way lay over narrow path
leading along the face Of the cliffs. at
a considerable elevation from the
water, and where the path terminated
in kind OF recess in the rock, form
ing sheltered resting place, generally
secure from interruption, and COM
manding fine view of the ocean.
i
Here Mr.. Vanceleigh paused, and
seating himself on a detached frag-
ment of rock, drew Margaret down be-
side him, and for some moments
neither spoke.
l do not consider it necessary to re-
late here the terms in which he broke
to the poor child his cruel purpose.
He did it skilltully, and in manner
which, in all his experiences of the
kind, had prevented the possibility of
"scene." He assumed that they
had both been acting little graceful
comedy, simply for amusement, and
to while away the monotony of coun-
try lite; but, unfortunately, he had
not remembered the important fact
that hitherto he had had 70 deal with
the conventional young lady Of soci-
/ kLnk oe