The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-10


with folded hands before him, her eyes
appraised to his with a calmness in them
which he could not interpret.
EYES," che said, 81 know il"
"Ano l think, also, you must know
that when man like myself-by that /
mean a man who has not FILTERED away
life in drawing-Iooms-tells n woman that
he loves her. it can mean but one thing"
Marriage"
The word came huskily from her dry
lips.
Eyes. marriage" A smile OF inefable
sweetness flashed across his face. at did
not know l should be such a clown in the
hour OF trial; but oh, my dear, il you
could only trust your future to me would
try so very hard TO make it a bright ana
happy one. though l may not have a prac-
tised wooer's tongue"
He held out mis- hands TO her once more.
1t was caressing gesture, as if he would
draw her then and there into the shelter
of the arms that were to ward off all peril,
all hardship, from her pathway in future.
After what seemed an eternity OF torture
she heard herself answering him with a
sort of fierce vehemence:
'Dr. Milbank, you don't know what YOU
are saying. You might as we'll talk OF love
and happiness to this stone my foot is rest
ing on. 1t could Just as readily respond
Put it in your bosom and it would give
you just as much comfort as l could.
have been afraid of this moment. and
have tried to spare you and myself this
interview. / ought not to have come here;
it was cowardly."
"Cowardly?" He was looking at her
perplexedly. In the manifold manifesto
tions of woman's nature which had been
unfolded to John Milbank, the physician,
this was the most pulling to him as John
Milbank. the lover.
Why should she call her coming there
with him cowardice2 Poor child, she
hardly knew what she was saying.
II know you are not happy" he said,
looking down into her white, quivering
face with grave tenderness. 81 have
known that since the first moment l ever
saw you. l wanted to comfort you then
I want to comfort you now-if only l
may"
Them" she repeated dreamily.
"Yes. 1t was one morning early. You
were on a Hoboken ferry-boat; and when
you left it you dropped this. l advertised
it, but, got no answer. / have carried it
about with me ever since. | thought,
dear, that some time or otner it might be
the means OF bringing us together l
don't think knew then that had fallen
in love with you, but know it very. very
well now" His smile was exceedingly
Wistful.
He had laid the photograph on her
knees. She had given it only Il glance.
Fathers photo. l had just left him.
| meant to have painted him from this.
Yes-I remember now-I missed il"
'And-forgive me, my dear. but | want
so very much to get beyond this vague
barrier that stands between my one love
and me-you had parted with him in an-
ger, perhaps?"
Marianne's lips quivered like hurt
childs. The hard brightness of her eyes
was quenched in sudden tears.
Yes. we parted in anger"
Something that ] might easily set
right, perhaps, but which you, with your
sensitive soul, are broodng over until"
"No, You cannot set it right. Father was
angry with me-because-becaus had
Just left my husband-left him voluntarily
and finally" She was standing before
him in defiant attitude.
"Your-hushand?H
"My husband"
Better to make HIM despise her utterly
and entirely 1t would be the surest road
back to peace for-him, was the way she
reasoned.
lie walked away from her with his arms
folded and his head dropped. "As if the
shame were his" she said, looking after
him with dry, glittering eyes. Her bosom
was heaving unanimously.
He was gone long time. The purple
shadows deepened on the water. The
green of the hills turned to sombre black.
The gay little boats that piled the waters
all day long with summer idlers had all
disappeared. Marianne shivered as she
sat there alone, in a world from which the
last ray of light had suddenly been ex-
tinguished. Life wore such leaden hue.
She heard him coming back toward her.
II only he had kent on and on and on,
and never again turned that changed face
toward her!
al think, perhaps, Mrs. Lockhart will be
growing uneasy about you. You will have
to let me take you home" he said, with
cold polteness.
She got up slowly and followed him
along the narrow, bramble walk between
the rocks. How old and dull she felt !
but how glad that he knew the truth Of
her at last
They reached the cave where DR.. Mil
bank had showed the skif securely up be-
tween two rocks on their arrival. He was
in front of her. She heard him give a
startled exclamation, then he turned to-
ward her abruptly:
ave have either had FOOLS trick played
us or else 1 fastened the skif insecurity.
1t is gone"
"Gonel And we are here without
means getting home ?"
"You will have to remain here until L
can send boat for you. | will swim to
| the mainland 1t is nearer than Lock
hart's. L will send a boat back for you
Immediately. You are not afraid2 2"
"To stay here?"
eyes"
"No, l am not afraid"
He was laying his coat and bat on the
rocks where he had already deposited his
! shoes. She had no fears for his personal
| safety. She knew he had swan from her
cousins TO this island many a time for
pastime She moved a step nearer to him.
| II she could but hear him say something
| in kindness-at least in conference.-the
| fore he went!
81 am not afraid" she said again, look
ing at him with pleading eyes, "but before
you go 1 want to hear you say one thing,
DIR. Milbank, only one" (She meant
never to look upon his face again
"And that lisp"
''That YOU will try not to judge too
81 shall not judge you at all. - he said,
Jelly. "As to why you left your husband
when-where-I am utterly indifferent.