Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-10

and an old friend or two, perhaps, of nj,
husbands. And don't like fussy wed
dings, and Miriam does not like them"
| "And am sure DON'T" said Sir james
delightedly and honestly. "Al want !
Miriam, not whole lot of people to stare q
| US"
'Then we are all of one MIND" }" answered
Mrs Clyde, pleasantly; land we will keel
the day secret until the great event is over
me, and know, she added, smiling, "tha
you young people wish me away"
So she left them, and Sir James crossed
over and took Mlriam's chill, little hand
tenderly in HIS
'.Im SO pleased about this, darling" ht
said; 'it's SO much jollier to be quiet and
have it all to ourselves Don't you think
SO, Miriarn?"
"Yes, I am sure do" she answered,
truthfully.
He stood looking at her still clasping her
hand, and turning her diamond engagement
ring gently round her slender third finger.
All his heart was full Of her, and Miriam's
dark eyes fell before his eager gaze.
"Tll try to get leave at once" he said,
presently, 'and follow you up to town i'm
mediate1y. Well go shopping together,
Miriam, or shall we leave Mrs Clyde to
buy the frocks and wedding gown, while
we"
"And what shall we do?" asked Miriam,
with q faint smile, as he paused
"Oh! I don't care bit - long as we arc
together; that's all care for, Miriam: if
only have you with me-that's everything
I want"
'That is very foolish Of you, Sir James /"
"Don't call me Sir James in that formal
way, dear; call me Jim-your own jim"
81 wonder if could" said Miriam, lit
tie wistfully, and she glanced shyly at his
face.
''Of course you could; only you are such
me as care for you, Miriam; no one could
care so much, think, but still, in time
will you love me little bit, dear?"
"You--are very good" said Miriam, with
q strange choking feeling at her throat, and
she put her hand again into his, and Sir
james stopped down and tenderly kissed it.
"What dear little hand" he said; "my
little hand; the hand that is to rest in mine,
1 hope, till we grow old and gray Fancy
this pretty dark hair soft and white" and
he touched one of Miriam's little curls as
he spoke. ''But there will be no change in
our hearts, Miriam-none at least In mine"
Show can you tell," said Miriam, and
again she looked at him.
81 know" he answered presently, IT
think of no one else, Miriam; whatever I
the sort Of love that grows cold. Even if
you were to cease to care for me should
love you still" 80
'I shall not change" said Miriam in a
low, almost solemn tone; and these words
made Sir James so happy and excited that
the world seemed only full of bliss to him.
He stayed to dinner. and Mrs. Clyde's
shrewd eyes saw that as far as he was con-
cerned that everything was going on as we'll
as she could wish. Miriam was very quiet,
but she looked handsome, and her mother
tried to forget the haunting shadow that
had pursued her for the last two days. At
all events, she meant to fulfill her engage
ment, Mrs. Clyde felt sure, and this was the
great point She would be Lady MacKen-
non, and Mrs Clyde believed her incapable
Of disgracing her husbands name.
Thus the evening passed; the last evening
that Mrs Clyde intended that Miriam
should spend at Newborough-on-the-Sea
until after her marriage. Sir James prom
sed to see them off the next morning at
from which place they were going
% start on their journey to town. Then
lfter he was gone all was hustle and pack
ng at the Colonel's house. Miriam had
title time to think, and when at last she
lid retire to rest she was SO tired that she
peedily fell asleep. But when she awoke
he next morning all the past rose again
'ery wildly before her.
"Poor, poor Hugh" her heart whispered,
IS she looked out on the misty sea. But it
,ould not be; it could never be. she also
old herself She must forget him; and he
must forget her ina new and far-distant
ife; and Miriam gave q weary sigh.
Of nf IA 10 NC n
raveling Colonel Clyde and his wife and |
laughter drove to the station in the early |
morning, and the carriage passed the gates |
# the barracks where the soldier Dare was |
low quartered. Miriam Just glanced at the |
walls, and then turned away |
Ter head. She did not see the pale, set,
handsome face at one of the windows, eager
y Watching for the carriage. Dare had
leard, somehow or other, that the Colonel's
rife and daughter were leaving Newbor-
that morning, and he easily
'uessed why Mrs Clyde was taking Miriam
o swiftly away. Ford had told him that
hey had both got into trouble by me citing
i'm the night of the storm, and, Of course.
miled bitterly and with quivering lips
s the carriage passed, and for a
,oment he caught q glimpse of Miriam's
ace. Then he sat down moodily, and
1ore than once his gray eyes fell on the
entry's rife, who was pacing below. He
'as weary of his life; this slammed aud
idden life, the bitterness of which his
cart only knew. Presently DR.. Reed came
ito the room, and as he approached Dare
e stopped and looked curiously at him.
here was something so dark SO tragic in
, expression Of the Young mans face that
ne doctor felt half alarmed.
"Well, Dare, how are you this morning."
. said.
Dare rose and saluted, and answered in
forced and husky voice:
"All right, SIR"
"You don't look all right anyhow. Is
our leg paining you?"
II think not" said Dare. He had for
,tten all about it; had forgotten everything
/ the overpowering bitterness of this mo-
ent And DR.. Reed at once understood
lis. He, too, knew that Mrs Clyde and
er daughter had Just lett Newborough-on-
le-Sea; he had heard a rumor also that
.iss Clyde was to be married while they
ere away, and he felt sorry for the pale
oung soldier before him.
"We must all make the best of things,
IN know" he said. BY way of common
ace consolation. eve all have our
oubles, Dare, and there are days when L
,lieve the most of US wish we had never
zen born"
"Why were we born?" said Dare, darkly,
rgetting for the moment his assumed char
ter. "Born against our wills to suffer
mptations and miseries which we have no
rength, or at least not strength enough, to
ntrol."
"But the chaplain would tell you We
lght to find strength" answered the doc
+, with q smile.
'But what does he know of the tempta-
ons and passions Of other mems hearts?" |
ntinued Dare, with extraordinary bitter ,
SO ttIS the Aicker Of a candls lika | j