Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-03-18
SIDNEY Lorraine,
Or, The Counts Burden.
CHATTER IL. CONTINUED.


words had inspired her with faint
shadow of hope, perhaps some remem-
brance had come To her of the resolu-
tons she had formed whilst listeningt to
the bells ringing through the calm sum-
mer evening-resolutions which in her
passionate pain and suffering she had
broken-that she would spare him ass
much rs might be any share of the
trouble which had fallen on her; he had
quite enough 10 bear himself, and he
was i'll. And over and over again had
not the doctor said that all worry and
anxiety, and above everything all excite
ment. was, if possible, to be avoided?
And she knew il. AS she looked at him
! now. and noted the little red flush on
I his cheeks and the feverish brightness
of his eyes. she knew that it was through
! her fault. her foolish emotion, that he
was suffering afreSh. What was the
! good in CRYING out? She was hurt, per-
/ haps. but, as they were circumstanced,
there was nothing he could do, only feel
as a stab all her passionate words.
IL wish" she began at length-but she
did not move her cheek away from the
| hand against which it rested-"I wish
sometimes one could choose the mo-
ment of ones death; | think ] should
say now. Tomorrow | shall be so UNI
! forgotten that"
Forget it STILL" he answered; sand
! believe me, if | can make the future
easy for you, | will"
quitting it into words has broken the
| charm" she said. But you see for
Yourself that my wisdom has come back.
| Do not fear. am not going to make
YOU miserable any longer. | am going"
! tightening little her clasp upon the
hand she held, ito say GOod-night'-for
you promised you would not stay up
Late
1T is GOODBYE" he replied quickly.
81 am going early tomorrow. No." as
| she would have spoken, lit is better. far
better. You know, | wished TO go days
| ago. | think" his voice faltering a lit
| tie. 81 would rather not say Goodbye
Il will not again break my resolu-
! ton" she said. Il will do whatever you
think best. am not very brave, but L
can be obedient."
She stood up as she spoke, and, "See,"
| she went on, Il am trying to act as |
speak. am going at once. This is
! Goodbye"
He was standing beside her on the
| hearthrug, looking down into her troub-
! led eyes, noting the slender hands clasp
! ed above her beating heart perhaps
! recognizing the efforts she was making
| to be calm, for his own eyes grew sad
der as he watched her.
But his voice was quiet and steady,
as, placing his hands upon her Shout
ders, sydney" he said, try and trust
me. If live, will come back; if l do
not come back, will write. Doyou un-
derstand?"
yes" 1t was sigh, not word.
! Her eyes did not droop-they looked
steadily up into his. The tear-drops
were all gone. There was Il faint reflec-
! ton of his calmnesS and determination
about her grave mouth.
Dear child" with one hand smooth
ing back the hair from her aching fore
head, Il can say so little. You know,
YOU understand. If you never see me
! again. you must be free, with no shad-
ow between you and happy future"
"Ah, but you cannot do that" she in
! terposed. you may destroy my future,
/ but you cannot take away my past.
( And | would not have it otherwise, do
not think it. / shall always believe that
! you loved me-"
You canuo, doubt. But" breaking
! off. you believe me: that is enough.
You believe" speaking quickly, that if
! / could say all | wish TO say. if / could
! kiss away your tears, and bring back
smiles to your eyes and lips, there is
! nothing | would not sacrifice-nothing
if it were only myself l had to think
Of"
As he spoke, the color swept up in a
scarlet flame to her cheeks. and the gray
eyes wavered away from those looking
! into hers.
Goodbye" she said, softly; "your
! love makes it easier"
Goodbye" he repeated.
She lifted her eyes once more to his,
and then turned slowly away. But, hav-
! ing reached the doorway, she paused
and looked back.
lie had thrown himself down in the
big armchair where she had sat the
: earlier part of the evening, his face hid
den in his arms outstretched on the
table beside 1.-THE whole attitude one
of such suffering and despair, that al
most involuntarily she paused. And,
after a seconds hesitation, she came
back the few steps to his side.
"Esme," she said, low and timidly,
and, as he did not move or make any
! reply, Goodbye is abitter, heartbreak-
! ing word" she went on gently. Does
! it comfort you to know that if you suf-
! fer, so do /; that if you are heartbrOken,
( so am |? Does it comfort you-it must
to know that day and night am pray
ing God to keep you until we meet
again"
There was moments silence; then
Esme Won Lndenheim felt her arm
about his neck, her soft kisses on hair
and forehead.
Goodbye" she faltered and Good
bye" he repeated, lifting his eyes, full
| of tears, to hers; and then he knew that
| If he did not regain his freedom he had
| looked his last into the gray ewes he had
learnt to love. heard her say Goodbye"
! for the last time.
CHATTER III.
"UND WAS DU EwIG LIEDsT, IsT EwIG
DEM"
Hayes in August. under cloudless
! summer skies, roses and jasmine look
ing in at every window. was very diff
ferent place from HAYES on cold wet
day in May, with q wild west wind howl
ing out OF doors, dashing cold showers