Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-17

sorry specter who had called him '4Crofton.
/ suppose beckons to Neville for he come
straight toward the little group of which
form the shadowy background.
why, Crofton, have you come through
the center of the earth? Have you JUS
left the antipodes' We were speaking O
you, man, when we looked up and saw yoJ
in the doorway"
II came the usual way" answers Ne
vile, and his voice sounds harsh and dis
tinct through the buzzing in my ears. "a
have been away Frank, seven years all
but one month, and | come back to find
you exactly where left you, in the corner
of Lady Somebody's drawing room, talk
ing to Mrs. Goldingham."
Both shadows laugh.
"Are you home for good3"
For good?" Neville seems to ponder,
Il don't think anything is for good.
have come home for a change"
| Tired of Australia, Nevitlew
"Tired of life"
Then the buzzing sound becomes louder;
seem to hear through a mist, as it were
in another life, ut is Dulcel" and then
remember no more till | find myself in
small boudoir behind the back drawing
room with Neville by my side.
did j faint2 Is it you?" asked stupid
ly, for / thought | must be dreaming,
/ That man called you Crofton; are you
really the Neville Surtees used to
know"
mo, not the Neville you cast aside, but
bad imitation of him labeled Crofton.
An old man in Australia died three years
ago and left me his fortune and his name.
l wanted neither but / took both, and
l have nothing to do with trade
now, Dulce. | beg your pardon, should
have said Miss Malcolm. By the by, how
is Mr.. Malcolm2"
HE died three years ago, and live alone
at the old place"
] am surprised to find how calmly can
speak; perhaps the repression of the last
seven years has taught me self control.
81 never knew" he answers, with a
panied look in his brown eyes.
Suddenly figure appears at the door-a
small woman dressed in the extremity of
the fashion, with her fair golden curls
piled lightly into the last new shape.
Are you not coming, NeyilleS It is
time to go on to Mrs. Hawkes."
"AhP' Neville seems about to say some
thing, then he turns to me and bites bis
lips
"Are you better. Miss Malcolmi Can
leave your"
Yes, thank you. But are you goinef
Shall l not see you again soonf"
Il think not. Yes, Lydia, / am coming"
for the small person in the doorway is get
ting impatient "Goodby," he says alb.
ruptly, holding mycold hand in his strong,
warm grasp; 81 am going back to Austria
liza directly"
They are gone, and my cousin comes
busting in. She is stout and pale, hum
drum sort OF woman, very matter Of fact
and without the smallest spice of humor.
quite incapable Of taking in more than one
idea at time, and unsympathetic to any
one or anything that is not absolutely con
nected with her own health or her position |
in society.
They tell me you tainted, Dulce-the |
room is very hot; but Lady Etheldreda Is !
so nice her parties are always crammed. |
Such number Of nice people here. By the |
by, saw that tall man you used to know |
Neville Something or other-he has
brought home new name and wife"
"A wife, Cousin Elizabeth was that his
wife,"
Somehow it had never occurred to me.
My head is still stupid and confused, or
must have known that was his wife.
Yes, granddaughter of Lord BIS, nv
dear, and great catch. He always was
lucky man, and he never stuck much in
one groove, but moved about and made
fresh friends wherever he went He al
ways got on well with really nice people.
] believe his father was only an
lronmaster. Come, Dulce, it is getting
late, and If you look SO white / shall not
take you to the Colmans tomorrow"
Not another at home Cousin Eliza
beth, pleaded. ~ will never 20 to one
again. The-the rooms are SO hot"- NV
voice breaks into tears.
Cousin Elizabeth stares. She calls every
MOOD she cannot understand at once "hys-
5erical"
you are hysterical, Dulce. At your
ige you should know better. Come home
vt once"
follow her meekly down stairs, give up
ny crumpled cloak ticket in exchange for
ny equally crumpled cloak, and we drive
dientiy home through the dark, cool night.
That page of my life's history is closed
brewer. tell Cousin Elizabeth that Lon
Ion and late hours do not agree with me.
md spend the quiet days in my country
ZONE, each hour laden with small duties.
ny little store of withered memories wa. il
cred by silent tears. 8
And Nevillet bad this one letter from !
lin. {
DEAR DULoE-You sad little face haunts
ne, and can blame no one but myself.
lad been patient land yet could 1 wait
or your fathers death to free you0 and ,
lved my life on in England, all might ,
ave been different. Now the spirit of un-
est grows within me, must exercise him {
y change of scene. My wife will not go
Jack to Australia, so think of me alone. as ,
ou are Yours (as in old times) ,
NEVILLE"
have never seen him since we met-and
arted--at Lady Etheldreda's "at home.n I
Temple Bar. ,