Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-01-25

the ball of conversation rolling. not car
ing much what was said
'sWho is it who says that marriage IS
like a city besieged-all those who are
out want to get in, while those who are
in all want to get outT' smiling comfort
ably across at her All the brightness
was gone from her face on the instant.
"a volume of truth in the observa-
ton, is there not?' she returned iclly,
taking up a paper. A personal item
caught her eye the next moment, DIR.
and Mrs Rogers are spending ii few days |
in Denver" All. yes: that explained |
Donald's presence at home on this par
ticular afternoon Mrs. Rogers always |
kept open house on Sundays.
81 hope you don't think that meant |
any reflection; I'm sure You could not |
make any personal application of that !
stupid quotation" poor Donald blum |
dered awkwardly.
"Why, certainly not; how could II.
with sarcastic little laugh. the ugly
red he had learned to know so we'll fam
ing in her cheeks. "Of course we could
not possibly want to get cut. We are so
happy together, you and |.
81 most certainly don't want to get
out" said Donald sturdily, poking the
fire. "And, by the way, that reminds
me-" not explaining the connection; Il
beg pardon, but really forgot to give
you this letter 1t came this morning.
From Gray! she exclaimed, sur
prised, as she took it from his hand.
She had heard but rarely from Gray in
the months since he had gone at her bid
ding. He had proceeded down into Mex
leo, looking up the old hacienda where
she had lived as a child, and several let
tiers he had written at first, counting
confidently on her interest in the tamll-
lar scenes, but Anita never answered
She sat for long time now absently
twisting the unopened letter in her
hands, thinking of all that had happened
since Gray had said, HE will teach you
to know the worth of a love like mine"
Well, she had learned the lesson, as he
said she would. Strange if she had not
through all those days of smiling cold
ness, when Donald and she had striven
: each to Guido the other in the cool cour-
tesy of utter Indifference; in the scenes
that had come later, when irrepressible
anger had worked its way to the surface
} in cruel shafts of sarcasm that had many
time sent Donald from the house pale
| with rage, while her heart had bled with
: stormy tears.
l There had been plenty of time to
measure the worth of lasting love like
] Gray's in the long evenings she had
! spent alone, feeling but too sure into
! whose eyes Donald was smiling; in the
weary hours when she had tossed on her
Y pillow, awake in horrid loneliness that
3 was a torture of terror when any I'M
t canny noise broke the night stiffness.
r Selfish and lawless as she knew Gray 8
nature to be, in the glamour thrown by
t time and distance it seemed that had she
Q been his wife he must have been una
8 swervingly true to her; and, in her
:; heart hunger there had grown up the
p miserable regret that her love had not
p been given to him; but it was only the
s small, title regret for what she knew
s had never been really possible. And
q there could be no thought of mending
9 the blunder of fate at this late day-all
e the passion of her heart seemed cold and
- dead With fretful sigh she reused
r herself to open her letter now, resentful-
6 ~ conscious that Donald was watching
8 her curiously.
b "And how is your cousin?" he asked al
= length, when she was twisting the paper
d in her hands again, absently staring into
n the fire. He asked the question in al
kindness, in his resolution to let the
n dead past rest; but in spite of himself
Is his voice sounded forced, and to Aniti
?, his words seemed pregnant with hateful
d sarcasm.
er Read it," she said with sharp brevity
D. holding the letter out to him. He shranl
% back with gesture of extreme distaste
le mo, indeed. Could you imagine that
', | was limiting at such a thing? have
"a not the slightest wish to pry into YOU
II correspondence.
I, "But | insist upon your reading 1t,
II offering it imperiously. Donald reluc
5, family accepted the letter
III ANITA Mia Incredible as it may secm tn
u doctor has just told me that | must prepare t
Id take my little trip over the range, for have
is go soon, and have believed him, because
~ have fallen into a habit of swallowing what
over he gives melt seems to save tho judg
10 ment such a lot of wear and tear, you know.
IN Don't feel badly about it, sweet; what's tn
IA | use? It's a of spilled milk, you see. VIVA
~ | breaks me up is that cant go to you and sa
IA all the things that are making my head fee
top heavy. always made poor shuttle at
N letter, you know, and it comes harder tina
4 | ever now When left you meant to com
- back, as of course you knew. saw how thing
}" were going, and hoped to find happiness wait
ing for me when came again. But now
he NY a que les morris qui reviennent pas.
- Circumstances over which | have no contrc
Oh prevent, you understand But Mohamme
III could go to tho mountain just the same, an
ne you. oh, Nita- darling the one person in a
hit the world who could make these last few day
- Of mine perfectly happy, won't you come
X Surely you can reconcile it to your conscience
ly I ask SO little
want to tell you that have sent my will
1" Uncle John, whom have made executor. q
, never liked me much, and he played me To-
ny down trick when he stood you off from marry
SO ing me- All the same he is a square fellow
as and will see that you get fair deal-for
=. course have LETT everything to YOU / hay
40 fooled away awful lot of money, but the O
tate was handled in first class shape till can
=" Of age, and some of the investments that hal
a pened to let alone have turned out way u
You will be fairly well fixed, after all. | te
you this that you may know that for the re-
nd Of your life you will be absolutely Independent
III to go where you like and do you please.
al incloss now draft to cover expenses of yor
q journey if you will come