Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-03-04

| later, with sign tnat might nave been
relief, she realized that her father was
its only occupant.
"He Is not coming down." Mr.. Lo-
raine said, in reply TO her inquiring
| look. IL have persuaded him TO go TO
bed; it is much wiser, Come" taking
! the girls E"nt. in his, "you must come
! down 10 Cimior with me instead"
rs he ILL" 81 c quosti, ned.
"lIe was shlverlng and miserable; IL
! is always better to take care"
Don't you think he looks very deli
cater" she asked when they sat down
they two alone together as they had
done so often; and yet tonight the
room seemed strangely empty without
him.
"Yes, / should say he was. And he
should be careful, for his mother died
of consumption. From what he tells
me, he has been very i'll himself. And
under the circumstances, n plunge into
cold river at sunset, and long walk
afterward in wet clothes, is not likely
TO do him any good. So l ordered what
/ thought was best"
Sydney did not Immediately reply.
She clasped her hands tightly together,
with momentary pain al her heart,
and then: 1t wasvery wise and thought
full, father" she said. ut is always bet
D
tle."
Dinner over. she returned at once up
stairs. She felt restless and i'll at ease;
and leaving her father in the library,
when she had seen him established at
his writing table, she opened the door
of communication, and passing through,
entered the drawing-room. II seemed
to her that in this long, empty apart
ment, with no one TO speak to her or
watch her, she could bring herself back
TO calm.
The only light fell from shaded
lamp at the further end of the room. in
the corner where stood the piano, but
having closed the door behind her, she
became Immediately aware that she was
not alone, as she had expected to be
that mans figure stood by the open
window, looking down on TO the dusky
garden.
Count Lindenheim!" she spoke very
low, but he heard her, and turned his
head at once.
"Yol are here" he said quickly. Il
wait for you. l wish much to speak
to you"
but it is very foolish;" her voice was
still soft and low, and she moved few
steps nearer to him; land you are stand
iag by the open window. How unwisel
SO.Ab ava plNdSC.
She went on into the corner by the
piano. and seating herself at it, pointed
to low chair beside her.
Sit down." she said, in tones more
like her usual voice, then you cannot
deceive me. l can judge for myself
how foolish you are"
NO. / do not wish to deceive YOU" he
answered. Il have caught cold, | am
certain, but that we can speak of after
ward. First, there is something else.
wished TO say it TO you this afternoon,
and then"
~ es," she said softly, "tell me now"
She was no longer excited. The hands
that neld the peacock's feathers did not
tremble, only her eyes did not meet his.
81, he began. He stopped abruptly,
then rose up and took few steps and
back again, until he stood behind her
chair, and there again paused. and rest
ed his hands on the back. as if TO steady
himself. Il don't know why have not
told you before" he began; 1T has not
been from any wish to keep it to myself,
butt am engaged"
The empty room seemed to echo the
words, hold them, and repeat them for
full a moments breathlesS silence. A
moment, whilst the hold on her fan
loosened, and she claSped her hands
All the svftness had gone out Of her
gray eyes, her voice even had grown
hard and defiant.
And why should you tell me now?
a man IS not called upon TO confess his
private affairs unless he is inclined"
You ask-but you know. Look at
me, and tell me it is So"
Almost invOluntarlly she turned her
head, and looked up at him; bat having
done so steadily. her eyes wavered lit
tie from those above her. You must
CO. then she said abruptly, but still not
! lifting her eyes TO his. 1t was never
fault of Sydney Loraine's to avoid
difficulty; it was almost impossible for
her to ignore it, even when perhaps
more worldly wisdom would have been
displayed III skirting 1t by. You have
been here long enough. You must re-
turn"-there was a seconds pause-"to
the woman you love-"
"Ah, but" the words came quickly
and passIonately, the woman l love is
here~
You will not think so when you are
at home again; you will soon forget. A
fortnight" bitterly, us not much out of
q mans life
If you think that-do you?-yes." as
she did not speak, why should you notp
then there seems nothing more to
say"
He took his hands off the back of her
chair, and moved away TO the window,
where he had been standing when she
entere', and there threw himself down
into a chair, covering his face With his
hands.
She watched him, still in silence. and
noted, as the dim uncertain twilight
fell upon him, how i'll and haggard he
looked, noted also how thin the hands
were in which he had hidden his face.
Il do not think it," she cried, quickly
and impetuously, following him and
standing by his side; Il am cruel"
Then, as he still did not move. of a sud-
den she knelt down by his side in soft
abandonment, and laid her hand on his
arm. Il am cruel" she repeated, but
IL is because am hurt myself, and"
her voice faltering, you know it, you
know it."
At the touch on his arm, at the sound
Of the soft voice, from which had died