The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-01
CHAPTER II.

. . A"N 80
A REVELATION.
When Stella retired to her own apart.
meuts that she might leave Crawford
and Newbury to discuss their business
affairs, she was disturbed by many con-
tending thoughts. Crawford's incroas.
ing restlesBness, his self'absorption, his
m~oodineas, assured her there was cause
for anxiety; that he refused to speak Of
itimpressed her the more. by the ret
lCenCe OF his manner she measured tho
gravity OF his trouble; and she began to
wonder what was tho amount OF his
debts, when had they accumulated, and
how would they be paid.
Then an idoR which had recently be-
set her, rose once more in her mind,
and she pondored over tho fact OF how
little she knew concerning him. Alice.
ton had 80 filed her heart SINCE first
they met that sho cared but little what
wore the circumstances of his life, how
his past had been spent, or to where
his future tended, so long as his love
was hers. Perfect trust had cast out
fear, and suspicion had never darkenod
with its doubts the serene horizon OF
her happiness.
But now, not that fear asaailed her,
but rather that wonder moved her, she
began to perceive how ignorant she
was OF his alairs; and then came the
Cousoling thought that perhaps he had
remained silent lest knowledge might
cause her pain, This argument would
hold good regarding monetary matters,
but not concerning himself; and OF his
past life OF Of his family she knew
nothing.
Then sitting down in q great chair
near one Of the tall narrow windows
looking out on the SEQ, her thoughts
! went dreamily back to the first hour
when she saw him She remembered
the impression his voice had made upon
her. How her pulse had throbbed when
he spoke to her. How strange was tho
wonder aud JOY that befoll her. She had
struggled hard to withhold her heart,
knowing sho was pledged to another,
but it had betrayed and gone from her
almost before she had discovered its
loss. Then came the confession OF his
love and the pleading for hers that Aug.
ust night in the orchard, when the mys-
tic moonlightfell upon aCharmed world,
where the air was balmy, %languorous
and sweet, n Midsummer reiSned supreme.
How long ago 1t seemed. Three score
years might have passed twtxt then
and now, so far removed 1t val. In tho
last few months sho had lived more
than in the eighteen summers of her
previous existence. And from the past
she was divided by q gulf which sho
might neyor cross. Never again could
all things be aa they had been; no
longer, could she live the old life with
its u%nevcntfuI days, its simple Joys and
pleasant duties, ave in dreams. But
in dreams, waking and sleeping, she
visited it, realizing the charm OF its
peace, and finding but II cause for re-
greet in tho memory Of Arthur FerrNrs.
He had trusted her and she had be-
trayed him; he had loved her and ahO
had failed to return his love. Frequent
" she wondered il no had forgotten
her. From her fathers letters she
gathered that having returned to find
her gone Arthur Ferrars had not tar.
ried ut Howstree, but had soon loft for
London, from whore ho subsequently
set out Tor France. Not being aware OF
tho young mans ~self-inpOsod, task
Jacob Selwyn could not tell his daughter
the artist was in search Of her and had
never lost sight OF his resolution to
learn from her lips whether she was or
was not Crawiord'p wife.
Whilst thoughts OF him sped through
her mind she rose and looked from tho
window upon the far.gtretching sea bo.
..1 uHI,. ,rtU,t hal t,nF aVVkat,lnI and
tho waves wOro still high, groom and
ioam.tipped. A sudden CLEAN Of sun.
shine made tho vast surface glitter and
tho wet stones and littlo pools In tho
rond leading to the pier sparkle in the
force rays. Then as quickly as it had
come, tho light disappeared behind a
black and ominous cloud, tho ocean
turned to an inky hue and the world
looked cold and black.
Stella glanced at tho lowering sky
and back again to the choDrless Garth
md with u shuddCr was about TO turn
nway when hur sight mot n once tamil.
lar figure standing in front OF the win.
dow and staring ut her In wild surprise.
Their eyes encountered, thu color faded
from hor face aud hOr heart bounded
with fright. For there before hor was
Arthur FerrNrs-tho man whom she
Ind promised to we'd aud thcn deserted
vet not tho sRmo, for in his eyes was
look OF pain aud in his face strength
OF purpose she had not seen there DO.
fore.
Whom 1t was possible for her to with.
draw hOr gaze Bho moved away slowly
and family from tho window and fell
into a chair, leaving him standing out.
aide In tho darkonod world,
The confusion Of her thoughts almost
deprived her Of her senses; then came a
quick rush OF tOArs, after which hOr
Ienttbeat ri moro even measure.
Tho sight Of HIN had been so uncx'
pectod and 40 undOBltod that her fret
feelings wore those Of fright, hut rO'
covering herself, shO began to reflect on
the probable result Of his recognition.
Would hO seek and upbraid her for
tho past. She thought not yot she al.
most hoped ho would, for she deserved
lis roproach aud his sGorn, and sho
would feel Cnsior II no gave way to an.
npr rather than to grief. Would he sock
his rival and demand satisfaction for
the part ho had played In winning her
love and taking hOr away, was y ques',