The record-union., 1893-05-13
She stoned for few seconds and then

Oll lONe nlIl III LnOSe Gays. Anu We
were engaged. He used to kiss me some
times. And when gave him the roses
gave him lock of hair too. And there
were more things / said-if he were to re-
mind me of them. 1 know l shouldn't
be able to bear it. And yet-yet-I don't
want him to go away without my seeing
him."
Miss Gray looked at her friend in 81
lence. She was hurt by the previous
want of confidence, and now she realized
the full Importance of Adelaide's confess
sion.
'The wedding dress came in this morn
lug from Plymouth" the other said sud-
| denly, but they shan't induce me to try
it on"
Adelaide" Miss Gray replied sol
emnly, ''all this is very serious. You
ought to have told me all this before.
But l really think that you oughtn't to
marry Mr. Chessall, feeling as you do.
And yet now the wedding is so near"
| "4 ou must find some excuse for put
ting it off, Laura" the other cried vehe-
mently; you must indeed"
Miss Gray was very thoughtful as she
walked home.
Poor Adelaide" she sighed, "she has
had great deal to go through in these
last days. But things will come off all
right, L expect. There will be an explo-
sion, and then the great Augustus Chess
all Will go on his tour by himself II he
hadn't been so dreadfully tedious things
might have turned out differently"
Meantime Adelaide was still sitting in
the arbor, thinking of many things.
"How will it all end?" was the question
| which circled round and round in her
mind. By and by her Imagination began
to paint the ending she secretly wished
| for. Only within The last few days had
she admitted even TO herself what her
heart really prompted; now that she had
spoken to her friend her ideas became
more definite, and she could surrender
herself 10 visions of future in which
Augustus Chessall had no part.
She was reused from her reverie by
voices in the garden. She recognized her
sisters lively staccato, and then, with an
inward tremor, DR.. Wilson'S deeper tones.
Soon they came nearer, and Adelaide
could hear what they were saying.
You'll be back for the wedding"
Maud said; II shall bed readtully disap-
pointed if you are not"
DIR. Wilson laughed.
You must want me to see you as
bridesmaid" he said. 'What vanity!
But pll be back before then. 1 don't
think l could stop away from you if L
tried"
And it is only month since you dis
covered me in there" Maud replied, nod
ing toward the arbor. you hardly spoke
to me before"
Il think Pve made up since for the
few days l lost" he replied with laugh.
Il dare say the gossips of Knagford are
already beginning TO talk about us.'
Let them" Maud replied scornfully;
''the silly things!'
I'VE shan't have TO keep our secret
very long" DIR. Wilson said; lust till
your sisters wedding is over. Then I'll
ask your mammals consent, and hope 1
shall get it,"
'Oh, there's no fear about that" Maud
replied frankly. You are great man,
you know, Ernest and very eligible
son-in-law"
| All this the poor listener in the arbor
plainly heard, and then a brief space of
blessed oblivion blotted out all further
sense OF sound. 1t was but for moment;
slowly and quietly the consciousness of
outside objects returned, and the mem
| ory OF what had happened. The two
were stlII talking in the garden, but they
had moved further off, and their tones
| were low and indistinct. Peering through
the leaves Adelaide could see that they
| were facing each other, and that he was
! holding both her hands. Sinking back
IN her seat she strained her ears To catch
| The light SuSurruS OF tender tones. For
some time the low babble lasted: then
came moments silence, followed by a
light, sllvery laugh; the lovers were part
| ing and had kissed. Adelaide listened to
4 >
| on the gravel OF the garden path, and
| then heard the door close behind her sis
| ter. The poor girl did not stir from her
| place. An hour passed. and evening came
| on, but she sat motionleSs gazing blankly
| into gathering twilight. Not muscle OF
her face moved, not a tear dropped as the
tunult in her mind rolled on, as the gray
| perspective of what must be obliterated
| presented itself to her.
| Footsteps passed outside, but she hardly
heard them; II was not till MIR. Chessall
stood at the entrance that she reused her
self from her long reverie.
Adelaide ~ he exclaimed, "why are
you sitting here alone in the dark ? They
| told me you were at Miss Gray's. Is
anything the matter?"
She moved a little to make room for
him by her side.
Don't let us go in just yet, dear p, she
said; Its so pleasant out here don't
! think ever knew the roses to smell so
sweet"
| And she touched his hand with the tips
of her fingers careSSingly. Mr.. Chessal
was delighted with this prospect of a
tete-a-tete. 1t seemed so appropriate to
the circumstances. AndsMrs. Lilburne
would scold HIM gentlly for stopping out,
which was also in harmony with the
situation. He talked of the balmy night,
of the roses, and of the moon, a inv
clrclet which he had noticed as he came
In, while Adelaide let her hand rest in
his and listened.
1.-THE day is very near" he whispered,
| becoming more tender, very near now
In fortnight's time-just fortnight to-
day-we shall be at Lucerne. l imagine
we shall be out on the lake, gazing at the
summit OF the Rigi, if that point is visi-
| BILE from the water. But on still sum-
mer night, out on the water floating
| alone-we two
/ AIalajda fO ha,
| her hand.
| Il feel a little chilly,' she said. 81
| think we had better 60 in."
| At her lovers suggestion they made
1 one turn OF the garden first. Adelaide
was silent and unresponsive, but lust as
they were entering the house she threw
her arms round his neck and kissed him.
Mr.. Chessall was not used to such out
| bursts, and he was almost as much sur
prised as delighted. When they got in
Maud was telling her mother of the after
| Moons tennis. She had played three sets
with DIR. Wilson as her partn& and had
won them all. Adelaide looked at her
sister and saw her happiness beaming on
her face. MIR. Chessall produced packet.
Adelaide" he said, ''these are patterns
of wall paper for the little sitting-room:
| you must choose one. We shall generally
! be sitting there, you know, through the
long winter evenings" he added. drop
ping his voice; 1--WE mustn't have an ugly
pattern always staring US in the face.''
Adelaide sighed family.
Tomorrow, Augustus" she said, "Fll
| choose wall papers or do anything Won
| hke-to-morrow, but not tonight. 1 am
tired and nervous tonight"
| w hen the time came tor Mr.. ChessalPs
going, Adelaide wrote hurriedly a short
note.
II want you to leave this at Miss
/ (fYsDx~ II.