The morning call., 1893-09-03

as she answered: sit has been sad, some
times. But loneliness is more bearable
tban uncoDgenial companions hip. and your
LIE has been sadder than mine. l should
like TO tell you how sorry l have often
been for YOU"
Thank you, thank you" He pressed
her hand warmly and hurried from the
room. Patience followed him TO the front
door. 1t was a relief to step into the little
porch and feel the cool wind and rain On
her hot face.
at was very good of you to come and see
me, Anthony"
1t las been a great pleasure. Patience.
May | come again tomorrow? l am stay
ing al the inn down there for ten days or
SO. L wanted to have look at this cOun-
try, and you seem TO have pitched upon
the very best bit of the whole. If il should
be fine 30 morrow we could have a Tamble
up behind your place here. 1t looks very
inviting. l will be around about IL o'clock
may ?"
Patience felt ashamed of the delight
which she feared must express itself in
her face and voice as she consented to the
proposal. She stood in the porch and
watched her visitor descend the road until
he was out of sight. Then she looked up
startled into an exclamation. The sky
was all aglow with stormy light; as the
dark clouds were swept away suffused
yellow CLEAN broke upon the braeken-
orange russell cOlored tree in the woods,
until the whole scene seemed stepped in
golden radiance. Deep gold glowed the
vet fern and pale gold the hanging oirches
on the cliff sides. like fountains changing
from water TO shining magic gold. The
color was marvelOusly intense and Pa
thence felt her soul enlarge with the
grandeur Of the world of beauty revealed
TO her
How he will enjoy thisl" she MUIR
INJURED to herself, when at last she turned
to go in.
But Mr.. Roscoe, as it happened. was
not carried away by enthusiasm As he
podded along the muddy road he had his
back to the western sky; also he kept his
eyes employed in selecting the least oh
lectionable side Of the road and in trying
10 avoid the largest pools.
He disllked getting his feet wet. Be-
sides. on consulting his watch he found
that 1t was close upon the hour fixed for
dinner, and he had o walk quickly. He
also dlsliked, almost more than anything
else, TO be late for dinner and to have his
s0un served cold. 1t was tot until ne was
enjoying his evening smoke that he
began To think IN Sny definite
he had found in this Out-Of-the-way
corner OF the world. i. was odd
to drop upon Patience Wright here! |
was very fond of her once, and if that
unhappy Caroline had not crossed nv path
and fascinated me- dare say | should have
married Patience. She Is rot much fallen
demonstrating her age. In fact, think
she is befter looking now than she was as
girl. Her features were rather large and
her manner too serious aud abrupt-aS i
girl But she was dear soul-hnnPst as
the day; and the most affectiona;e friend
Yes, il was very pleasant TO see her, and
she seemed pleased. | wonder
She iupEad naiiThfa3 al |
spoke of going again tomorrow.
She would be q nice companion
for any man. She is sympathetic
too; does not worry one about her
own affairs. but seems TO take a real inter
est in fellows pursuits | daresav it
would be very sensible step, and would
make me much happier and more comfort
able.
Those COMPOUNDED servants have
driven me from home now, when L would
much rather have stayed where | was. /
am not made for club life; | like. my
own table, and my own fresldp-and little
happiness l have had at either, so far
Well, never too late 10 mend. There j.
chance Of domestic peace now, perhaps.
She does not seem bit like a stranger.
We met on the old terms exactly. If
there is any change | think that she is
gentler. more wOmanly, perhaps, than she
was twenty years ago. l must see more
of her"
In pursuance of which resolution An
thony Roscoe spent the greater part Of the
next three days in the company of his new
ole friend, and each evening his medita-
tons dwelt more cOmplacentiy upon the
prospect OF second marriage.
The weather improved, and Miss Wright,
though not able to do any notable thihg in
the way OF mountaineering, was quite able
to spend several hours az a time in leis-
urelY rambles upon the mountains. They
II In, n. L.
with them; rested frequently, whenever
Anthony came upon any view or strik-
ingly picturesque spot of which he wished
to secure the outlines; and wandered,
without overeXertiOn and without any
settled plan, " here fancy and the ca siest
paths led them. Toward sunset they re-
turned to the farmhouse. where he had
foTetaste of the felicities Of home as he
lounged in the easiest chair by the cheerful
wood fire, watched Patience manipulate
the kettle. and gracefully allowed himself
to be waited upon and RECALLED with tea
and domestic bread and butter.
There is something so hoUelike in all
this" he said on the third evening, ms he
took his cup from Miss Wright's hand and
looked his grateful thanks with tender
glance from her deep-set eyes. Il have
hardly ever, all through my life, enjoyed
three days of such blessed. homelike peace
as these three days, and | think that a
NOblhu bCfCi loOho 81 lNCaii5 hOudulJ as
when she is making tea"
And waiting upon the man who is
watching the operation" Patience inter-
rupted. laughing. 81 am sure you must
not leave out that item. To most men. l
suppose the ideal women is the one who
most devotedy suppliesi them with all
they want"
Perhaps so. And isn't that the true
ideal?"
Il do not think so. A woman must be
something more than the servant, or play
thing. or even companion of a man. She
must be an individual, and have a real life
Of her own independent of him"
''NO. no; you are wrong" he said, smil-
ing. You, of all women. cannot believe
in the perfection Of any life led by a woman
apart from the man she loves and who loves
her. | am sure-whatever reason may have
kept you single woman-that you feel
the ideal life to be the married life. You
show it. l have noticed that you forget
your own individuality even When you are
with me. Your sympathes are all given
to me. You think of my likes and dis
likes; you remember all have said and
done better than / remember myself If
were the man you loved-if | had been
lucky enough to be your husband-you
could not, fancy, more completely merge
your own idiOsyncraces in Difference TO
III