The Dickinson press., 1893-06-03
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! pulse stirred With fierce fire now. The
letter had evidently been received by
Edna the day previous, and was signed
with the name Of the only rival in her
affection to whom he had ever given
thought, Miss Chambers cousin, Ed
mas announced escort Of that evening
Barton Brinsley.
The letter of an accepted lover to
the woman he loved, 1t betrayed de-
cided encouragement from Edna. 1t
even bore slight ridicule Of Marshall's
pretensions. Edna had endured this!
Edna had played him false, and while
her shy lips were responding to his
ardent expressions of devotion her hy-
pocritical heart was thinking of Barton
Brinslcy.
The complication was maddening.
With eyes dashed with the insanity
of despair the tortured artist looked
up. He clcnched the tell-tale sheets
in his hand as il they were the false
heart of the girl who had Tilted him,
and that of the man who had stolen
away her love.
III will kill him." he choked out,
| his soul abiIZa.
And then, realizing the folly of such
sentiment, the right Of any man to
honorably strive for IL wolnan's prefer
ence, with the bitterness of death COM
pretending that the woman was the
deceiver, remembering his mothers
taunt once made that he had better
marry some one besides "a nameless,
homeless nobody" lie calmed down,
put on his hat and walked from the
house like one in Il dream, his lips
firmly set, bu. sick at heart.
He went straight to the seminary.
There was thai ia his heart SO manly.
so straightforward, so inclined to doubt
the f:lsity of the woman he had so
blindly trusted, despite the terrible evil
dence III his han(ls. that. though the
meeting killed him, he was determined
to have the matter settled now and
finally.
He would demand to see Edna-he
would show her the letters. His philan-
thropic friends had more than once told
him that all womankind were changing
butterflies of sentiment. II she had
indeed only played with his heart he
would leave her presence and the place
forever; without Il word accept the bit
ter lesson as Il warming against trusting
all humanity, and i'll silence and dis
tancc wait for the end of Il life blight
ed, profitlcss, uncomfortable.
A servant admitted him and took his
card to the lady principal. Miss Chand-
ler looked serious as she entered the
room, but greeted him with the genial
ity she always bestowed on Edna's
friends. She started ut the sight of his
wretched face, however.
Miss Chandler" he spoke in his mis-
cry and agitation, neglecting to take
her proffered hand, Il wish to see Edna
Miss Dean"
| n;o %b0 1n1u yrsnoi-
pal, wonderingly. why. did you not
know"
"Xnow what?" lie demanded, sharp
ly, his heart taking new alarm.
"That she is gomez"
Gone" he repeated blanllly. "Gone? ?
When whera. with whomw
"She left us last evening. Poor, dear
Edna; her happy school life is over,
and-why, Mr.. Marshall!"
He had arisen to his feet at her first
startling words. He felt his senses reel
Ing now and swayed where he stood.
The sight of such vivid emotion in Il
strong man alarmed the gentle lady.
Go on!' he choked out, waving his
hand agitatcdly. Its nothing. The
shock, the suddenncss-"
Surely she wrote you that she was
going?'
| nv. 1Aut ID. lOl SlIS NSuN laSSN
EVENING"
alone? Why did she leave SO alb,
ruptly:"
His heart hung on the reply. Miss
Chandler's face fell.
MIR. Marshall.' she said in low
subdued tone, you must not ask me.
.. have pledged myself to make no eXpla
nations. In fact, l know very little
She left i'll safe hands, of that l an
. assured, and she will never return IL
HopedalG. 1t has depressed lis all; bu
surely she will soon write to you an,
explain"
2 Miss Chandler, must know where
Edna Dcane has gone. You must tel
e me more!''
]! His voice was husky, but it bore I;
+ ring of sharp, lacerating anguish.
: Il cannot. l never broke promis
d once made, Mr.. Marshall" spoke tn
: lady, with dignity. You may see Mis-
l. Mercer, if you choose She was Edna
|, most intimate friend. She may hav
the right to tell you, but cannot Edn
may have left message with her."
ALLOW me to speak with her, please.
How strained and unnatural were Iii
tones! How like Il man marching t
his doom he followed Miss Chandle
down the broad hall and to the door q
the Office Of the seminary.
d Miss Mercer is in there alone,
j. Think spoke Miss Chandler. "Ye
st Beatrice, Mr.. Marshall"
to And the principal opened the doc
- and closed 1t upon Raymond Marsha
le and the woman he so disliked and di
trusted.