The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-10-07
"Did you know he loved rnei" ques-

II
toned.
He bowed his head.
| $50 well, that could have laid down
my life instead Of his, that he might re-
turn TO yon, would have done it,"
How good you arew
Not SO. had nothing TO live for,
liyedw laughed he rather bitterly.
"You will come and see me Often" !
implored. You are the last link between
me and him."
"If you WISH" was his curt reply.
81 must return to the class" ex-
claimed lingeringly.
And injure your eyes fercverl Stay"
said he, drawing note from his pocket,
from which he tore the spare half sheet,
81 will give you something for them"
He wrote some mystic lines compre-
hensible but to himself and the chemist.
| stuffed them heedlessly in my pocket
and returned to work
| Many times after that we met, for my
father took fancy TO him, and encour-
aged his coming. He imagined the doc
tors visits cheered me. | scarcely liked
to own they did. Looking into his
| gloriously handsome face, regretted my
pallid shrunken features for the first
time.
1 began TO wish for the looks which
had been so promising but q short while
back. but they returned not. The glitter
had gone from my eyes as the CLINT of
loves gold from my heart. But had itl
A red blush OF shame overspread my
features as questioned with myself IL
tl.. nf he "A
fainter in the presence Of the living.
A year crept slowly by, and / lost my
father who had tecome dearer to me
since my grief. Armand Daintry became
my friend. He was more gentle, less
abrupt than when we first had met.
BY instinct rather than anything else,
felt had brought peace into his life,
as he had into mine. OF love l had
never thought. 1t was thing stillborn,
buried before the breath Of life could
come to it. believed my art was sufli-
cient for me, and knew not it was glori
fed by the continued presence of one
who had become dear friend. an almost
brother Wherever / went, whatever
did, felt that the thoughts of one being,
like guardian angels, lowered round me.
Was | unhappy, he comforted-was |
undecided, he advised / ambitious,
he supported me!
Month after month passed. / was no
longer a student. but an artist, and my
first little picture, entitled "Outside
Adrianople"--of dead horse and his
rider, had been commended on the
Academy walls. But nothing endures
here below, and change came at last.
Armand Daintry called. His face was
pale and grave.
What ails your" l inquired at once
"Nothing, but that | must leave you.
shall volunteer for Egypt tomorrow"
"Ahw A strange Tightening of the
throat hushed my words,
It's no good hanging about in Eng
land doing nothing"
"Why noti Why not2" l asked i'm
pulsively. ''Are you not happy here?"
"HappyH Too happy Camilla, lis
ten. The first day saw you | knew it
would be all up with me. / had seen
your photograph, and said to myself that
is the girl could have loved. / dared
fate in venturing to meet you. have
dared fate in trying to continue friend
ship with you while my heart was mad
Win lONt. YOU uo
of me l know. That is why | will not
remain, but go where man may do his
duty and forget"
A flame-red blush caught my checks
and lit up my eyes, then | turned icy
cold. Could my pulses beat, my heart
leap with JOY, with rapture, while that
dear dead man lay far away in lonely
grave meath the blistering Eastern sum-
And Armand had been his friend There
seemed treachery in hearkening to words
of love from him!
"And when you return" | asked with
unnatural calm.
He smiled bitterly.
III return may be curedw
$50 easiyW could not forbear ex-
claiming.
lie grasped my hand.
"Would you not wish it so9 Is it
possible that if live you would let me
devote my life TO giving you the happi
ness you have lost, that l might teach
you the difference between "a real love
and the ideal one you pictured2"
His blue eyes shone like sunlit
heaven, and his hands, the hands which
unfalteringly bound the wounds Of the
suffering amid shot and she'll on the
battlefield, trembled like those Of man
drunk with wine.
With one great bound my hearts love
went out to him, then l remembered.
What would he think of a love 50 easily
foreswornl
"TIave you no answer for mef Will
you try and forget the pastr'
"Neveri"
My voice was harsh and unnatural. |
dared not show the emotion that almost
mastered me.
"Good-by then he said, holding out
his hand.
Something that was very like a sob
rose in my throat, but | strangled it,
Strangled it until he was gone. Then,
oh, then dared to weep, calling him
back to love, to bless me, for he could
not hear
Armand. my beloved, stay y" moaned
through the long days and nights which