Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-07-12

THE DREAM IR ENDED
Mrs. Walsingham wrote to Gilbert
Sinclair, Immediately after Mr.. Wyatts
departure, few hasty lines begging
him to come to her without delay.
"Som ething has occurred, she
wrote, IAN event Of supreme impor-
tanco. will tell you nothing more
till we meet.
She dispatched her groom to the AL
bany with this note, and then waited
with intense Impotence orGilbert Sin
clair coming. II he were Mt home, 1t
was scarcely possible he would refuse
TO come TO her,
81 shall know the worst very soon, "
she said to herself, as she sat behind
the flowers that shaded her window.
"After to-day there shall be no uncer-
tainty between us-no further reserva-
ton on my part no more acting on
his. He shall lind that am not his
dupe, to be fooled to the last point, and
to be taken by surprise some fine morn
ing by the annoj ncement of his mar
riage in the Times "
Mr.. Sinclair was not at home when
note was delivered but between and
3 o'clock in the afternoon his thunder
ing knock assailed the door, and he
came into the room announced.
In spite of the previous nights ball
he had ridden fifteen miles into the
country that morning to attend sale
of hunters, and was looking flushed
with his long ride.
What on earth is the matter, Clara"
he asked. IF have been out since 8
o'clock. Poor Townley's stud was sold
off this morning at a pretty little place
he had beyond Barnet, and | rode down
there to see if there was anything
worth bidding for, | might have saved
myself the trouble, for | never saw
such a pack of screws. The ride was
pleasant enough however"
IL wonder you were out so early after
last nights dance.
"Oh you've seen my name down
among the swells, he answered, with
rather a forced laugh. Eyes, l was
hard at it last night, no end of waltzes
and galops. But. you know, late hours
never make much difference to me"
"Was it very pleasant party?"
"The usual thing-too many people
for the rooms.
"Your favorite, Miss Clanyarde, was
there, see."
"Yes; the Clanyardes were there.
But suppose you haven't sent for me
to ask questions about Lady Deptford's
ball? | thought by your letter some-
thing serious had happened"
Something serious has happened
My husband is dead.
She said the words very slowly, with
her eyes fixed on Gilbert Sinclair's
face. The lorid color faded suddenly
out of his cheeks, and left him CHASTITY
pale. OF all the events within the
range of probability, this was the last
he had expected to hear of, and the
most unwelcome.
Indeed" he stammered, after an
awkward pause. Il suppose ought to
congratulate you on the recovery of
your freedom?"
81 am very glad to be Free"
what did he die of-Colonel Wal
singham? And how did you get the
news?"
Through foreign paper. He was
killed in duel"
And then she repeated the contents
OF the paragraph James Wyatt had
read to her.
as the news correct, do you think?
No mistake about the identity of the
person in question:"
"None whatever | am convinced
However, shall drive into the city
presently and see the solicitor who ar
ranged our separation. | know the
Colonel was in the habit of correspond
ing with him, and no doubt he will be
able to give official Intelligence of the
event"
After this there came another pause,
more awkward than the first. Gilbert
sat with his eyes fixed upon the carpet,
tracing out the figures of it meditative-
ly with his stick, with an air of study
as profound as If he had been an art
designer bent upon achieving some
novel combination of form and color.
Clara Walsingham sat opposite to him,
waiting for him to speak, with pale,
rigid face that grew more stony-look-
ing as the silence continued. That 81
lence became at last quite uncomfortable,
and Gilbert felt himself obliged to say
something, no matter what.
"Does this business make any altera-
ton in your circumstances" Gilbert
asked, with faint show of interest.
only for the better. | surrendered
to the Colonel the income Of one of the
estates my father left me, in order to
bribe him into consenting to separa-
ton. Henceforward the income will
be mine. My poor father took pains
to secure me from the possibility of be-
ing ruined by a husband. My fortune
was wholly at my own disposal, but
was willing to make the surrender in
question in exchange for my liberty.
I am glad to find that you will be so
well off, said Mr.. Sinclair, still en-
crossed by the pattern of the carpet.
Is that all you have to say?"
what more can 1 say upon the sub
ject?"
There was time when you would
have said a great deal more"
"Very likely" ans Tered Gilbert,
bluntly; but then, you see, that time
is past and gone. What is it Friar
Bacon's brazen head said Time is,
time was, times past?' Come, Clara,
it is very little use for you and me to
play at cross-purposes. Why did you
send for me in such hot haste to tell
me OF your husbands DEATH"