The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-21
CHAPTER VI.
THE SHADOW OF PARTING.

Laurence ManBan spent some days IN
looking over the territory in which the
principal park was to be located, ac-
cording TO the information he had re-
ceived from sources he knew to be re-
liable. There are many men in politics
who are so anxious to make friends
with newspaper men that they OCCASION
ally abuse tho confidence of others and
disclose state secrets, so to speak, we'll
knowing that their own are safe.
Have You ever thought how those big
stories, not coming through regular
news channels, have been drawn into
print, startling the public and the par
ties interested with the precision of
statement and accuracy of detail? This
may enlighten you. 1t was one of
Raymond lieutenants, an assembly,
man, who told Mangan that Raymond
had explained, when asked why he did
not leave the appointment of the COM
missioners to the supreme court, instead
of naming them in the bill, that one of
the justices could not be depended on.
just think of it'll One man under
tho political system of this free country
can not only have laws passed to suit
his purposes ii he is shrewd political
leader, but can actually have these
laws interpreted as he pleases by his
own nominees on the bench if he have
no quarrel with theml We shudder
when we read of the tyrannies of the
cZar, whether all of us, or only some of
us, may palliate the nihilism engen-
dered by the excesses of Russian autoc-
Harn wa boy n ,,nlitica1
luton. We clean out one or more
branches of the city government, where
wrong has become so potent as to be
notorious, but the other departments to
which the ramifications of fraud have
extended are left untouched year after
year. The politicians have been taught
lesson, and the taxpayers take a rest.
So it is that our political reforms are
transitory, and that the uprising at the
polls we imagine to be the palingenesy
of our liberties, not to say palladium,
becomes the genesis of greater official
corruption, because the feeling Of secur-
ity it creates has more strength than
wisdom. 1t temporizes.
Laurence Mangan had all the facts of
his assignment in mind, so far as they
related to the commission and probable
sites. He would soon be able to turn
in his article. He had completed all
his arrangements for starting TO Denver
and had made up his mind that he
would call again upon Mother st. Ger
trude and Isabel and make his adieus.
That afternoon he started for the CON
vent. 1t was two days after the recep-
l,s.T, M1rti,,ar Ha hoH
seen Isabel $ name in the newspaper
account of the reception, but to him
there was no special significance in that,
for he knew that lsabel's presence was
looked for by the people whose names
figured in the report of the event. She
was often In demand at entertainments
and other affairs where her taste and
executive ability contributed to the sue
cess. If she was called upon where
hard tasks were imposed, it was but
natural that she should share in the
social pleasures of those whom she aid
ed at other times.
What surprise was in store for himl
Isabel came to receive him, not play
fully as on the last occasion, with the
raillely that had lightened his heart,
but difiidently, demurely, blushing, out
stretching her hand mechanically, bow
ing her head in a vain attempt to hide
her confusion.
She would have given worlds to be
relieved of her secret, and yet she be-
lieved his honor depended upon her ret
icence with respect to it.
He was nonplused. Was her action
- g. I,nA IL. o.,
time he had met her since their troth
had been piighted-and plighted under
conditions that implied, on her own
understanding, sense of her unworth-
mess? Or did she, with woman's in
tuition, divine that this meeting, SOLE
cistic though the thought, was to be one
of parting2
Leverike he sought in his own inner
consciousness for some reason that
would account for her conduct. Some
where and somehow, where and when
he could not then discover, he was re-
Bponsible, not she. How quick the
mind works under such circumstances!
No hesitation was apparent in him from
the moment the heayy doors of the con-
vent clesed until he had his arm around
her, awakening her faith in his own
strength, while her head, leaning
against his breast, her golden locks
waving on his left shoulder, was press
ed gently back by kiss upon her brow,
and her face upturned to his.
You didn't look for me, did your"
he asked, assuming a gayness that he
did not feel
"No.
With his arm still around her waist,
they walked into the reception room.
Didn't you expect me to come to say
goodby before l went to Denver?" he
began. You must have known |
wouldn't delay? When did you think
was gong 10 put my promise into ex-'
ocution;"
II didn't know"
"Suppose it was the day after tomor-
row.
why SO soonl'
Don't you know"
Il cant think.
well, the sooner l unyeil the mys-
terry, the sooner you are mine.
Her brother talking to her as loverl
Her heart and soul revolted. He had
expected her to press closer to him, not
to start back, as she did. Quickly she
saw her mistake. His strange look ap,
prised her of it. She must suffer and
bear Her resolution seemed to call
mp power superhuman, and the paiu
that worked upon her features disap
peared, much as does the sun chased
shadow.
Il had not thought you were going
away SO suddenly"
Then you do not wish to part just