The morning call., 1894-05-20

marry. l could not be happy married II
would not satisfy me"
'.Stella, if you loved me it would change
all that. You would be happy them
''No, 1 should not be. happy even then.
7 should not be true TO my IDEAS"
Life with me does not come UP to your
ideal. | suppose" Alan replied, bitterly.
81 am not very intellectual. it is true. but
offer you myself. my whole life, the best
that is in me"
Noting. and Miss Lisle picked up
her hat and gloves.
Alan barred her way to the door: for a
brief moment His voice was husky and
"Your ideal life will fail you one day,
and thsn-remem that shall De sui
waiting"
Miss Grey returned from church to ma
Alan packing his pOrtmanteau'
".
Twelve years later Miss Isle had
realized many of her early am billions AS
the successful bead mistress of a large
ana thriving girls bfgh school, and as
prominent figure in the literary circles OF
narrow. AT 10 scarcely gray line was
apparent In her abundant masses of q ark
ualr, ana her face had still the clear-cut,
marole-llke beauty which sometimes re-
mans even to extreme old age.
IL was haZy autumn afternoon, toward
the end of the '1ong holiday" when Miss
14IsIe expected visit from her Qu0ndam
head mistress, Miss Grey. She stood at a
window as the hansen stopped, ard saw
Two hgures, instead of one, emerge from it
and approach the visitors door.
Twelve years had passed since she had
seen Alan Grey. The sight of him moved
her more than she had Thought possible.
YOu see l have an escort" Miss Grew
said, warmly greeting her friend.
Alan's deep blue eyes searched Miss
glance. He was much thinner than for
merly. There were hollOws beneath his
cheek bones and an atienuated look about:
his temples. new to Miss Lise.
HAS your brother been pr she asked,
as Alan paused to examine an old print on
the staircase OF the new west wing, which
was the pride of her heart.
He is often Ill, Miss Grey replied in
low voice, glarclng around TO assure her.
self that Alan was out of earshot. when
he was Young man and we were staying
with my married sister at Liverpool, there
was tremendous ire opposite the house,
and Alan got his side hurt in saving a
woman. He has never been really we'll
since. tell him that be wants a wife to
take care Of him, but he always gives me
answer--that he is waiting Curious, is
it not?"
Very" Miss Isle replied il faint
voice.
One object of Miss Grey's visit was the
Intervening OF student mistress, whom
Miss Isle thought fitted to fill vacancy
at Lanchester; hence. for a short time
Alan and Miss Lisle were alone.
'IS this VOur ideal life 81
ruptly, referring TO their conversation of
twelve years ago as though it were of Y es-
terday.
1T was my ideal I1fe." Miss Lisle re-
piled, slowly, her innate truthfulness COM
polling use Of the past tense.
And is no longer?" Alan questioned,
eagerly.
- on are tired of being alone in a crowd.
Come to me, now. Be my wife at last.
have waited for twelve years"
Like lightning flash Miss Isle saw
the two paths stretching before her.-the
prominent, lonely position she now oc-
cupied contrasting itself with the quiet.
dual life in Alan's country home. What
falling from her pedestal, what a LAYING
down Of her colors it would bel Burning
words OF hers against the folly Of girls re-
garding marriage as the sole desirable
fate Of woman required to her. More than
once such words bad been uttered in the
schoolhall and elsewhere. 'AhW people
would say, ''she has only been waiting for
a chance after ALL"
Alan was very close to her; his hand
touched her sleeve; she felt MS breath
upon her cheek. The one or the many,
winch was to win?
''Stella!" and her hand was locked 41
his.
She snatehed it away.
No! No! 1t cannot bel Never ask me
again."
''Never?''
No."
Then I shall have to walt until the
END, and the dreary ring in Alan's voice
echoed for Miss Isle until the end came
Within sight of the school ran an ele-
yate1 Viadurt. and an hour later Miss
LIsie watched the train, which was bear
ing Alan away, cross and disappear. How
large aud lonely the school seemed! How
ugly the west wing, for the building of
which she had striveu so longI
The last puff OF steam died away again st:
the darkening blue of the sky, and Miss
Llsle. resting her head upon the hard
wood OF a school desk, found the hot tears
yelling up into her eyes.
The love of the one had been pitted
against the criticism Of the many and had
lost, but it would cry in: her heart with a
bitter wall until. in the consummation of
All things. its craving should be stilled.-+
Longman'S Magazine