The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-12-14

tnaU IN all us many years had known
but one pure affection, had ceased to
beat, and Penruddock was no more.
Mrs. Neville had called at Dicks
rooms, where the dying man lay,
every day during his illness, and had
seen Dick and conversed with him
many times of his fathers state
alone-no other topic had been
touched upon. On two occasions
Hilda accompanied her, but on those
days the young man had been either
accidentally or wilfully absent.
Not once during all these long
weeks had the cousins met. They
had never, indeed. seen each other
since that last momentous evening
in South Audley street, when Es-
theirs disclosure had made them
change sides. and had changed the
fortunes of both; SO happily for one,
SO d~isastrously for the other.
Yet, about that time there was a
policeman IN that quarter who for
many nights had kept a sharp watch
upon a certain young man, well
dressed. but with his collar turned
up to his ears-looking upon him as a
possible burglar, for he would stand
for an hour without finching oppo-
site a certain house. gazing upon
nothing-so far as X 81 could see
except a faint streak of light that
that came from an upper window.
Finally X 81 grew tired or ashamed
of his suspicious, and, comforting
himself with the thought that this
eccentric young man was either a
harmless lunatic Or an admirer oil
the upper housemaid, let him gaze
in peace.
To-day is too lovely for descrip-
tion. 1.-The sun has drunk the dew
that lay upon the morning grass
the very birds are silent from excess
of languor; the flowers droop and
grow pensive beneath the heat, and
all nature seems at rest.
In the castle. on this golden Sep
TENDER morning, scarcely a sound
can be heard. The inner world
seems as lazy, as averse to action of
any kind as the world without.
Three days ago Mrs. Neville
brought Hilda down to her birth
place; but the girl ha; refused to
find comfort or pleasure in the grand
old castle. Wealth has come to her,
and, for the time at least, happiness
has departed,
There is a pallor in her cheeks,
a fountain of hushed tears in her ex-
pressive eyes, that goes to Minis
heart; but having extracted a prom
Use from Dick that he will not leave
England without bidding them fare
we'll, she can only wait patiently, if
unhappily, for what is yet to come.
it is coming very quickly, that for
which she waits-the solution OF all
her doubts.
Even as she and Hilda are sitting
together in one of the morning
rooms, silent. but full of thought, a
footstep sounds in the hall without,
the door is opened and Dick Penrud-
dock stands before them, pale and
haggard, but always the same Dick
in one pair of eyes at least.
81 am very fortunate in having
found you at home" says Dick in
his most formal II have
come down here because 1 promised,
and because l could not leave Eng
land without bidding you goodbye"
''He takes Mrs. Neville's hand,
and presses it warmly with a faint,
very faint, smile.
"'Good-bye" echoes she, in dis
may. as though the fear of this hour
has not been t%ormenting her for
days.
Eyes; I am about to leave the
country never more to return to it"
He has not dared to glance at
Hilda after the first involuntary look
on greeting her.
.'But this is all so sudden, so
dreadful" says Mrs. Neville who is
at her wits end. What is your
purpose in leaving? Where are you
going:"
10 New Zealand-anywhere. L
hardly know whittier; and, indeed. it
matters very little. so long as | get
we'll away from the old world and all
its associations"
'.How you must hate the old
world" says a soft voice close to
him, that has a suspicious tremble
in it. "Do you mean to carry moth
ing from it but ~regrets:"
'Nothing"-shortly.
"Is everything forgottenH' asks
the soft voice again. even more
TREMENDOUSLY this time. 'sCan you
remember no happy hours?"
'tMY deepest regret" says the
young man, with infinite sadness,
lilies in the fact that l shall never
be able to forget those happy hours"
Mrs. Neville, kind and considerate
soul that she is, has stepped into
the conservatory for the time being,
therefore they are virtually alone.
"Dick!" says Hilda, looking and
speaking very tenderly and very re-
proachfully.
DON'T" says Penruddock. hastily.
s.Do anything but speak to me in that
tone. 1t is more than l can bear.
For weeks l have beer training my
self to meet you with proper cold
ness, and now. by one kind word.
with one gentle look you would seek
to undo all my labor"