The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-07

her mind. She remembered Cyril
Coofnbs, 1t In true. but only as a casual
acquaintance; all recollection OF their re-
lation. Of their last conversation OF his
dreadful end, had been I'm some wise OBJ
liberated. Yet so sensitive Is the soul
That unwittingly hers was impressed by
these past experiences, which might well
nave been those OF former life. She
was often enveloped by n vague and
melancholy contritiOn. which, like the
clouds OF summer. had its own gentle
charms. SAe became averse to society,
shrinking from its gayety in an unreason-
free from engr0ssing worship and recep-
1--WE through sOftenlng. At her bedside
had continued a tender, tireess nurse.
Ills were the arms that bore her like a
little child down stairs into the sunshine,
as IL OF a new day. His was the en-
brace that supported her falterlng steps.
Even the brute creation Is subject TO
Kindness and gratitude. Can the rigid
moralist be so stn-necked as TO deny
that an undisciplined. vet not obCrnrate
nature, such as Amelia's must have been
deeply touched by her husbands devo-
ton?
Indeed, she would have reioiced to have
retained her former complacency, but
her very debility initiated against her,
lot health Is often the source OF insensi-
biIity. Being affected at all, meant
hein2 affected thoroughly, to Amelia !;
impulse and IMAGINATION Joined into a
fiery team and rushed her into fondness.
Her passion for Louis, watered often
by mysterious tears, grew apace and
substantially Her purpose I'm life
changed from her own pleasure unto his.
When she had recovered, her wfeiy re-
gard accompanied her physical strength.
ferhaps her character from being distort-
cd was now rally developed. AZ least
she felt that I'm the self that was true
dWelt her true self. AS for Louis. he a1-
mlUed no Improvement except In himself;
ion he Holt a
that he was more appreciatlve OF that
happiness which had never been less
than idyllic
And so the golden years combined into
2 decades golden altar unto felicity.
The Nitcheiis were quoted rs tho latest
instance Of Darby and Joan, and thus
held 10 ridiCule by those too wttIess 10
be euvious. They heded not, however,
the contempt any more than they miss
cd the adulatOn Of the gay world. They
lived for the most part on their beauti-
full place at Greepdun, dreadlng the
loneliness Of not being together alone
Amelia would have been tranquil couIi
she have been sure; but behind every
bIissfu to-day mrkcd an unknown to-
morrow. and its prcsage frightened her.
"Will you always love me. Louis, as
you DO nOw?' she would ask in unsat-
ished rciteratiOn. Always and more"
he would VOW, with all the assurance
OF Ignorance.
Louis was proud Of his blooded horses;
their speed and gentlcnesS We're his
boast. Df the former amelia was dis
agreoably certain; Of the latter sun more
disagreeably skepticaL In fact, she was
timil well nigh unto terror. the after
mgth doubtless OF her accident And
vet. because Louis desired her com
uany. she went with him on his drives;
not as q victim, but as a more ardent
admirer; for when love acts a part realty
Is improved. Thus. his delight in her
pleasure became the instrument OF her
torture: nor was this misery H-founded
one day, WHOM tyin" through the laEe;
q scrap Of paper, one or those ffEidi
objects which so often put forth deS-
tructive power. caused the team TO shy
and so unexpectedly, so violently that
the Ught road wagon was overturned
Iouis landed on his feet still master
Of the reius, but when he raised the We
hinla there lay Amc.ia. apparently I'M
scathCl. but unconscious. ms syhCope
continued uuhrotcn througout the sor-
rnwful home-g0ing and despite the ell
forts Of the skilled physician VINO had
50 successfully treated her previous IN
Jury "She Will arouse within twenty
four hours" said the doctor. There is
nothing 70 do except 10 watch and wait
there are no nfavOrable signs besides
This stupor which. I'm my Judgment IS
revival a reflex action, from the other
shock rather than a primary c2hcussi'ilI;
/ Will come directly you srnd' ana i
have no apprehension as TO the result
Louis sat by hts wife's bedside gaz-
ing almost IN reverence. Inere IS
sacredness about swo9n' se ,bn ,ra.
lied 20 infancy. just as death Is the pre-
cursor of a new life. The tense lines or
anxiety and passion fade aWaN Whlle
the touches OF gentleness become mo-
apparent. Amelia's face, was lh1er ttHoS
sweet. her very wrongdOing had alded
in its kindly moldjng for there had been
indefinite. vet actual, regret and mel
anchoiy. and never that fierce prlae
which harlcns and sets. TO her husnaIh;;
now that face appeared as a mirror OF
r,uritv n revelation OF heaven. lie ielt
that her soul freed from all ph!stcd'
and mental restraints. was saying, SEQ
INV beloved. within the most secret shrine
Of my heart IS kept my im ngarcarne him
ana he fell on his knees, pressing lhe
dead lily Of her hand 10 ms Ups, ~
praying. indeed. unless a mute I1iif sg
alteration be prayer. AnI as i Lo,.Hi ior,
ONT from the mighty veil Of the past
came n ray Of Intelligence ana tope Ii,,i
Amelia's torpid mind. IN me eN S',f,!
Of his Devotion IN, ga ttiat Si-tit t =, %
twalig's intellect responded, but as con-
fuecdIv as did that mans slght return
who saw men as trees WdlkllR. I'll
clearly solcmnIT. Enthusiastically Ut iin ,
cnunclatel that sentence, coHdeiuHa'.ts
ha,,orI explanation or excuse, Whlch the
cri .h OF the trains had STAYED tnem trolA
,,tt.rir,. IN CyrH Coomb's delight ten
,sars before. Then. as Louis spraHB
T., his feet and stood aghaSt. stricken
trausdycG. a wave OF light like the rolllnS
back Of a cloud giiicf over the woman
face. like n little child coming from
nanny dreams I'm a happier realty. Afhe-
ia Iirrcd Ter eyes and smiled ana was
Iagis SAT alone in the library. before
tho raIf-gcaI hearth sOmhre IN us Wal
Ing lsht. on a stand near by was ne
untasfn1 supper, In ms manu- va" -
dat nKrWarm. For days lie had mechah
900 h. arrar.gqi for his WiteS comfort,
me musicians had come and uttered com
nIarlnf fluctuations, a trained nurse Ht'
arri,.el from the city and was IN AZ
rnuIauce Thus far his excuse OF ntsStt
business had suffered. How Ahelld' ~
s,'u n..r,-.i aecpnce was impatient, ana
LIN, slrjina FOR him. lie must 20 TO
bcr sn1n m ne would avoid scandal
for already the keen servants We're VOL
drring lie must 90. but what should
Wsli-meaniug man was Louis Mitch n
ell conscientious. deNdHt' Sup'i'S2itc 80
duty. Thus far his lie hai uccu -" 49, ~
him. with health. wealth, domest nc haPpi-
,alS and a naturally tranquil lhlHd,
What he lacked? Perhaps from want ~
striving his muscles were HdC'lu, ~
hans from want Of action ms tempe.
"a. moi durtuc. Al all events, since tldl
rotaclysul he had felt Ike one VINO Hdu
str,rad from a well-lghtel, familiar pain
~ - M ~ become cntangiei in a black,
I",'ui'res thicket. For days ne mad not
- rmprIei. he had duly endured no"
he must make an effort. W nat ahoula
bioy ON the head with bludgeon
Stuns. one VINO IocsH IN IN