Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-06-21

Miss Clanyarde was standing In the
little porch talking TO the schoolmis-
tress when Sir Cyprian opened the low
wooden gate. She looked up at the
sound OF his footstep with sudden
blush.
81 dill not know you were at Dayen-
ant, Sir Cyprian," She said, with some
little embarrassment, as they shook
hands.
81 have not been at Dayenant, Miss
Clanyarde. | only left town this
morning. have come down here 10
say good-by to Dayonant and all old
friends.
The blush faded and left the lovely
face very pa'o,
as it true that you are going to
Africa, Sir Cyprian? hoard from
some friends in town that you were go
ing to soin Captain Harcourt's eXpedi-
tiCn."
1T is quite true. / promised Har-
court some years ago that If he ever
went again | would 90 with him."
And you are pleased to go, | sup
pose?"
mo, Miss Clanyarde, not pleased to
go. But | think that sort of thing Is
about the best employment for the en-
orgies of waif and stray, such as am.
| have lived my life, you see, and have
not u single card left to play in the
game Of civilized existence. There Is
some hope of adventure out yonder.
Are you going homer"
ayes, | was just saying good-by to
Miss Evans as you came in"
Then I'll walk back to March brook
with you, If you'll allow me. | told
the lodgekeeper l would return by
and-by in the hope of finding Lord
Clanyarde,
"You have been to Marchbrook al
ready, them"
eyes; and they told me at the lodge
that / should find you here"
After this there came rather an awk-
ward silence. They walked away from
the sChoolhouse side by side, Sir Cyp-
rian furtively watchful of his compan-
ions face, in which there were signs
of u sorrow that seemed something
deeper than the conventional regret
which a fashionable beauty might ex-
press for the departure OF a favorite
Walter.
The silence was not broken until
they had a rived at point where two
roads met, the turnpike road to March
brook and shady lane-a cross-coun-
try road, above which the overarching
branches of the elms made u roof of
foliage at this bright midsummer sea-
a ~ nhi Inn
Marchbrook by this lane-a tempting
walk conn a ed to the high-road.
"Let us go back by the lane, said
Cyprian. ut is little longer, but /
am sure you are not in q hurry. You
would have dawdled away half the
morning talking to that young woman
ut the school, if hadn't come to fetch
you; and it will be our last walk to-
gether, Constance. | may call you
Constance, may | not, as | used when
you were in the nursery? | am emit
tied to few dismal privileges, like q.
dying man, you know. Oh, Constance,
what happy hours we have spent to-
gether in these Kentish lanesl ] shall
see them in my dreams out yonder
and your face will shine down upon me
from background of green leaves and
blue sky; and then | shall awake to
find myself camping out upon some
st. etch of barren sand, with jackals
bowling in the distance.
What q dreadful picturep said Con-
stance, with faint forced laugh. "But
if you are so reluctant to leave En-
gland, why do you persist in this Afri-
can expedition"
1T is point OF honor with me to
keep my promise; and it is better for
me to be away from England"
"You are the best judge of that
question"
Sir Cyprian was slow to reply to this
remark, He had come down to Kent
upon sudden impulse, determined in
no manner to betray his own folly, and
bent only upon snatching the vain de-
light of farewell interview with the
girl he loved. But to he with her and
not to tell her the truth was more diff
cult than he had imagined. He could
see that she was sorry for his depar-
tue, He believed that she loved him,
but Re knew enough of Viscount Clan
yarde's principles and his daughters
education to know there would be
something worse than cruelty in ask
ing this girl to share hi broken for
tunes.
YES, Constance, he went on, at is
better for me to be away. So long as |
am here it is the old story of the in
sect and the flame. cannot keep out
of temptation. | cannot keep myself
from haunting the places where | am
likely to meet the girl l love, fondly,
foolishly, hopelessly. Don t look at me
with tho o astonished eyes, my dar-
ling; you have known my ecret ever so
long. l,lneaut to keep silent till the
very end; but, you see the words are
spoken in spite of me. My love, l dare
not ask you to be my wife. dare only
tell you that no other woman will fill
that place, You are not angry with
me, Constance, for having spoken?"
Angry with you" she began, and
then broke down utterly and burst into
tears.
He drew his arm round her with
tender, protecting gesture, and soothed
her gently, as If she had been child.
My darling, | am not worth your
tears. If | had been O better man, |
might have redeemed Davenant by this
time, and might have hoped to make
you my wife. There would have been
some hope for me, would there not,
dear, If | could have offered you home
that your father could approve?"
u am not 81 mercenary as you think
me, answered Constance, drying her
tears, and disengaging herself from
Sir Cyprians encircling arm. Il am
not afraid of poverty. But | know that
NV fafbou ,,,o,,1l -. f...,