The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-06-30

|
 "she is beautiful beyond all telling"
 had honestly answered.
 He looked at me euriolisiy: laughed
 that merry laugh of his. which always
 lighted his face gioriousiy. and rallied
 me with.
 "Ah. Bob. I see in which quarter the
 wind Hes. They shall comar'
 And so they did. How generous he
 was about it all. besides!
 He never made them feel depen-
 dence. Mrs. Hardie gradually and
 graciously became the lady of the house. discreet. wise mother to both: i: and we were very proud of her fine courtly ways: while Robend, fhy, shrinking. voiceless Robena, how hoon she became our pet and household Joy 1! l remember. too. how glad and grate- full I was to have Neville swear he loved Robena as deeply as myself His goodness had expression in mum berless delicate ways which always came to her as mutual kininesses and gave her splendid maturing powers fine development in music. in art and in the languages: while her mo;h, r's eager almost savage pride in all this was joy to see.
 It still seemed dream as sat there to remember the honest college work together; the
 "' ever stirring pleasant memories 0f many bright laborous afternoon On the old Isis;-"
 the sweet home hours of toll md rest and peace; the grand good courage Ro- bena gave us both until the coveted degrees and honors were taken: and. above all. her pride in our well-earned victories which, until now. had alone seemed worth all the heroic struggle. That was but yesterday. A lifetime | of bitterness seemed to have come be- tween. Why, as I sat there hIGaled | in the compartment corner. the agony | of the utter change in all rEy life ko- rizon, indeed in its complete blottirg out. until prison walls of hooeiessnass | black as night against my carriage window, choked and stified me until I cried out above the roaring of the train.
 It had all come, too, in an instant. How could human being so change in day. or an hour?
 We were sitting in the library dis cussing our future plans. Both Lord Neville and myself had ambition for literary achievement. He had the abili- ty, prestige, the wealth, to win almost instant attention and appreciation. I had no doubt of him; ard loved to spur on his ambition with, Neville, you have Byrons genius. Be as great poet and a. safer man!'
 AS for myself, the old long road through labor for support and even- 1 tual preferment on the London dailies, the weeklies, the reviews and maga- zines, was to be mine. 1 was satisfied to toll and wait, and already had good connexions with leading London jour- nal. I had been telling him how soon I hoped to be able to repay him at least in part for his munifcent generosities.
 q shall be offended # the matter is ever again referred to- he answered in his bright, decisive way.
 We were at opposite sides of the li- brary table. His splendid head tested in one hand. and the disensaged hand had apparently unconsciously touched my own, as if to emphasize the protest of his words My gratitude was so oyerflowing and tender that involun- tarily raised his hand to my lips. He withdrew it quickly and said:
 Newton, there is another matter we may not be able to settle 50 easi- ly."
 "Why. what can that be, Neviile::" asked with concern. ,-
 "Robena."
 "Robena?" 1
 Yes"
 The tone of his voice, the strange ex- pansion and contraction of his eyes and the sudden palenes of his face. instantly revealed to me the gulf of worse than hate which mus. now Jay between us f:-ever.
 We can sC:r.e,C LisIgr-e about Ro- bena. Nr7-:.-. .-..-ss:.. .s:. you a.c s" .Erch ,h; friend an.i have known for more than year that she Is to be my wife" I managed to temporizingly offer.
 "Oh, yes, that's all right, Newton" to have known, all along, that love her quite as deeply as yourself. Now, when two men love the same woman, one, or both, must stand aside. I'm not going to stand aside To be per- fectly plain and end painful matter, I have decided to take Mrs. Hardie and her daughter under my own wing, Newton"
 "To what end?" managed to falter. Notwithstanding his astounding inn pudence and heartlessness, could not yet believe him villain.
 T decline to answer any such ques-' tion It is enough to say that in all your life you can never be in position to fittingly provide for. two ladies of their cultivation and tastes"
 'Is your love for Robena such as to give her the protection of your name should she consent to wear it, Lord Neville"
 Tt is sufficient to make her comfort able and independent for. life. A man is coward who will profess love for any woman before he has acquired that ability.
 now knew he was villain, howev- CT long he had been one. My impulse l was to strike him. He saw this, but | never quailed. I controlled myself | and, instead, sprang toward the ladies' | apartments with some swift, confused | resolve to know the worst from them. l would have staked my life on Robe- mas loyalty. But would I not also | have staked it upon Neville's honor and friendship, five minutes. before? Was the ambitious, patient, polished moth- CT of the woman loved real author of | the subtle cunning behind Lord Ne ville's insolent assurance? x remember that when had reached l