Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-05-03
ache, but forgot It under xlc more serl-

was made, either by him or M IS Lyon
when he took leave from her after the
supper that had been so dlsagreeably in.
terrupted. The actress, felt herself
guilty and tremble1 with momentnry APP
Drehension to see the violence Of Raphs
passion turning against her. The Doc
tor, on the other hand, was In part paci-
fed by tho promptness with which she
had resented Walters impudence, and In
part felt himself too excited to converse
reasonably with her on the various topics
or which he must come to an under
standing with Ter.
In the morning these topics futtered
over his mental horizon like so many
dark demons of night.
Against mis- brother he felt very bitter.
There never had been very warm
affection between him and Walter-their
characters. tastes and habits were too
different. But, of course, an external
state of peace must be kept up. II only
Spofford and the Count would hold their
tongues. ,,s.
But Lucy must Immediately quit a life
IN which such scenes as the one OF last
night wore po sible. Ralph could noC
bear the idea of seeing her on the stage
another time lie resolved to insist that
she should break off her engagement
that very day, even II 1t should become
necessary to pacify her manager by q
| considerable sum OF money.
Then he thought over bis financial
situation. He had money enough to
support himself and wife for year or
two. here or abroad After that be must
rcly upon what he could earn himself, II
tho break with his mother should become
| final.
Here was tho point that weighed most
heavily on the young mans heart as ne
was leisurely dressing himself that morn
ing.
| Was he not in honor bound to give
Miss Lyon a clear insight into his
affairs before she bound herself to
hIm2 1t was more than probable that
she supposed him to be rich in his own
right. Ought he not to tell her that he
! was living on the bounty Of his mother,
| and that but for her he should be only a
poor physician who would even inevita-
bly, 10 his pre- ,ent practice II he should
be rerounce1 by his family?
1t was clear to him that such was the
duty of a gentleman. Yet he hesitate1.
| ATHll bQcTG $40 V luJO uiIli OiUe
vague but harassing fear that had made
him uncomfortable the night before
Could it be that Lucy was not all the
ideaism of love had pictured her to his
imagination? And If his fear was well
grounded, might she not possibly desirc
to take back her word on discovering his
poverty?
At the thought an icy chill came over
the young man. Life without her
seemed to be worse than death. And
vet that harassing doubt would not be
banished.
He could not pluck up courage enough
to tell her. 1t was like demanding his
| death sentence.
DR. Warringham was not & moral hero
He was merely human, like the rest OF
| us.
In this frame of mind he called, after
breakfast, upon Miss Lyon. He found
her ready to comply with his wishes.
Accordingly, she at once wrote letter
to the manager, informing him that she
was i'll and couid not appear that night.
In fact, the letter stated, her Doctor tod
her that there was little hopc Of her TO-
covery in time to resume her work dur
Ing tho present season
l. This note she read to her lover, with
a roguish smile, and then leaned back
In her chair, mimicking the anguor and
exhaustion Of chronic yaletudinarlan
with such ludicrous exaggeration that
Ralph, with all his troubles, could no;
help breaking into loud laughter.
"Now you will sec my bear. .eader ap'
rear, his lips overfowlng with honeycd
81, hic boo ~ fult nf
wrath" she said, merrily. "Oh, how
am afraid" She hid her face in her
hands, like a child who is hiding from
the threatened appearance Of the back
man.
/ Could this charming young girl, who
/ laughed and played with all the limo
cence of child, harbor mercenary mo-
yes? Ralph called himself scoundrc
| for having doubted, even an instant, the
sincerity of her love. Why, she was toe
Innocent to even fully comprehend h'S
meaning if he should tell her about his
financial fears. Why disturb her merry
happiness?
l. The young man had found an excusC
for his moral cowardico One can al
ways find reason for approving Of do
| Ing what his heart is set on.
"Let him come" he said, lightly. "l1
It is necessary we must appeaso hi:
wrath with gold. But now tell me" hC
added more seriously, "sinco VIC cannot
wait until we have overcome the preju
dices of my mother, when shall we bC
married?"
His conscience was not quite satisfied
with the reasoning Of his heart. AS ne
spoke these words he dared not look into
her face. His eye rested upon tho glove
with which he nervously played.
Miss Lyon did not reply in words, but
when he raised his eyes, after waiting
an instant, she had pretty blush ready
This is not the place for the recipe o.
actresses bushes
awe need no preparations for our quiet
affair."" Ralph continued ais tomorrow
too soon, love?"
The handsome girl laid her arm arounC
the Doctors neck and hid her face on hi:
shoulder He softly raised her head
and, looking full into those great, deep
beautiful eyes, ne entreated:
"Tel me, my darling"
"Whenevcr yOI wish, Ralph" she NUT
tered. scarcely audibly, hi ling her eye:
Donlnu Inc IOn IdouOc, "HliO duOOHSl
blush oversprcad her features witt
crimson.
"To-morrOw, them" he exclaimed
iubilanty, and his lips met hers,
At this moment the young man agair
felt all the happiness that had inspired
him as he sat by his open study window
two Gays before. Poor Ralph!
So it was arranged that Ralph War
rinqham and Lucy Lyon should be made