Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-05-01

once more with the old frank smile in
them that he knew so we'll
No possible risk-no; he had been fool
and coward ever to think of IL, and his
resolution to keep out of her way-the res
olution that he had thought so wise and Sc
good-was entirely foolish and unuoues.
sary. She need never know the reason of
his brief visit home" Why should not he
have business In England as well Us an.
other man, and how should she suspect
the mad desire to see her face once more
that had brought him from the other side
of the world2
Thus thinking-if indeed tho rapid
stream OF recollections, suggestions and
reassuring convictions that rushed through
his mind could rightly be dignhcd with
the name of thought-he strobe boldly out
into the corridor, a noticeable figure
enough from his commanding stature and
grand breadth of shoulder Many eyes fol-
lowed him as he passed between the banks
OF flowers with which the wide corridor
was lined on either side, and many were
the speculations as to who he was and why
he was at the ball, since he spoke to no
one and nobody seemed to know him. But
he passed on, unconscious alike of admir-
ing eyes and fruitless speculation.
Meantime Maud had suffered her part
ner to lead her to wide window seat at
the farther end of the corridor from that
where her old friend was seeking her The
girls face looked strangely pale now that
the flush dancing had brought to 1t had
died away, and there was an expression Of
something very like despair in her wide
gray eyes as she listened to her compan-
ions eager words.
you know you promised me my an
swer tonight, Maud, and we maynt have
such "a chance again. No one has found
out this corner yet, but it won't escape the
observation of the crowd long. I've waited
patiently and haven't bothered you bit
and now-at last-time's up. You won't
ask me to wait any longery" a look OF
sudden dismay clouded the boyish bright
ness of his face as he sp,Ne, but only for u
| moment.
| "No, won't ask you to wait any lon
ger'-the girls words came slowly and
with an evident extraordinarily do you
want me to say yes, when you know that
don't care for you? No. hear me out,
as he would have interrupted her. IL lik,
you, but don't care for you in that way
and never shall"
"But you will, Maud; you must wheI
you see how awfully fond p
mo, l never shall, know. If you in
sist on marrying me, you shall at least dc
1t with your eyes open, Mr.. Melbourne"
ooh, don't speak to me like that!
"But feel to you like that, and mus
speak as l feel. Feelp with swift sci
scorn. What have to do with feeling IA
allp If l marry you, 1t will be TO escap
from my present life-to get away from
myself-from the everlasting, purposeles
round Of dances and dinners. have toll
you this before"
eyes, and have told you that l Low
you"
"And yet you don't hesitater'
"For myself no." He was silent ms
ment, look Of most unusual indecisio
on his face. But you put things differ
emily tonight" he said at length. "Yo
say you know you shall never care for mt
l don't see how you can know that III
Less
"Unless"- She faced him bravel.
though a sudden flush showed she alread
grasped his meaning.
You care for some one else, he sal
very deliberately. "Do you, MaudY'
Did she?
For "a moment he thought she was q
J ing to break into indignant denials, the
all at once her face softened and change
and the light of a wonderful joy flasht
into it as she sprang to her feet exclain
; ing:
"Denzil! At lastl'
5 Young Melbourne turned In astonlsl
) ment. Who was this stately looking ma
5 that Maud should go to meet him wit
$ outstretched hands Of welcome and hri
liant, rapturous smiler
, No matter who he was, the boy felt tn
his question was answered. He took h
8 dismissal quietly and left them without
= word, nor did any one see him again tn
night.
Q And Denzil?
+ At the sight OF Maud's eager eyes al
l. sweet, we'll remembered smile, he forg
b all his stern resolutions and carefully CT
!, tivated convictions. He had never ev
Q dreamed of the possibility of such me'
o ing as this, and the glad recognition tn
g rang in her voice fairly swept him of
feet, strong, self contained man though
q was.
For she loved him. He saw 1t in her ey,
r heard 1t in her voice, knew 1t at last I
10 tonishinR, we'll nigh impossible II
IS though it was, and, this being So nothi
70 could come between them; no proud, d
dainful relations could part them a
more. and when Denzil Claxton return
1t To Australia after his brief visit was ON
" his wife accompanied him, and great
t the wrath and Indignation among
1t Draycourts, who had tried SO hard to ma
70 her in all respects one with Intensely
10 only to fail SO signally at the last.
~ But Maud was happy, and once bn
again among DenZil's people and all
congenial associations of the past she SC
IS regained the bright serenity and sun
tn sweetness of nature which she had "
IL nigh lost in that alien land to which |
n. kind fate and Denzil's stern sense of dl
It, had for time transplanted her.-Hou
H., hold Words.
Tho Now Woman,