The McCook tribune., 1896-12-25
CHAPTER IX.-fCoxTINUED.D

|
call her into the adjoining sitting
room. How have / forfeited my piac'
| in your good graces?" he began, II
| playfulness. that was lost III earnest
ness before he finished his speech.
| have tried to persuade myself that YOU
| cold avoidance of me for weeks past
| and your rejection of my services Wheh
ever it is possible for you to dispense
with them, was, in part, an unfoundee
| fancy of my own, and partly the re-
suit of your absorption in the deal
duty that has demanded your time
and thoughts. | have begun lately tc
have other fears-dreads lest | had un-
Willingly wounded or displeased you
Do me the justice to believe that, ii
! this be so, the offense was unconscl-
| GUS"
You have offered none-none what
everw interposed Constance, with cold
emphasis. Il am sorry my manner has
! given rise to such apprehensions.
THAT is not spoken like the frank
sister of a month ago." said Edward,
retaining the hand she would have
withdrawn. Il will not release you
until you tell me what is the shadow
upon the affection that was to ne more
dear than any other friendship, and
which | dared hope was much TO You.
Be, for one instant, yourself, and tell
me ALL
She was very pale, but, in deSpera-
ton, she tried to laugh. You must
not call me to account for my looks
and actions nowadays, Edward. l think
sometimes that | am not quite sane.
| have gone through much suffering;
been the prey of imaginings that al
most deprived me of reason, besides
enduring the real and present trial.
And heaven knows how unready | was
for it all"'
One word my dear girl, and my in
QUESTION is over. Assure me honestly
and without fear of wounding me, have
you ever. in your most secret thought,
blamed me for the casualty which So
nearly widowed you? l did try, as you
can bear me witness, to dissuade him
whom We both love from the expert
ment that cost him so dear. The idea
that you may have doubted this has
panied me ineXpressibly.'
Dismiss the suspicion at once and
forever.' Constance looked steadily
into his face and spoke calmly. THE
thought has never entered my mind.
I blame no one for my trouble-eXcept-
ing myselfv'
Before she could divine his purpose
Edward had put his arm over her
shoulder and pressed his lips to hers.
Let bygones be bygones." he said,
brightly and fondly. I'VE have too
much to live and to hope for to waste
time in nursing unhealthy surmises
and fears"
"Ohv' The sharp little interiection
came from the threshold of the door
leading into the hall where Miss Field
was dicovered in fine attitude OF bash
ful apology. family favored with prud
ish CONSERVATION. Il did not dream
you were here. l was on my way to
my cousins room"' she continued, in
prodigious fiutter of ringlets and
shoulders. Il beg a million pardons,
am sure"
You need not beg one"' said the
undaunted Edward, without releasing
Constance. Connie and I have been
settling trivial misunderstanding in
good boy-and-girl style-have just
kissed and made up and we now mean
to be better friends than ever
'sHnf hpf nVcnSciJl1I- Il
to be sure!" Uttered Harriet But
shaking her black curls-"Mrs. With
ers knows men and human nature too
we'll to believe quite all you say. We
must not forget. my dear madam,
that men were deceivers ever
You speak feelingly," said Edward, |
following Constance with his |
eye, as she moved silently toward her |
husbands chamber. Il shall caution |
the lady of my love-should the gods |
ever bestow one upon me-not to sip of |
the bitter waters of your wisdom
Had he seen the glitter of the round. |
black orbs that pursued his retiring
figure. he might have made more
thouGhtful exit, his run down the stairs
been1less swift, the air he hummed. as
be went, less gay.
He had a pleasant drive; Constance
an hour of mingled sweet and bitter
ness. 1t was difficult to bear her part
in the apparent renewal of the familiar
intercourse of other days, without re-
laxing the severe guard she had set
upon herself from the moment she dis
covered the true nature of the senti-
nent she entertained for her husbands
brother She could not help delight
ing in his society, in the manifold
proofs Of loving concern for her COM
ort and happiness of which she was the
recipient. Yet, underlying this secret
and fieeting joy, was the ever-9resent
shame that marked her remembrance |
# her guilty weakness. and the despair
ng knowledge that remorse. du1g and
'esolve had thus far availed nothing
o conquer it.
She looked jaded rather than r>-sesh-
ID upon her return, although she had
the ride in opposition to Ed
wards advice Wild. rebeliious