The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-21
A SUMNER NIGHT.

Tho hot summer sun was beating down
on tho long white streets and making the
flowers ON tho balconies droop, and eyon
tho leaves of tho limo trees hung listloss
and motionless In tho great heat. Not
single soul was to BIO seen in the usually
SO crowded Andrassy street in Budapest,
and tho old porter OF tho Hotel Esterhazy
sat half asleep, his chair we'll drawn back
into the shade. He knew very we'll that
10 ono could disturb him at that hour.
Esmc St. Maur lay down on the sofa,
lamenting that her fate had mado her
spend this grilling afternoon in Budapest.
A few seconds later tnll, sunburncd
man camo into the room.
$50 sorry, Arthur said the lady.
I'm positively too tired to move. This
heat is killing! I'm so glad to SEQ you'll"
she went on, looking Mt him. LET mo
see, it is nearly thrco years since we saw
each other. What nro you doing hore?''
The man hcsitatod n moment and thcn
became pale, and his mouth twitched
II was hurrying to England, Esme," no
said, because l heard II report about you
that l could not crcdit--that you wcro GO
ing to be married"
We'll, ~ said the girl, ncrvously picking
off the leaves of her rose, ITS quito true.
No, no, Arthur it's no use,' sho contin-
ued, sitting up and putting her hand on
his arm. sit where you nro and listen.
You SEQ, dear, il had to como tn this some
day, and l may rs well tell you hero ms
anywhere else. We cannot fight against
fate, and tho fates are against us. Look
1t would be ten years mt least before you
could marry me- and then l should be n
middle aged woman. And, ovon If could
wait, what am to do during those ten
years? Grandmamma, you know" she
went on, turning her face, now appalling
in Its pallor, toward him, "only left mo
600 year, and since her death have boon
living, yes, living on my sisters husband
Think The proud EsIne st. Maur actu-
ally living on charityl"
But surely" Arthur broke in, "sure-
"Of course they don't say SO, but 1
know, L know. They hsvo three children
to educate, and look at tho position they
have to keep up. l know Franks income
is by no means large, and feel Two 70
right to be a burden To them when have
good offer"
"who Is tho mani" he said dryly.
Lord Hillborough, " she answered, her
eyes down.
"A man almost old enough to be your
grandfather" no said, getting up and
standing beside her.
do you care for him.
NO" she answered, lowering her eve
lids YEARLY. mo, but respect him more
thap-than any ono but YOU"
Esme, said Arthur hotly, chow differ
ent you are! How calculating and world
~ you have become l remember my lit
tie Esme holding forth tiercely that love
WAS the ono thing In all the world; that to
marry n man without love was the great
est wrong II woman could do him; that
Arthur" she said, what can l do?
l intend If l marry Lord HilborouZh to
be good wife To him. cannot be that
with another mans Image in my heart.
l must live it down; l must force myself
TO forget it,
Arthur walked away to the balcony.
do not mako it harder for me-" said
Esmc her voice full OF sobs. What am
l to do? 1 cannot do anything to earn my
living. Look ut me- sho said bitterly,
drawing herself up 10 her full height, "a
perfect woman, strong and healthy, with
n small fortune spent on my education.
and yet now that l am thrown OH my own
rcsourccs-why, Il shopgirl could make u
better living than could. Bear it, dear, +"
she said, going over to him. "You know
this must be the ond. -
Dearest" no said in n broken voice,
''it is only the beginning. You love me,
and yet you marry this man. 1t is the
beginning of wrctchcdness for you and him
and mo for AL our lives"
Arthur, " she said slowly, you know
me- have made up my Inind and / will
carry it through. There is no other course
for mo. l cannot 10 anything for myself,
and | will not live ON charity -
You never really loved II you can sac
riilcc your love to your pride, if you can
let your head govern your heart"
Il cannot help it, Arthur. am en-
gagged to Lord Hiilborough and shall mar
ry him in October. l cannot bear nnot her
scene like this. Bid mo goodby and go
now-forever, sho added shivering
slightly.
Tho man looked at her for second, and
then took both her hands in his. Yes,
sweetheart. | Will bid you goodby and
leave you forever. But let me como in
and spend this last evening with you. 1t
is not much to ASK and promise not to
speak one word you would not like. We
will have our coffee on this balcony among
the flowers, with the lights opposite, us in
those dear old days when we first met at
Ostend. Say may come, Esme, for nuld
lang sync--tho last evening | Shall ever
spend with you"
Three hours afterward tho witchery of
the summer night had fallen upon tho
city. Esmo, sitting on her balcony moved
her fan slowly to and fro and let tho mys
tic beauty OF the night steep itself into her
feelings. "On such night as this" sho
thought, as the old words of tho immortal
dramatst came into her mind. ~ won
der If such night ms this has played as
wcighty part in any ones lovo story as
in mine? And this is to 10 the last.