The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-05-22


to think of it; and his resolution to
keep out of her way-the resolution
That he had thought so wise and so good,
was entirely foolish and unnecessary.
She need never know the reason of his
brief visit "home." Why should not he
have business in England as well as
another man; and how should she sus-z
pect the mad desire to see her face to
face once more that had brought him
from the other side Of the worlds?
Thus thinking-if, indeed, the rapid
stream of recollections, suggestions
and reassuring convictions that rushed
through his mind could rightly be dig
nified with the name of thought--he
strobe boldly out into the corridor; o
noticeable figure enough from his COM
handing stature and grand breadth of
shoulder. Many eyes followed him as
he passed between the banks of flowers
with which the wide corridor was lined
on either side, and many were the spec
ulations as to who he was, and why ne
was at the ball; since he spoke to no
one, and nobody seemed to know him.
But he passed on, unconscious alike of
ton.
Meantime Maud had suffered her
partner to lead her TO a 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 brought to it had died
away; and there was an expression of
something very like despair in her wide
gray eyes as she listened to her COM
panion's eager words.
''You know you promised me my.
answer tonight, Maud, and we mayn't
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
times up. You won't ask me to wait
any longer?" A look of sudden dis,
may clouded the boyish brightness of
his face as he spoke, but only for mo-
ment.
mo, won't ask you to wait amy,
longer;" the girls words came slowly,
and with an evident effort; "but-why.
do you want me TO say yes, when you
know that 1 don't care for you? No,
hear me out" as he would have inter
rupted her. 81 like you, but 1 don't
care for you in that way, and ] never
SHALL
'But you will, Maud; you must when
you see how awfully fond L"
mo, never shall, I know. If YOU
insist on marrying me, you shall at
least do it with your eyes open, Mr..
Melbourne"
"Oh, don't speak to me like that" .
"But feel to you like that, and L
must speak as feel. Fell" with swift
self7scorn. "What have to do with
feeling at all? If 1 marry you II win
be to escape from my present life; to
get away from myself-from the ever-'
lasting, purposeless round of dances,
and dinners. 1 have told you this be-
FORE"
eyes, and have told you that love,
you"
"And yet you don't hesitate?"
"For myself, no." He wos silent a
moment, a look of most unusual indie
cision on his face. But you put things
differently tonight" he said, at length:
"You say you know You shall never
care for me. don't see how you can
know that unless"
"Unless-?" she faced him bravely,
though sudden flush showed she al
ready grasped his meaning.
"You care for some one else," he said,
very deliberately. do you, Maud?"
For moment he thought she was go
ing to break into indignant denials,
then all at once her face softened and
changed, and the light of a wonderful
joy flashed into it as she sprang to her
feet, exclaiming:
'Denzil. AT last!"
Young Melbourne turned in astonish
ment- Who was this stately-looking
man that Maud should go to meet him
with outstretched hands of welcome
and brilliant, rapturous smile?
No matter who he was, the boy felt
that his question was answered. He
took his dismissal quietly, and left
them without a word; nor did anyone
see him again that night.
And Denzil?
At the sight of Maud's eager eyes,
and sweet, well-remembered smile, he
forgot all his stern resolutions and
carefully cultivated convictions. He.
had never even dreamed of the possi-
bility of such a meeting as this, and the
glad recognition that rang in her voice
fairly swept him off his feet, strong,
self-contained man though he was.
For she loved him; he saw it in her
eyes, heard it in her voice, knew it at
last-astonishing svell-nigh impossible
fact though it was; and this being So,
nothing could come between them; no
proud, disdainful relations could part
them any more, and when Denzil Clax-
ton returned to Australia after his
brief visit was over, his wife accom-
panied him, and great was the wrath
and indignation among the Draycouris,
who had tried so hard to make her in all
respects one with themselves, only to
fail SO signally at the last!
But Maud was happy. and once back
again among Denzil's people, and all
the congenial associations of the past,
she soon regained the bright serenity
and sunny sweetness of nature which
she had well-nigh lost in that alien
land, to which unkind fate, and Denzlrs