The herald., 1896-09-06

/ talked to her little and then had q
longer talk with. the doctors. and think
they told me more than they had told Ber-
tina. Then, when Wilmay was asleep up
stairs, and Bertha and were alone togeth-
er, said to Bertha:
'Do you know that love wilmay-that
I have been in love with her ever since she
grew out Of childhood?"
Bertha paused before she answered.
"Once, years ago, feared it. Then did
not think so any longer"
II believe" said, that shall tell her
now"
"Yes." said Bertha quietly. "Tell her."
On the next day when was sitting in the
garden with Wilmay, she spoke of her un-
Gle.
II know what you did for me-" she said.
"You wanted, to spare me pain and humili-
alton, and you were going to have paid
thousand pounds Just for that little thing.
I can't speak about 1t, but I must thank
you." y
But, Wilmay, as It happens, 1 did not
pay penny. Let's forget about that man.
It's nothing"
Edward why have you always been so
good to me? Pm not worth it, and give
ever so much TROUBLE"
"Do you remember. Wilmay," I said,
that shortly after you came out, went
away for years and did not see you? Do
you know why went?"
"Why"
because was growing oIo, because
was not the man who should marry you,
and because loved you.''
vi
less.
Don't mind about 1t, dear, 1t can't mat
ter now"
"Matter? 1t matters all the world. oh,
haven't you seen? didn't want you to see,
but in spite Of that"
''Wilmay, darling have always loved
you. love you now"
She sighed, and held out her hands to me.
drew her close to me, and looked down into
her eyes.
~
Wilmay said that she was .going to be
quite well again now. That was terrible
for me to hear, who had been made almost
sure that she would not be long with us.
But for time it went on-that delusion Of
growing health and strength. And with all
their sadness, these were the happiest
months Of my life, and Wilmay said that
they were the happiest of her own-happy,
though there was in them the solemnity
Of the approaching end. Once only did she
speak Of Vincent, at this time ,and once
again shortly before her death when she
said that she wanted to know that he had
forgiven her. She did know that, before
she died.
OF those months cannot write. They
need not words but music.
Before the winter the change came, very
suddenly and very rapidly. A sea-voyage
was spoken Of and abandoned. She knew
that she was going to die. "And let me die
quietly" she pleaded, with Edward near
me. We have been away from each other
SO long,"
AS the end drew near, and she grew weak
er and weaker, a change seemed to come
over all in the house too. for they all loved
her. Customary formalities and restraints
gave way, and there were chastity mixtures
of tragedy and farce. I remember that old
Carter broke down once. and apologized
for it.Bertha tried to answer him kindly.
but without losing her dignity, and then
she began to cry too. She found herself
| taking his hand, for the first time in her
life.
Wilmay died in her sleep. We had the
| first snow of the winter that night.It fell
heavily, and in the mornings all the fields
were glistening white as II Wilmay :.
II you have ever loved, you will imagine,
and you will know that cannot write any
more.
(Tha EndN