The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-21
SIMON DALE.
by HOPE.
Copyright. 1897. bv 4. H.. Ha,Vtfn'.
CHAPTER DISCONTINUED.

S.sGe brings TO a young man n herce lmpote,'t
resentment. That was in my heart, and with 1t
Q sudden rovulsion from what i had desired. as
Incorporate as the desire, as cruel 1t may DO,
A tho thing which gave 1t birth. Nell's laugh
tsr died away and she was silent. Yet pres
entity 1 felt q hand rest on my hands as though
seeking to convey sympathy in q grief but
half understood. I shrank away moving my
hands until hers no longer touched them
There arc little acts. small matters often. on
which rsni6fse attends while life lasts. Even
now my heart ia sore that I shrank away from
her. She was different now In nothing from
what I had known her, but ], who had desired
passionately, now Stunned her. The thing
had como homo to me, plain, close. in an odious
intimacy. Yet I wish l had not shrunk away.
Before / could think I had done 1t, and I found
mo words; better, perhaps, that I attempted
mono.
I looked up. She was holding out the hand
beforo her. There was q puzzled smile on her
lips.
..Does Il burn. does It prick. does IL soil, 81
mont she asked. 'Soe. touch 1t, touch It. 1t
A az Il was, isn't IT." She put 1t close by my
hand. waiting for me to take It, but I did not
take it. LAS 1t was when you kissed It" said
ehe, but- stirf I did not take 1t.
1 rose to my feet slowly and heavily, Ike q
tired man whose legs are reluctant to resume
their load. She stood quite still, regarding me
now with alarmed and wondering eyes.
'It's nothing" I stammerod. Indeed, it's
nothing. only l hadn't thought Of It," Scarcely
knowing what I did, 1 began to movc toward
the door. An unreasoned instinct impelled mo
70 get away from her. Yet my gaze was drawn
TO her face. 1 saw her lips pouting and her
cheeks flushed. the brightness of her eyes grew
clouded. She loved me enough to be hurt by
me, II no more. A pity seized me. Turning, 1
Nnn nm INV kpaa md aeizinU the hand whose
touch I had refused. I kissed 1t.
"Ah. you kiss my hand now" she cried.
breaking into smiles again.
'I kiss Cydaria's hand" said L For in
truth / am sorry for my Cydaria."
.fshe was no other than I am" she whis-
pered, and now. with a touch Of shame. for
she saw that I felt shame for hcr.
mot what it hurts us, but what we know
said I. "Good-by. Cydaria," and again 1 kissed
her hand. She drew it away from me and
tossed her head, crying petulantly:
'I wish I hadn't told'you."
EN- Gods name, don't wish that" said I,
and drew her gazo on me again in surprise.
1 moved on my way, the only way my feet
could tread. But sho darted after me and laid
her hand on my arm. I looked at her in
amazed questioning.
= you'll come again, Simon. whenl' The
smile would not be denied. though it came
timidly, afraid for its welcome and distrustful
of its right. when you're better, simonf"
] longed-with all my heart 1 longed-to be
kind to her. How could the thing be to her
what It was to met She could not understand
why I was aghast; extravagant despair, all in
the style of a vanquished rival: would have
been easy for her to meet. to ridicule, to COM
fort. I know all this, but I could not find the
means to effect 1t or to cover my own distress.
you'll como again. then3' she insisted.
pleadingly.
NO." said I, bluntly and cruelty. with I'M
willing brutality.
At that q sudden gust of passion took her, and
she turned on mo denouncing me fercely, In
terms which she took no care to measure. for a
prudish virtue which for good or evil was not
mine, and for a narrowness Of which my reason
was not guilty. I stood defenceless in the
storm, crying at the end no more than, II don't
think thus of you"
yet you treat me as though you thought
thus" she cried. Yet her manner softened.
and she came across to me. seeming now as II
she might fall to weeping. But at the instant
the door opened, and the saucy maid who had
nshered ne in entered. running run hh sh hastily nt to her
and glancing, the while, at me-.
she ' added Sinf hastily y. He'd best mott IND YOU
II ask no better than to be gone. said I.
II know, NJ 1 know" she cried; We're ed not
II aag my y0s sights sa y n Her anger Ts SEEMED Se gone TO- Pis see again. SGs
Sa sSs t asss ssGGV dnf. s' Yet sl e sSo e %ant G to sfay tSc
Kings coming she was too late. For he was
II thro sas ?I he had fas dnS NeiIs last last spa RR.I and
: who's ! t The e e. l. ns3Ioy q whose society
brows. 1t may well be that he had had his fill
- nm lNandv md thu h una mt wall
pleased to stumble on me again, and in this
place, But he said nothing. merely turning his
SYou know him. sir said she. throwing her
self into a chair. vat, A. y,uu .n..
q may ask without presumption, what brings
Nell looked at the pair of us, the King and
Simon Dale, and answered coolly:
."The answer is all sufficient" bowed the
King, I'm before my time, then for I've re
"No. he's after his said she. Blu. as yor
Not on my account. 1 pray, said tho KIM
'No on his. He's not easy here"
yet he outstayed his ttme2"
w had q matter of business together, sir
He came to AK something Of ne, but matters
have tod, me less, I'm q a mighty curiopl
wlil beg your Maiesty's permission to de
part, Billu J..
"Al requests here, sir, lie with this lady Il
grant or refuse. In this house / am a servant
nay, a slave"
Neil rose, and coming to the side of the King
chair. stood there.
'Had things been other than they are, MI
Dale would have asked me to BIO his wife" SAT-
she.
A silence followed. Then the King re
marked:
Had things been other than they are, MI
Dale would have done we'll"
And had they been other than they are,
might well have answered yes" said Nell.
why, yes, very WELL" said the King. so
Mr.. Dale Is. I'm very sure, Il gentleman OF spiri
and honor, although he seems, II 1 may say 81
just now rather %taciturn.
u as matters are. Mr.. Dale would have n
more of me-"
TITS not for me-" said the King, "to QUAR-,
with his resolve, although I'm free to mary,
And asks no more of mo than leave to d.
"Do you nnd it hard. madam. to grant hi
that muchf'
She looked In tho Kings face and laughed
self, / cannot tell.
WHY, YES, mighty hard" said she. at
strange how hard"
by my faith,' said the King. ~ begin to /
glad that Mr.. dale asked no more. For II