St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-10-22

SiSSiy JUN was J"'S
to catch her as she fell. He put her
on the sofa, and shut thedoor. There
was some water in a vase on the
piano, and he sprinkled some on her
face. After a while Ciccly opened her
eyes; there was a look OF horrible
fear in them.
THE letter." she said, trying to SIT
up.
what letter."
"On the chimuey.piece; give it to
me-"
John looked round. A letter was
resting against the clock addressed
to him in Cicely's handwriting. At
once a fearful intelligence seemed to
light up within him. Little occur
rences of the last month-a word
here, an act there, the fear in C,cely's
eyes, the letter in his hand-drew
sharply together in his mind, like the
figures in a kaleidoscope, and made
a horrid pattern. He tore the letter
across and across, and knelt down
beside her. The fear was still in her
eyes as she looked at him, but in a
moment came the %reliefof tears. John
took her in his arms, soothing her
gently as a mar can do.
What a fool I've been, he thought
-"what a bitter fool I've been not to
have seen it long ago"
While she was crying he had time
to think what should be done, and
as she grew calmer he said, reassur-
ingly:-
There, dear, don't cry any more
1t is all right now. III tell
you what we'll do; there's a cab at
the door, and we'll just run down to
Brighton for a week and enjoy the
sea. Shall we? Would you like
that?"
"Oh" Cicely nestled closer to him
and began to cry again.
"Now, will you be ready in five
minutes? | must go to the city first,
so we can start from London bridge,
Cicely, dear" he said, kissing her.
He rang the bell for the servant.
Put Mrs. Green's trunk on the cab
and come up for my bag. And just
pay my cabman, will you, please?"
He ran upstairs and hastily thrust
into his bag a few clothes. Happen
ing to look in the glass, he drew back
in surprise. His face was pale, and
there were new lines upon it.
"Byjove!' he said, Il didn't know
l looked like that. Well, the sea will
bring the color back, but l expect
those lines will help me to remember
today whenever | brush my hair"
At the office he asked tor Phillips,
and hearing he was in the market,
went in to see him. Look here,
Phillips" he said, pulling him into a
quiet corner, here are those papers.
I'm going to Brighton for a week,
and you must get along by yourself.
If you want anything, come down
tor a night; l shall be at the Bedford.
And, Phillips, when | come back l
must have a talk with you; | find l
want a partner"
He drove on with Cicely to London
bridge. They had a carriage to
themselves, and as the train rushed
along through the hedges Clcely said,
after a long pause, and in a very tear
full voice.
John, ought to tell you"
He interrupted her, putting his fin
ger lightly on her lips.
mo. dear, no. Let's bury the past
year at the root OF the coming one.
We have both been wrong, and now
we will both be right"
But l ought to tell you" she per
sisted.
Then you shall write me a letter
all about it, and we will 60 out to-
gether on to the downs with a box
OF matches and burn your sacrifice in
the sight of heaven"
She reached up and drew his face
down to hers, whispering, John,
dear John"
And the sun looked through the
window, and his beams widened in
a smile, because he had found two
happy people, From the London
ArgOSV.