The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-19

him under her clinging hand. and ho
shook his head.
"No, dear such a vow Is not 10 be
lightly broken. u must earnestly consider
your request. wish you had asked mo
anything but this" he went on wistfully,
sceking syilpathy in her soft, dark eyes.
But Cynthias tenderness had vanished.
She drew back piqued, i'll at ease, i'm her
suppliant attitude, an oininous frown
darkening her fair forehead as she turned
away.
"As you will, she said ooldly.
Memories that Cynthia's presence had
chased for many months crowded vividly
into tho widowers mind as he strolled on.
needless of din or traffic or the direction
To be pursued. Her words Of anger and
opposition had invested the ring he had
almost grown TO regard with the unthink-
ing gaze of custom with new and startling
significance IL simply riveted him to the
past. He might discard II. still holding
its purpose in his heart, but the thought
was base sne. He knew that his dead
wife would have borne such vow to the
gates of heaven and that no sacrifice
would have abated the strength and en-
durancc of the love which he dared not
weigh with Cynthias ippulsive passion
He had hardly dwelt on 1t since she hao
been taken from him--at first because II
meant hopeless hcartache, lattcrly because
IL seemed disloyal To bis bctrothcd, but
now NJ this turning point he realized his
loss afrcsh and wondered that the remem-
brancc had faded ever SO little in the radi
ancc of Cynthia's smiles.
Yet allegiance 10 the beloved dead meant
the facing OF the old homeless life the re-
turn of that morbid depression which Gym
thia's infectious gaycty and pretty, petu
liant ways alone had power to dispel.
He had walked on, dreaming, far beyond
his original dcstination--thc cozy set OF
rooms presided over by his faithful valet.
Suddenly be stopped with an involuntary
exclamation for he stood at the very
threshold Of bis old home. What impulse
had led his unconscious footsteps along tho
often travcrsed road he knew not or how
he came To look upon the house he Stunned
since the day of mourning, but having
come he was glad, for the wrench of part
ing was not the present pain. He was able
TO recall the grim old mansions joyful
as well as sorrowful associations. For the
first time since his Bereavement he felt tho
desire and strength TO see the room within
that had been hers, unaltercd as she had
ment Of riyaling recollection, should care
lessly scatter and rcarrange.
The old housekeeper started from her
lethargy Of idle cnrctaking, answered his
summons with clumsy alacrity and soon
he stood ut the bedside where some years
ago he had flung himself In an agony of
grief and sobbed out a last farewell.
A melancholy light struggled through
the curtaincd window The knickknacks
they had purchased together in odd corners
of the world, the pictures she had chosen,
her favorite chair the couch on which
-ssc had lain TO please him, with IA thought
of recovery, he saw through a mist of
tears, for n gnawing hunger had crept into
his heart in the chill and utter loneliness
of the room once frightened by her dear
presence How happy they had bceni
There was no death for such love as
theirs. IL walked and throbbed in him
again in this room, where she had breathed
out her blameless life, and what had come
between them seemed 10 him like dream.
Cynthia was right. He must always be
making useless comparisons, for something
must ever bc wanting i'm his life, some
thing that never could be replaced.
His brimming eyes sought the spot
where the coffin rested He could SEQ her
now, lying there as she had looked for tho
last time, white and serene, her folded
hands full OF flowers. the eyes that had re.
Elected his loving gaze pitilcssly scaled,
strange smile on the lips that often met
his In yielding sweetness All, If he might
near that low AID gontlc voice again, il he
might pillow that weary golden head on
lis breast, and, asking forgiveness for a
hcoting fancy, repeat his VOW with all tho
lcryor of the rast!
He sat down, hiding his face in his
hands WIKI Tie rcopcaing OF this un.
healed wcuud CaIJc "a rcvulsion of feeling,
rcpgooch .Cr The self sought iorgetiulncss
bis want az iurd,udc lHd made desirable,
.cn orsc Tor thc ahpHhna from pain THAI
ulatc hilI swcryn from SO dear n memory
and Tor The wrong no did Cynthia i'm
clinrinp to It
Bri Ec lgsitatcd no longer The silent
hour of nNjuapoct had brought him very
near 20 lis i!,st l0yc, ana with the bitter
Gchc Of longlrg came IA strange sense of
security and rest
Unchanged sho awaited him. fair and
loNc,y IA hc had known her, this dear
angel, s;CaEMT through the silence OF
hc,. vn, tu Ecid hih to his vow.
f,r C%..i..a l.c h.d no fears That she
bad Eyoa ruu 10 make their engagement
conditional On his breach of trust lesl him
70 10, @ H. dissolution would cause her lit
;lc si.Lv!ing
4 l;dt.oE parg Gssailed him rs he pen
ned ,.c bti,i Evssagc Of farewell, dread
OF ne orycr ng, gloomy years beyond
which bis brightest hope tcckoncd, but hc
ia,gi the tal!sman that welded him 60 his
dc0d bride, pressing 1t softly To his lips,
and the shadow Gcd
Cynthia crushed the note In her hand.
She WAS hurt. She was indignant Sno
was scu,niUl A hundred sensations,
mingled Ni;h no thoughts of surrender,
struggled itr MASTERY in her breast.
But he faint. uncOnicsscd regret that
struggled G,r,Gjh tEc angry tumult, tie
feeling ,iat lius 80 deep In somc souls th't
only aq0ny may wring 1t forth, the dead.
cncd N5ilingot love that VIII not be s,illcd
those were among tnc bittcrcst tears she
ch, .t.. Ia.