The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-21

slttln8 down III the long, low cas-,
chair where she had been he drew he
on to his lap and held her there like
tired child, holding her head to hi
heart and smoothing her face and he
hair, kissing her and murmuring soft
caressing words to her.
"You re not often like this to me, )
she murmured, opening her lovely eye!
and glancing up into his and smiling
family. "Your touch is like what thu
wave of mesmerist's hand must be
when he watts away pain"
For answer he kissed her again.
"Have made you happy, JaffrayT
she asked after long pause.
By way of answer this time be hum.
med the snatch of song, "If this be
vanity, vanity let it be, an old, teas
ing trick of his " hen she had seemed to
look for compliment from him.
Eyes, am vanity today, but an
swer," she urged.
my darling wife, have never
known since I was child and felt the
presence of my mothers love such hap
piness as you have brought into my life.
That from my SOUL" he said earnestly,
kissing her.
She kissed him in response and lay
for moment quite still in his arma.
Then suddenly she asked:
IF were to die, Jaffray. would it
break your hearth"
Don't, Lola-don't even think such
thing"
But mean it. Would it?''
:" 1t would close it against ever hold
ing such love in my life again, be
answered, and his voice was like that
of one in pain.
81 am selfish, but am glad of that.
Iwant no one ever to take my place.
oven to blot out tho memory of this
time, whatever happens
You are talking very strangely,
child Whatever happens cen
that mean:"
II am feeling very strange, Jaffray,"
shn answered, taking his hand and rub
bling her soft cheek against it and kiss
lug it, You laugh at my PRESENT.
ments, but you do not laugh ne ont of
them I believe that if we could lift the
veil that hides from us the next few
days we should see trouble that might
make us both wish we were dead rather
than have TO face it. No; hear me-"
she said, putting her hand Oh his lips
when he was going to break in and in
terrupt her. ''It is this which is fright
euing me, and it makes mo anxious 10
get pledge from you of your love.
Don't blanc me aud don't laugh at Ire;
but, whatever happens, remember toduy
aud remember our love-
Are you fearing anything that can
happen, child?" he asked earnestly.
Her words seemed more than mere
prcsentiment
For Il moment the issue to tell or not
to tell hung in the balance, and she al
most nerved herself to dare all and open
out her confession while he was in this
mood.
But he spoke and broke me spell.
~ sometimes thiuk, as nave told
you, that there is Something And the
tone in which he spoke drove back the
impulse ard made her silent. She
seemed to read in it an unwillingness
to forgive, sternness that she knew
was in his character, and it chilled the
words even as they rose to her lips.
So the moment passed, and nothing
was said save that she turned the ques-
ton with an evasion.
II am fearing something" she said,
''and if only could guess what it was
and what shape it would take and what
it would do should be better again.
As it is you must not scold me, but lovo
me, Jaffray, always love me, always,
and lear with me when am like this,
but always think Of me with love-"
Then she was silent, and after a
time, when he had soothed her and
petted her, she fell asleep in his arms,
her last thought of him being that
which kiss suggested. He held her
while she slept-it was not long-and
hought Of all she had said and won
Tered whether it had any hidden mean.
ng, and. if go, what. |
And he looked at her as she slept and
vas pleased when smile flickered over
Ter face, and he kissed it before it was
zone, and kissing her he woke her, and
he smiled still more broadly and
weetly. =,
"Ihas is the sweetest sleep I have
yer had in my life, Jaffray,' she said
lin your strong, safe arms, kissed to
leep and kissed to wakening 1t makes
10 strong for whatever may come"
With that she rose, and, with laugh
nd last kiss that his recollection of
er might be all Of love and bright
ess, she sent him down stairs happy
nd loving.
In all the time Of stress and pain
nat followed that last look of her
aunted his memory always, and hc
armed to blame himself sorely for hay.
ig been 60 dull and blind as not to
ave Heen before him the stormcIoud of
'ial aud Trouble ana suffering that was