The record-union., 1897-12-01

Cicely had been at dance the night
before and was too tired to get up so
early as s o'clock
When he reached his office he found
he had forgotten some most important
papers. which he had taken home with
him the night before. He had left them
in his safe in the bedroom, and there
was no one to whom he cared to intrust
the key. He sent for Phillips, his head
clerk.
| ''Oh-er-Phillips, / find / must go
! home again. 1 have left some papers
behind me. Will you do these orders
and see that man with whom / have an
appointment this morning? Tell him 1
was obliged to go, and shall be back
soon after Il. / shall be off as soon
as I've got through these letters, so
just ask the boy to get me cab
John told the cabman to drive quick
ly. When they turned into the street
he noticed a hanson standing before
his house. He supposed Cicely had an
| early caller. In the hall a canvas
| trunk was lying. He ran upstairs to
the drawingroo to see who had come
he had not heard that any guests were
| expected.
| Clcely was standing on the hearthrug,
buttoning her glove. AS she looked up
and sa" him, her face became awfully
white. and she swayed backward
Ciceiy'" John was just in time to
catch her as she fell. He put her on
the sofa, and shut the door. There was
some water in a vase on the piano, and
| he sp,inkled some on her face After
While Cicely opened her eyes; there
was look of horrible fear in them.
The letter, she said trying to sit up
What letter."
ON the chimney piece; give it me-
John looked around. A letter was
resting against the clock, addressed to
him in Cicely's handwriting. At once
| fearful intelligence seemed to light up
within him. Little occurrences of the
| last month-a word here, an act there
the fear in Cicelys 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 relief of tears.
John took her in his arms, soothing
| her gently as a man can do.
What a fool I've BEEN" he thought
what bitter fool I've been not to
have seen it all long ago.
While she was crying he had time to
| think what should be DONE and as she
grew calmer he said, reassuringly:
| There, dear don't cry any more 1t
| is all right now. I'll tell
you what We'll do; there's a cab at the
door, and We'll just run down to Brigh-
ton for 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 min
utes? I must go to the city first, so
we can start from London bridge, Cice-
/ ly, 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 few clothes Happening
TO look in the glass, he drew back in
surprise. His face was pale. and there
We're now lines upon it,
by Jovel" he said, II didn't know I
| looked like that. Well, the sea will
| S''AAS SiiS Ncioi ''cith Dul tAptct tEOSe
lines will help me to remember to-day
| whenever I brush my hair" At the
office he asked for Philips. 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 Week and you must get along by
yourself. If you want anything, come
down for a night; / shall be at the
| Bedford. And Phillips. when / come
back L must have a talk with you;
| find | want a partner"
He drove on with Cicely to London
| bridge. They had a carriage to them
selves, and as the train rushed along
through the hedges Cicely said. after
long pause, and in a very fearful
voice:
! John. / ought to tell you-'
| He interrupted her, putting his fin
ger lightly on her lips.
| NO. 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 1t. and we will go out together
on to the Downs with 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.
| ana the sun looked through the win
| dow and his beams widened in a smile
because he had found two happy peo-
ple.-The Argosy.