The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-08-25

soIs as they ram through the rolls of
calico and the rapid movement Of her
hands with fascinated curiosity. She
felt that she was watching herself-the
self of years before. So engrossed was
she that the familiar What can do
for you, miss" found her with nothing
to say. She looked round heiplessly,
and then gave Il tritling order. While
the girl was doing up the parcel she
leaned forward, whispering:
Have you forgotten me, Lizzie? I'm
Dorothy Maxwell.
The parcel dropped from the girls
hands.
Il cant see through your veil, she
said I'VE thought you were dead. "
Dorothy glanced hastily round the
shop, where under the tiaring gaslights
she recognized many faces. She raised
her hand to her veil, then hesitated.
Where is John?" she asked
John is married" the girl said sui
lcnly, land has set up i'll business for
himself, "
Dorothy clutched ut tho counter, and
for moment tho oppressive smell, the
garish lights and the sound of coarse
voices seemed to be one whirling mass
that blinded her
"Ilo waited long time" tho girl
went ON in n yindictive undertone, "but
he got tired aud married last year He
used to say some nasty things about
you, can tell you. for going off as you
did, with never word, and you en-
gagged so him too. What arc you doing
now" she added, raising her voice.
"Still stopping some girl or other from
marrying tho man she likes, as you
stopped me from marrying John?"
Dorothy shook her head helplessly, and,
throwing some coins down upon the
counter walked out Of the shop.
Instinctively she turned toward the
park, her mind filled with memories OF
the past, with its hard and eeaseless
work, its priyations and simple pleas
ures. and with the part John Gregory
had played i'll that past. So her tender.
helpful lover was married, she thought,
rs she crpuched on IA seat under the
dripping troes--mnrried, and she was
forgotten. And she had come to tell
him that sho had woaried of the luxury
of the last four years, that she needed
him to he happy, and that if he would
forgive and forget tho wrong she had
done him she would marry him, as she
had promised him in tho old days.
John was married. She smiled bit
terly to herself as she thought Of her
wild desire, rs she drove To the Totem
ham Court road to tell him everything
of tho accident in Oxford street that
had first brought her under Lord Bew-
dayon notice, of his constant kindness
during her following illness. of the
temptation to which she yielded because
sho was always tired and often hungry,
and Of tho four years Mt Belper Lodge
and now there was no need. Stunned
and dizzy she rose to her feet, clearly
seeing that she had no ono now upon
whom to rely to protect her from her
self. Her castle Of cards had fallen to
tho ground, tho man upon whom she
had leaned--perhaps foolishly--to re-
doom the past had forgotten her. and
the agony Of her disappointment was
supreme.
But the habits of four years nre not
| to bo shaken off in an hour, and the
| striking of the noighboring clocks re-
minded Dorothy that she must return
to dinner, but as her cab bore her
through tho slippery streets the whirling
wheels seemed to repeat, AS the tree
falls 30 il shall lie. " Dorothy shud-
dercd, but still the words rang remorse-
lessly through her brain, following her
up the broad staircase Mt Belper Lodge
t,,t, 4 Ia, 90 h.,
Then sho faced tho situation She
was ut least necessary to Lord Bew-
davon, and he, to whom she owed 30
much, should not find her wanting He
loved her, and John had forgotten Per
haps sho deserved that he should forget.
But when She was dressing for dinner
the pathos of the situation came to her
| suddenly. II shall be sentimental for
once, " she thought Tonight / shall
wear mourning for my dead love; to-
morrow | shall forget -
The bright eyed French maid could
not understand madam's inexplioable
desire to wear tho only blnck gown she
possessed that night A bright dress,
the pink and white, would drive away
madam = mgraine, but Dorothy silenced
her objections, and in silent protest the
woman clothed her in tho somber garb
she bad chosen.
Dorothy had reached the first landing
on her way TO the drawing room when
she heard the hall door open and
"Yes, my lord, from the footman in
reply to an eager question. Tho next
moment Lord Bewdavon was beside
her.
"Ah. you have seen the papers, he
said, touching her dress. II was too
worried to telegraph. How thoughtful,
how good Of you, Dorothy" he went
on sadly You have worn this tonight
because you knew how much loved
him. And his eyes filled with tears
"Your father" - she stammered.
"IIc died last night. He would have
loved you ms much AS do had he known
you, Dorothy. | shall never forget your
sympathy" Again he touched the black
dress then kissed her as he had never
kissed her before.
One morning, "A fortnight later, Lord
Bewdayon, now Duke of Strathwayte,
drove to Belper Lodge, leaving shortly
afterwnrd with Dorothy. When they re-
turned, tho servants addressed her AZ
your grace.
he Natural IrIdge of Today.