The Monitor-register., 1897-07-16
A RESURRECTION.
"Can / trust you, Maudiep"

ueptnS, ana Win c0qnettlSh hitting OF
the finely marked eyebrows, which dis
tracted and uunerved him from the task
he had sct himself. Would she ever be
serious? Ever see that life held deeper
interests than the whims and amuse
ments of the passing houls
His wife, this bewitching, lovely, IRE
sponsible beinei He went over to where
she was lying in long ch air in the shadi
est, coolest corner of the verauda, and
taking her two slim white hands 10 his
strong brown ones, he kneit beside her
and said:
"Maudie. have to leave you here with
Mrs. Tailyonr, and | want to feel sure
that while am away from you, my dear.
est one, that you will be pru ent, and dc
nothing foolish or uusuited to your posi-
tion as my wife, for which afterward you
would be sorry or ashamed"
''Geralo?" she interrupted with petu-
liant indignation.
eyes, my darling, l must sle.k plain
ly. You remember last winter, it was
unintentional on your part. know; but
still, how unhappy you were made by
all the wretched talk and gossip that fol
lowed!"
That was three months age, Gerald
l am Older now, and more experienced.
l am sure you need not remind me of
that miserable affair; it is very unkind of
you"
She withdrew her hands from his clasp
with reproact ful gesture, and added
pouting:
After all. it is not my fault that l am
pretty, and cannot help it if your
friends will admire me and pay me
attention"
But you will be careful, my darling;
promise nae. This fellow Perceval-"
'Oh now you are going to abuse
Lord Perceval again, suppose; am so
tired of that topic; shall not listen to a
word against him, Gerald; l have known
him all my life; he is my oldest and
greatest friend, aud | do not iutend to
give him up for any one; no, not for any
one, not even for you, Gerald-so thertW
She sprang to her feet and walled
quickly to the edge of the veraud i, where
she leaned oyec the baiusirade with her
head averted from him in an attitude of
mutinous defiance. So small and child :
like a creature, and yet possessed of such
potentialities to wound and hurt the man
who loved her with all the passionate in
tensity OF his strong and sensitive | ature.
Suchaa slim, fragile looking being, and
yet so pow erful in welding an Influence
over the hearts around her. A look of
helpless aud bs sd anxiety passed over
Major Jocelyn's handsome, care worn
face. Without glanoing at him bis wife
continued coldly:
~ consider it very uhgenerous of you
to attack Lord Perceval in the way you
have done lately, limiting at %things
against him, throwing out insiuuatons
as to his character, but with nothing
really definite that you can state against
him. You know like him, that he is
my friend. | call it mean of you; Gerald,
positively mean"
There are plenty of things l could
state against him, if l felt SO inclined, but
there is no need to particularize. 1t
ought to be enough for you that tell you
that distrust and dislike the man."
He spoke with angry emphasis, and
afterw ards there was an ominous silence
between them for some moments. 1t was
at last broken by the girl saying, with
passionate reproach:
"Ob, 1T is cruel OF you, Gerald, to speak
to me like this, to want to quarrel with
me in these our last moments together;
to leave me with angry words upon your
lips, making HE so unhappy" Her voice
trembled and broke, and her hands went
up to cover the tear-lsden eyes. Ia a
moment he was at her side, all the
severity had vanished from his face, and
with his arms around Lef he was muir
muring in pleading accents the words of
penitence and love which made his peace
for him before he left her.
A week had passed since Gerald Jocelyu
had bade farewell to his young wife and
started on his journey through the des.
ert to join the troops in advance The
still, blue heat of an Egyptian day brood
ed over the quiet villa, which from it's
lack of sign or sound of life seemed to be
prolonging its midday siesta into the
evening hours. The catter of hoofs out
side aroused the attention of the solitary
inhabitant of the veranda, middle aged
woman, whose strongly marked features
and keen dark eyes proclaimed her per-
son of intelligence and decided character.
She threw aside the book she was reading
and advanced towards the flight of steps
where the rider, an artillery officer, was
already dismounting from his horse. AS
be caught sight of her the dark cloud OF
sorrowful anxiety which hung over his
was visibly lightened.
All, Mrs. Tailyour, am indeed thank
full to see you You are the very per
son who can help me ~ be cried.
Anything wrong, Capt. Ferguson ?''
she asked eagerly, as he Joined her in
the shade. Then taking in the details
of the horse's heaving sides and his own
heated and worn appearance, she added
with increased apprehensions, 'You
have ridden last-no bad news, trust ?"
Eyes, very bad news; the worst, as far
as am concerned Poor Jocelyn-my
greatest friend, as you know-such
good sort he was. | never was so cut up
abont anything in my whole ife."
He sank beside her on seat with an
air of detected melancholy, and passed
his hand wearily across his brov.
'Has there been a skirmish already ?"
Mrs. Tailyour asked, breathlessly. II
did not know any fighting was expected
yet; the Colonel reported all quiet in his
last; is poor Major Jocelyn wounded p"
He is dead, poor fellow There has
been no fighting; it was an accident
with one of the guns, imagine, but the
telegram only said: Accident. Jocslyn
killed: meet train tonight That is all
know"
SIT is impossible - Mrs. Tailyour ex
claimed. "Gerald Jocelyn killed How
shocking am terribly grieved. His
poor young wife Ooly married six
months ~ The tears rose 10 her eyes as
she spoke.
Eyes, his wife," Capt. Ferguson
answered anxiously. Il rode ont at