The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-04

But without his knowledge.
She motioned Rhim 20 chair and COM
posed herself TO listen TO him.
- Miss Meredith, i am AN OLD man. L
claim tho privileges of age and am forti-
fled by tho excellence OF my Intentions
against any misconstructions OF what
Am about to say. / have come TO ask you
II you know what Col. Seymour has In
contomplationp'
Your lordship is franknoss itself. May
/ venture to be equally frankY In what
way do our affairs-Col Seymour's and
mine-concern youg'
Miss Meredith, L will be plain and ex-
plicit with you. Col. Seymour came
10 my leyee day or two back, ana an
nounced his intention of leaving the army
at once Now, you know, Miss Meredith,
that Col Seymour Is most promising
officer; he is already far advanced in q
most distinguished career; with health
and fortune, he may rise higher ana
higher. In any case, his services would
be greatly missed by the Queen ana
country.
Did he tell your lordship why he pro-
posed 20 leave the armyy' asked Mary
Meredith, looking up suddenly, speaking
almost tercely, but with the tears very
near her eyes. 1T is mono of my doing;
made no such compact with him. l gave
hun no right TO suppose that l. wished II,
or that IL stood in the way Of"
more.
II naturally asked him. pressed him
10 explain this hasty and, as felt III. Ill
judged resolve" said the great parsonage,
speaking fast and freely, obviously with
the courteous wish To let her recover her
self. after much hesitation he confessed
that he wished To marry, that his continu-
ing In the service was stumbling
block"
Il never said that !" cried Mary, hotly.
Not that quite. perhaps; but ne i'm
piled that he would be freer-that by
surrendering his own career he might
save the lady from still greater sacri-
flee; and then--at last-l ertained that
II was you. / saw it all then.
There was long pause, broken at last
by Mary Meredith. who rose from her seat
and impetuously took the stage, walking
to and fro wringing her hands in evident
emotion, for, artist-like, she was easily
swayed, and this fine trait in her own
dear Softy touched her TO the quick.
''Do YOU know our story sir?" She
halted abruptly in front of her visitor,
and as the old man looked up at her love-
illness and at the noble nature that showed
through her streaming eyes, he felt that
10 win such woman man might be
we'll content To lose the world.
And then she told him everything from
the first days in Halifax till the present
time, far more eloquently than /, old Rex
King Softy's friend, have set it down.
And now, sir, he proposes TO make the
debt intolerable. We eve him everything
already; how can repay him if / ac-
copied this last and greatest sacrifice? A
week ago did not know myself / WAS
still so selfish and ungrateful as to let the
hollow rewards OF my profession weigh
down the balance against his love. /
have thought much, lived much these last
few days, and have settled clearly enough
what answer shall give him. 1 shall
tell him, II no asks me, that / am ready
TO give up all, everything for him and
To walk barefoot by his side, If he so
wishes 1t, to the other end of the
world.
And now she broke down, sinking back
upon the sofa in avid passion of tears
Then that distinguished parsonage,
realizing that he had been permitted TO
see Mary Meredith in the finest scene she
had ever acted in her life, and not in play,
but In real. sober earnest, just touched
her fingers with his lips and stole quietly
away.
The news that the most popular actress
OF the day was about to marry, and leave
the stage fell as great blow upon the
town. The rights of the story were never
exactly known, although many vague
and mysterious paragraphs appeared In
tho public prints, giving various versions
of Mary Meredith's romantic love story.
We, Softy's old friends, understood IL ALL
So did much more august people, for
Lord -- did not quite keep his own
counsel.
When Lady Seymour was presented on
her marriage. the greatest lady in the
land kissed her and whispered a few
kindly words that implied much.
And among the thousand and ono pres
ents bestowed on the happy rair, there
was not one / believe, more highly
treasured than tho great loving cup which
bears the inscription:
ITO Pollie and Scfty
From the Borderers' Mess. "
Major Arthur Grifliths, in the New
Illustrated Magazine. ~