The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-29
Chapter TX Continued.


it had come she was not the less con-
cerned and dismayed because she had con-
ceived the possibility of its happening.
1t had never indeed occurred to her that
the man she loved, and yet dare not think
of as her own, would prove the betrc thed
OF another. She had, in dim sort of
way, imagined he might have been mar
ried, although her secret hopes always
| triumphed over her determination to view
him i'll the light of one not to be thought
of save as friend. Had the lady who
had come forward been the wife Of Cecil
Rawdon, there would have been an end
| to her dreams in a moment. But she was
confronted with condition OF nature
that she had never for an instant reckoned
upon. Here came the discovery that
Cecil was single man, although not in
deed free man; that he was engaged to
be married to the young Lady whose ap.
pearance upon the scene had SO lately
been the means of restoring to him his
memory; but that the extraordinary phase
through which tho poor fellow had passed
had evidently wholly neutralized his
former passion, and he . regarded Miss
Lambert with as much indifference as
though she had been an utter stranger.
Let the physician speculate upon psyche
logical reasons-this tale only deals with
the romantic passage OF Cecil RaWdon'S
career which was occasioned by his loss
quire too nicely into the why and where
fore of !. subtle and complicated condition
Of the human MIND.
There sometimes occur situations in
this life in which people can do nothing
but wait upon the course of events. They
must be content to rest neutral, and glide
down the stream of affairs. They may
protest, agitate, use every means in their
power to shape the issue of things, but all
without the, least degree of influence upon
the ultimate result. Marian Marston felt
herself to be placed in one Of those posi-
tions where the termination must be left
to work itself out. She was passionately
fondsof Cecil Rawdon, and could notsbear
the thought of being separated from him.
But on the other hand, her heart was
sensibly touched at the idea of Clara
LANDER contding in the consistency of
her sweetheart, ignorant AS yet of her
existence. WomanIy nature is often curl
ously pervcrse. Had Rawdon, on recover
ing his memory, announced to Marian
that he had discovered he was already en-
gagged, and that it behooved him as man
of honor, to keep to his pledge, it is posi-
BILE and probable that she would have
conceived jealous hatred of the girl of
his choice. But the young mans mind
had been undoubtedly weakened by all
that he had undergone, and he spoke out
his sentiments without hesitation or re-
yet quite realizing the full significance
of;the change of emotion which his illness
had wrought. And on this account it
was that Marian Marston was moved to
pity for the unhappy girl she had SO I'M
Willingly supplanted. She knew her
duty. 1t was to then and there renounce
Rawdon, SO that if he did not wed Miss
Lambert it would be through no fault of
hers. Had the pretty young English girl
been one Of those mythical characters
whom the ancients created goddesses for
their nobility of parts she might have
rendered her name immortal by an act of
sublime self sacrifice. AS it was, Marian
Marston was only cast in the mould of
ordinary mortals, though fair of face and
pure of mind, which all ordinary mortals
are not; and between dutysan0aincination
there stretched heart breaking span.
Therefore it was that she decided to
wait upon events.
She stayed awhile at Dunbar House,
questioning Raw(on upon circumstances
connected with his past, to test the range
of his revitelized memory. Before she left
he had quite. recovered from the effects of
his swoon, and walked with her down to
the garden gate of MIR. Hartree's grounds
They made an appointment to meet upon
the following day, fingered yet after the
thrice spoken good bye, and then parted.
Chapter x. @.@
HEsesa ELOPMENTaqss4oF THE
ia DILEMMA ~
Now that Cecil Rawdonsw was once again
in full possession of his memory, and able
to recall every circumstance < connected
with himself in the matter of his anteced-
ents, social station, and business ocoupa-
tion, it behooved him as an early duty to
relieve the worthy. hospitable Australian
family OF the burden of his presence In
their house. He therefore sought out Mr.
Hartree shortly after quitting Marian at
the garden gate, and communicated to
him his desire not any longer to intrude
in his house.
.'1ntruder' said Mr.. Hartree warmly,
indignation. "Why, what dye mean by
such talk. Mr.. Rawdon? IT'S but poor
compliment that you pay me- sir, -
II can never sufficiently acknowledge
the enormous obligations I am under to
you," said Cecil, ''the debt of gratitude
I feel towards yourself and your wife,
But do not think me ungrateful, beg OF
you, because l consider that it is no
longer right l should take advantage of
your kindness and generosity"
Very neatly put, Rawdon, for man
who has only just recovered his memory"
said Mr.. Hartree, rubbing his hands and
smiling. II am quite sure that you ap-
preclate our llttle efforts to make you
comfortable. But, seriously, what are
you going to do If you leave this house?
You are without money, and If you quit
us it must only be to go to the house of
another friend.''
"That is just the point. L have come
to ask just one more favor in addition to
the many that L am already under to
youi Will you lend me some money until
can get draft sent out from EnglandP'
with pleasure And then, may 1 ask,
what do you propose doing%
Going to a hotel, or taking rooms
somewhere in this neighborhood.
"From which L infer that it is your in
tention to remain in Sydney for the pres
ent?'
For the present, yes. But my business
at home will not suffer me to be longer
absent from the. old country than can
help"
''Forgive me for saying SO, but you are
placed in an awkward and somewhat
painful position with regard to these two
young lady friends of yours
'Ii am but too well aware of the fact
Mr.. Hartreo. But you, who are &C.
qaainted with my whole story, know how
the singular situation has grown out