The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-06-02

tom ana convention cduuOL FeStEdiu II
He forgot the honor of his sane mo-
ments. He snatched away the hands
and dragged her to him, and turned her
face up again to his.
why did you do it, Cicely?" he re-
peated.
She clenched her teeth and
steadied her voice. and then she told
him.
rsBut you were utterly wrong" he
said. He was dazed to have been SO
misunderstood, and he offered no ex-
plantation. But she did not neeG one
now. She had seen the full measure OF
her folly.
Il know" she answered, II was
wrong, and-I am punished" She
threw her arms about his neck and sob
bed. and he held her close. It was only
for little time. Then she drew away
and her arms fell at her Sides 1T cam
not be helped" she said; and she turn
ed and went away.
There was no change in Raymond,
either then or as the years went on.
He was good officer and d good man.
and unembittered. But Cicely CLAN
vile changed The worM loves moth
ing better than to find an explanation
for what has mgstifed it. 1t does not
trouble to verify its belief Tt is
plain" it said now. why Cicely Marlitt
married Granville. Raymond was not
the man to have allowed her to indulge
her propsnsities."
The prepensities were toward fiirta-
tiuns that scandalized that conservative
and respectable institution, the army
Even the men of the regiment resented
that 1t should be given fame through
Mys Granville And the women fear
ed and hated her: but they Also admir-
ed. Popular superstition to the con-
lrary Notwithstanding, most women sec
the charm of rival. Envy is as keen
sighted as love is blind. And the clever
ones admit them.
Being isolated from the small circle
of feminine w.t. Mrs. Granville added
to her attractions much masculine
lear-sightedness and wide range of In
terests. She was as good to talk to as
to look upon. She spoke with the
tongue of wisdom that was mOre-riot
Iess-than womanly, and she sang with
the voice of a siren. and men. fell down
before her and worshipped her, and.
throwing the cloak of their infatuation
over the clay feet of their idol, come
finally to forget them and believe it all
spotless alabaster. They held her up to
wives, and daughters, and sisters whom
they would have disowned for follow
ing in her path And they ruined the
peace of their lives and of their homes
for her-aIl, too, with out the hope OF
even capricious fancy for reward
She brought them low and laughed at
u h.,o .+f fof% ha hnv
husband, though the heavens should
tall. She was known to the borders of
the service, and beyond, as a creature
Of no heart who had caused disaster
and even death, and had shown neither
remorse nor pity.
Yet, when she was free once more,
Raymond went to her His old faith
was unmoyed. 1t was better sort of
faith than any other she had inspired
She sat once again before the fire-this
time in her fathers home. And Ray
mond stood looking down at her. The
face, above the black dress of her
mourning, was as saint-like as Of old,
and seemed as young and unscarred
The long, gray eyes were as placid, but
more deep. He did not ask now why
she had done these things. Perhaps he
knew. But he said to her, as though
the time between had never been:
"Cicely, do you love me still?'
And the sweet lips parted to say the
words that they had never framed save
for him: Il love you still"
He reached out his hand and took
hers. She tried to draw it away.
But you do not want me-now?''
she said.
He held her fast and answered: Il
want you now" There was no doubt
in his firm vocie.
''You do not know" she tried to tell
him.
eyes, l know he said; "and yet
and yet l want the Cicely who was my
honest little playmate years ago; who
was my trusted love in the past; who
will be my faithful wife in the time to
come. For old sake's sake, want ner.
dear"
She laid her tired head upon his
shoulder and closed her tear-filled eyes
'-And for old sake's sake" she said.
''you shall have her '-Argonaut.