The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-08
WAITING F0R---WHAT?

supper, in the wonder and resentment
we feel when death has made us look
upon the world as stopped, and the
sight of others still moving forces us
to realize that it has not.
Jeanne's mother had filled no i'm
portant niche, but had tried, by her
gentle loving life, to fit herself for her
heavenly mansion; and when she had
gone to dwell therein, eve Jeanne had
been glad, in the depth of her grief,
for the suffering body had been an in
hospitable home to her mothers sweet
spirit.
They had buried her at that after
noon. The sympathizing neighboTs
had carried home the chairs tt had
brought over to the funeral, h. pre-
pared supper, and stayed to see that
Jeanne ate a little; then had washed
the dishes and gone home, leaving
Jeanne and her aunt alone. Her aunt
was up stairs packing their things, for
tomorrow the two were going to Linn,
the aunt's home. Mrs. Childars was a
widow, and was delighted to have
Jeanne live with her.
The slam of a trunk lid reused
Jeanne, and she rose in quick COM
junction at thought Of her selfshness
in leaving Aunt Sarah to do all the
packing. Just then some one rang the
door bell, and she fastened to open the
door.
She gave her hand in silence to the
visitor, a tall, dark man, whose seri-
GUS expression and dignified am
made him seem older han his years.
He held her hand a moment, then
quietly closed the door and said gent
ly: "You do not mind my coming do
you?" l heard you are going away"
I'm glad you came" she answered.
"Sit down. I'll call Aunt Sarah"
Don't" he said, quickly; and after
a moments hesitation she resumed
her seat by the window. She was so
accustomed to Howard Lacey that his
presence made little impression on her
consciousness, and she sat gazing abb
sently into the street, while he sat
looking at her.
Jeanne was a blonde; not with the
common blondeness that catches and
holds the dregs of the years as they
run, and in a little while becomes
dingy, like dish water, but with that
exquisite fairness, like the golden
Wilderness of sunlight, which carries
the imagination beyond the surface
and give the impression that the ex-
quisite tinting extends clear through
the fine, firm flesh. Her hair was very
light. 1t was not thick, but it's wavi-
ness atones for that. She wore it
parted in the middle and twisted into
a knot at the back of her head, and the
bright coil made a beautiful contrast
against the dark chair. A few ten
drills lay carelessly on her forehead,
and one curled be~witchingly over her
left ear.
The beauty of her eyes was not equal
to hat of hair and complexion, but
they were bright and clear, and looked
as though they were dyed deeply
enough with their steel blue to keep
them from fading into the nondescript
gray that become the fate of SO many
blue eyes. Her mouth was full and
red, with a charming curve Of the chin,
gave her face a ~graciousness that the
cold regularity of the other features
could not subdue.
There were many whom her beauty
did not capture, but wen they felt the
air of elegance that was always about
her and made her doubly fascinating
to those to whom her beauty was ideal;
and of these latter Howard Stacey was
one.
Jeanne" he said suddenly, do you
know why | have Gomez"
She looked up quickly with a dis
mayed face.
"Ohi" she exclaimed in distress.
II thought you-"
Were over it," he finished, as she
paused. mo, | am not, but | should
not have troubled you now, only !
couldn't see you go without a word"
She gazed at him helplessly for a
time, then she said, plaintively, How
ard, why do you never get over it?
Why" she went on, ~persuasively
"there are score of girls younger
handsomer and better than l, whom
you could marry. They would make
better wives too. l do not love you
and you know you said you did not
a a wife who did not love you"
THAT was before l knew what it was
to do without you, Jeanne. l have not
such an elevated spirit now" he re-
piled with a sad smile.
The sorrow in his tone overcame the
girl. Worn out by grief for heI
mother, she was too weak to restrain
her distress, and hiding her face
against the window sill, she began tt
cry softly.
Don't, don't" he cried in remorse
and rose quickly. 'IH go away
Jeanne"
Don't CO." she said softly, ant
brushing away the tears, she looked
wistfully up at him.
Howard, 1 wish l could" she said
earnestly.
S do l." he replied with an at.
tempt at lightness.
Then for a long time both stared
dis~consolately into the street. At last
the man turned his grave face toward
her again and said: Before l go
would like to ask you something I ! have
always wanted to know. 1t is some.
thing I have no right to ask; not even
nv wears of disaDpOintmeDt give me