The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-24
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COPYRIGHT 1898 BY TIRE AUTHOR, /

"One moment more, one word more.
It is easily in your power to send me
back to the house ON the loftiest plane
man ever yet attained.
She looked at him with patient, ten.
der eyes.
my love, my love-for whether you
scorn me- or not you must always be, as
you have always been. my love-give
me definite answer to my unspoken
prayer, here, now, as we stand on the
spot where you gave me back my life
second time"
"A life that you had redeemed from
oil unworthiness, all unmanliness, else
my father could not have loved you,"
she said, with gentle smile
Belknap barred his head reverently.
"God have him in his keeping. He
believed in me before believed in my
self. He made me live up to his esti-
mate of me-
"God has him in his keeping" said
Jessica, with misty eyes.
Belknap broke the silence that fol-
lowed with question.
"You have told me how you hesitated
about letting me be brought here be-
cause you did not know whether my
fancy desecrating word still held good.
Did You hope that it had not?'
She flashed dazzling smile at him.
"At this late day find that question
hard to answer. Unask it, please
"If I had any portion of the conceit
that used to DO my equipment, might
find encouragement in your words and
your smile, but l am SO overwhelmed
with sense Of my unworthiness when
am in your presence that l can only
plead and hope. Perhaps the love that
redeemed may also exalt. You know so
we'll that ] love you it seems crude to
frame a declaration, but | need to know
that you are willing to let me go ON
loving you; that you SEQ no offense in
it,"
Waiting for no response he went on
impetuously.
II am poor mana man without |
any especial training for anything but
spending money. The cause is lost. The
country will in few months be swarm
ing with the survivors who, less fortu-
nate than their fallen comrades, have to
construct new world out of the wreck
of their old one Fortunate that man
who can in the days of his bewilder-
ment find his good angel in some loving
hearted woman. would esteem the
task of rebuilding my shattered fortunes
a light one if could see your dear eyes
reckoning ME onward. 1t will be heav-
Ter than the task Of Sisyphus if am to
tread the weary way alone. Which shall
it be, Jessica?"
For answer she laid her hand in his.
1.-THE task shall be mine and yours
together, dear"
A blue heron stepped mincingly from
among the shadows of a clump Of sassa-
fras to dip its long beak in the fishy wa
tiers. The suns rays rested upon its
shining wings, turning them to bur-
nished steel. A soft splash in the pond
told where turtle had dived, sending
rings of ripping water to kiss the grassy
banks; mocking bird called COAX
ingly to its mate from the swaying limb ,,
of willow; the drowsy tinkling of
cow bell smote the stiffness The world f.
was full Of peace and quietness at that ]
moment, and the man who had seen it
filed with the turmoil of battle and dis |
cord drank in the repose of the scene {
and time as if it were the very elixir
of life to him.
'"The shadows are beginning to
lengthen," said Jessica. "We will go :
home"
They were nearing the gate that led !
up to the terraces, when carriage dash !
ed past them at such rapid pace that }
no eye but that of love or hate could j.,
have distinguished features. There
were three men in it, Jessica knew il -,
for the Whitney turnout. To Belknap
the glossy victoria, with it's we'll groom
ed horses, was entirely unknown. New
he turned face suddenly a
darkened by anger toward Jessica. c
"Not once during my army life did 6
strike blow at the enemy, whom ]
did not hate, without wishing it was d
directed toward the only human being n
whom l do hate" tt
"You mean Il
II mean Dennis Whitney. Unless my h
'yes played me malicious trick he was s
IN that carriage"
Jessioa looked after the fast rolling v
7ehicle. fs
II did not notice the men in it, but IN
hat is Mr.. Whitney carriage. His sis
er has made the neighborhood familiar ii
With It," From the old sycamore tree to
It the forks Of the road they could see al
he house. Belknap turned very pale. pr
ut has stopped at your door. You
lont suppose he would have the inso. &C
ence to seek an interview with me un. 10
Ter your roof?'' &c
Jessica shared his surprise. m
II do not even know the man by 81
light. He may have simply brought Ike
ONE one to my doors. Pray don't agi. nj
ate yourself. Remember that mine lie
be right now to dictate terms, and ! be
forbid any display Of temper. on
b, see, he has brought my dear old
ilgrim back to me-" al
The carriage was depositing its pas M,
,ngers on the front gallery when Jes er
ca and Belknap reached the terrace ter
;eps. tai
"And Northcote," said he, with in. ha
leased surprise. II took it for granted sol
al