The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-31

. AloAti ASUeCAAhhA Lol youl lCdfC3 eult
W the colonel, and Maynard did so. In tel
u, days he was home shocked to see how
~ aged and i'll his sister looked and feel
" ing now sense of keen sorrow and re
u morse that he had shown such deer
10 offense at her errors After all, had she
y not devoted years and years to him,
= Had she not been loving and faithful
" sister? He knelt by her with sorrowing
" heart and shining eyes, yet when be
! would have told her of his regret she
. checked him.
=. Ronald she whispered, II want to
" see her. have reason. want her
: forgiveness
For what, Grace?'
. "For something I want you never to
: know until time and Nathalie have
taught you to forgive me anything"
: Late one lovely October afternoon
Mrs. Barry reclined on her couch before
: the CHEEKY blaze of a bright wood fire in
. their cozy fat, and near her sat Ronald
Maynard, older, sterner graver looking
than in the stormy times at Russell, yet
wonderfully improved by the vigorous
: life in the sun and the wind of the wide
northwest. His brave young eyes were
!. shining with new hope and eagerness,
however. His heart was throbbing in
his breast, for what Mrs Barry had to
, say thrilled him.
"She would never have said no then,
Ronald, had she not believed you were
in honor bound to another girl, even
though you might have ceased to love
her, and now that she knows the truth
and new that people at Russell have
written SO fondly and sweetly to her
since they learned of Williams death,
and all he said to you and to Captain
Ray, she's another girl. All her old
joyous manner has returned Just wait
till you- Mercy There she comes
now, aud it isn't time for an hour yet.
Quick Go into the dining room. Then
after she has come in let yourself into
the hall and go straight through into
the parlor and wait there till call you.
1t wouldn't be fair to surprise her this
way. She thinks you still in Wyoming"
Promptly he obeyed. The portiere
was still slowly waving behind him
when her quick, light footstep was
heard as she hurriedly entered. He
could not resist stopping one instant to
bear the sweet tones of the voice he
loved, but Mrs. Barry spoke first.
"Why, Priscilla mine, what brings
you back SO soon? thought you were
to go"-
"Oh, Twas, but just down the avenue
l met our postman, and he smiled and
said be had letters-and opened mine
1t said 1t was from Mrs Freeman
1t told me- Oh, let me light your lamp
and then you read it,
"But I'd rather hear 1t at once, Nat
1t must have been something important |
to bring you back so soon."
at said-it's about But even |
now she could not trust herself to speak |
his name. Her eyes we're dilating, her
soft checks flushed. MRS Barry" she
impulsvely asked, sis it so? Did you
know his sister was very ill-and he'd
been sent for?'
''Not until very lately. Nat"
Without ever throwing off her hat
and gloves the girl was again On her
knees and gazing searchingly into the
gentle face OIL the pillow.
"Who wrote?" she asked.
"He did--to Major Barry. can't
call him colonel yet You know he had
written to you before, and your turn by
your own directions only comes
"He only wrote when he sent poor
Harry's old silk bag with aunty's pic.
ture and-that hateful money. Where
did he write FROM"
Prom her home. She is very ill.,"
"Then he won't be coming here?"
And the blue eyes were glancing plead
ingly one minute, then hiding their
snowy lids the next.
II don't Sc. how he can becoming,
Nat"
The bright color faded from the
rounded cheeks and left them piteously
white.
He has been lovely to you, Nath-
allie, murnured her friend, caressing
now the restless little hand as it found
its way into hers IF he should want
you to do something for him-who
risked his life to save yours-who never
rested until ho had rescued your good
name, too--would you do it?''
But here the portiere began violent
and unaocountable undulations. Nath-
a!ie's head was bowed and she couldn't
zee, Mrs. Barry's eyes were blinded
and che wouldn't see.
"What could be ask of me now--aft-
cr'- faltered the girl
after you refused him?' said Mrs
Barry, teasing little smile playing
lbout her lips ut ism t much-provid-
ID l go too It's to go to see his SIS
err
Nathalie sprang to her feet. ~ don't
1oleve"- she began indignantly.
You never were unkind to me before
Mrs. Barry" The words came in big
OBJ The tears came raining from her
right blue eyes. Mrs. Barry's arms
we're outstretched-he heart was filed
With dismay and compassion in an in.
tant
Nathalie, Nathalie. I shouldn't |
ave leased. I was unkind. i never +
new it meant SO much. Forgive me, ]
ear one. There, there don't cry. Run q
nto the parlor. You'll find the letter I
here somewhere-or something that'll i
oll you all you want to know" @
And as the girl, half sobbing still, s
astcned from tho room in came May. I
ard, all dismay. b
"Thc door was locked, l couldn t get d
! lad to stay. had to hear f.
Why, didn't you sec tho portiere shak. |;
lg:" II
Never mind" smiled Mrs. Barry. Il
he's past my comforting. Go quickly "
i'd help her find that letter or that k
Ii
Nathalie had searched the desk and 81
antel She was fumbling for the but. q
II of the electric light as he reached W
70 arohed doorway. The heavy cur q
ms fell behind him as the bright, sud.
II glare responded to her touch and
hen she turned to renew the hurried
arch she saw him, barely arms length b
vay--no, it could not have been that b.
Il