The Portland daily press., 1898-01-08
(chapter ~ Contlnuedl

There was so much Of earnestness and
sincerity in his tones, and the anxious
looks Of his handsome face SO completely
accorded with the testimony OF mis- words
as to the ceaseless struggle OF emotion
which had been going on for many days
past within his soul, that the kindly
Clergyman could not but feel heartlay
sorry for the poor young fellow.
If was lust about this time that MIS-.
Ism bert came into the room. Clara was
awake, she said, and felt better and
stronger. She had overheard the servant
whisper to her { Mrs. Lambert) that Cecil
was in the house, and expressed Wish to
soc him Her mother tried hard to dis
suade her, fearing the i'll effects OF any
thing ike thu least degree OF excitement;
Inf the girl insisted with SO much eager
ness of desire that at last Mrs. Lambert
thought it would be better to humor her.
~ win come up with you" said Mr..
Lambert, rising. DO not say anything
likely to upset her.
Heaven forbid ~ murInured Rawdon.
The four of them assembled to the room
in which she lay. The chamber was
darkeneasby curtains, and after the bright
sunshine of the parlor, it took Cecil some
moments TO make out the pale race OF
Clara smiling family up at MIN. from
amid the clustering locks Of her rlch
golden hair. How i'll she looked; worn
and elaaeiated by suffering; the very
ghost of the pretty blooming maiden ne
could recall in the little GlouceStersh1re
town where he first met her. She extend
ed her thin. white hand towards him; he
advanced to the bedside with just such
another lump rising in his throat as ne
had felt whilst he watched her lying
1notionless and apparently dying IN Dun
bar House, and clasped her fingers with
his own. He did not utter word; his
heart was too full for him to trust him
self to speak.
stCeciI, !" she exclaimed in low voice,
'skiss me. 1t may be for the last time:
s'Oh, no. he answered. pressing his
ouivering lips to her brow. You are
better, and will soon be well again. -
81 do not mean that, she said. 81 You
do not love me any longer"
How can you say SOP
"You love that other girl. Miss Mars
ton, now. She saved your life. / never
saved your life. All the time have been
i'll, whilst my head has been burning and
my brain filled with all sorts Of horrible
shapes and figures she shudde-ed at the
recollection-'I kept fancying that you
were standing by my side, asking to be
freed from your premise to marry me,
and once had o dream, and saw both
vou and Miss Marston standing together
under the stars; and l thought that pres
entity you turned and pointed towards me.
saying to the girl, THAT is tine woman
VINO preF6i4tS 4ldo 1AO4t4 4AASA-@1AasS JSA AA-s
wife
''CIara, you must not excite yourself, -
expostulated her mother.
~ am not in the least excited, replied
the girl, calmly.
lone would imagine that she had over
heard what we were talking about when
YOU came down." whispered Mr. Lam
bert to his wife, staggered by tne rele-
vancy of her words to the topic Of his
conversation with the young man.
kiss ms again, Cecil said she, more
family than before When he brought
his face close to hers she caasped him
round the neck, and held him in her en-
brace for at least five minutes; on re-
leasing him her sunken blue eyes We're
gIisteDing with tears and her dainty lit
lie mouth qliivering with emotion.
''Good-bye darling" she whispered,
'syou ara free. God bless you!'i
And then she buried her face in the
pillow. whilst Mr.. Lambert, passing his
arm through that of Cecil Rawdon, led
him out of the room.