The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-04-17

Miss Duncombe, is it really you?
Surely you have not forgotten me?"
Mr.. Scudamore, I think said Effie.
q little obviously, as If she were not
quite certain, And yet Effie was natu-
rally a truthful girl.
Il have been trying everywhere to
find YOU" said Wyndham.
Effie drew herself up. ITO find me,
| Mr.. Wyndham?"
ITO find YOU" said the young man,
/ for your address, but for some unknown
began to be afraid you did not want me
to know where you WERE
! That was quite true; I did not wish
you TO know, Mr.. Wyndham."
This was crushing rejoinder, but
Wyndham did not yet see where to hold
his tongue. He went ON eagerly. But
must see you. / must have an op-
portunity of saying to you that-that
love you, Efiie: love you with all my
heart and soul"
You need not go on" said Efie,
whose face was scarlet with anger and
embarrassment. Il am very much
obliged to you for your most chivalrous
proposition, and 1 beg to assure you
that it is entirely unnecessary. Moth
ing in the world would induce me to
marry you, Mr.. Scudamore, and / hope
you will therefore have the good sense
and good taste to say nothing more on
the subject. If we meet again, I hope
you will remember that we are stran-
gers"
1t was at a dinner party that they
met again. Fife was looking very
pretty, but somewhat thinner AID paler
than she used to look; but Wyndham
was outwardly unchanged. She Won
dered afterwards whether he had di-
plomacy to effect his own ends; certain
ly it befell that he was introduced to
her as a stranger and hidden to take
her in to dinner. Efie was secretly
dismayed, but of course she was pow
erless. Wyndham twisted his mus
tache and addressed a trivial remark
to her as If he had never seen her in
his life before. Effie knew that she was
irrational to resent this kind of behav-
Tor. but she resented it very much in
deed
But you know 1 can't bear the new
humor." she said sharply, III reply to
his remark on a recently published
work. Il remember talking about it
once at Marian's."
"Oh, 1 thought we were perfect stran-
gers?" said Wyndham, without smile.
She turned away petulantly, but at
that moment he was obliged to offer
his arm and take her down stairs to
the dining room. There was peace be-
tween them for a little while, but when
n f,,r Il 10 IL
an opportunity of speaking to her once
more about the past.
Il am glad you allow me to be at
least on the footing of an acquain-
lance" he said cOmposedly, for that
gives me just the chance I have de-
sired-of telling you that you are not
at all likely to see anything more of
me in the future"
What do you mean?" said Efie,
raising her pretty, startled eyes for a
moment to his face.
You have not heard Of my misfor-
tunes, then? if they can be called by
such a name. Personally 1 think it is
a stroke of good luck for me. The
paper I was connected with went bank
rupt. first of all. Then my father had
some reverses which made him feel dis
posed to leave the country; and, in
short, 1 have accepted a post in Eng
land which will keep me very effectu-
ally out of your way. Good heavens!
what have I done? Effie, for mercys
sake-do you care?'
For silly little Fife had managed to
turn as white as snow.
Drink some wine,'' said her compan-
ion hastily. Il have startled you
frightened you, have I not? There.
you look better now. You'll forgive me
for my abruptness. will YOU not 2"