, 1899-04-14

would have been intolerable to him that
Beauclerk should have known of her
ears. He would take taken possession Of
hem, as it were. They would have mere
y helped to pamper his self-coneeit and
smooth down his rufied pride. He would
inevitably have placed such and such a
construction on them; one entirely to his
Dwn glorihcation.
81 shall leave you now with a lighter
heart" says Felix, presently. Now that
[ know you are not going to marry that
fellow"
"You are going, thenT' says she sharp
ly. checking the monotonous little tattoo
she has been playing on the bridge rail as
though suddenly smitten into stone. She
had heard he was going, she had been
told of it by several people, but somehow
she had not believed it. 1t had never
come home to her until now.
Eyes. We are under orders for India.
We sail in about a month. l shall have to
leave here almost Immediately"
$50 soon," says she, vaguely. She has
begun that absurd tattoo again, but
bridge, and restless little fingers, and sky
and earth, and all things seem blotted out.
He is going, really going, and forever!
How far is India away?
SIT Is always rather hurried at last. For
my part, l am glad I'm going"
"Yes"
"Mrs. Monkton will-at least, / am sure
she will-let me have a line now and then
% let me know how %you-how you are all
getting on. l was going to ask her about
t this evening. You think she will be
good enoughY
Barbara is always kind"
81 suppose'-he hesitates, and then goes
IN with an effort-"I suppose it would be
100 much to ask of your"
"What?'
'That you would sometimes write me a
letter-however short"
81 am a bad correspondent" says she,
feeling as if she were choking.
"Ah! l see. l should not have asked, of
course. Yes, you are right. 1t was abb
surd my hoping for it."
"Would you really carer" says she.
"Ah! That is the humor of it." says he.
"In spite of all, | should still really care.
Come" He makes an effort to ~unclasp
the small, pretty fingers that are grasping
the rails so rigidly. At first they seem to
resist his gentle pressure, and then they
give way to him. She turns suddenly.
"Felixw her voice is somewhat strained,
somewhat harsh, not all her W voice,
do you still love meT'
"You know that" returns he, sadly. II
he has felt any surprise at the question he
has not shown it.
mo, no." says she, feverishly. THAT
Vou like me, that you are fond of me, per-
haps, l can still believe. But is it the
same with you that it used to be? Do
you," with a little sob, love me as well
now as in those old days? Just the same?
Not" going nearer to him and laying her
hand upon his breast, and raising agoniz-
ed eyes to him, mot one bit less?"
81 love you a thousand times MORE"
says he, very quietly, but with such inten-
sitg that it enters into her very soul
"Why?" He has laid his own hand over
the small, nervous one lying on his breast,
and his face has grown very white.
Because 1 love you, tool"
rMy beloved" says he in a faint, quick
way. He is holding her to himjlow with
all his.might. She can feel thu kuick pull
cart. Stddep
her soft arms around his necE} dnd how
with her head pressed against his shout
der, bursts into q storm of tears. 1t is a
last shower.
They are both silent for a long time, and
then he, raising one of her hands, presses
the palm against his lips. Looking up at
him, she smiles, uncertainty but happily,
a very rainbow of a smile, born of sun
shine, and, rain drops gone, it seems to
beautify her lips. But Felix, while ac-
knowledging its charm, annot smile bach
at her. 1t is all too strange, too new.
He is afraid to believe. As yet there is
something terrible to him in this happi-
ness that has fallen into his life.
''You mean it?" he asks, bending over
her. IF tomorrow | were to wake and
find all this an idle dream, how would it
be with me then? Say you mean it,"
"Am | not here?' says she, TREMENDOUSLY,
making a slight but eloquent pressure on
one of the arms that are round her. He
bends his face to hers, and as he feels
that first glad eager kiss returned-he
Knows!