The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-02-28
BY EVELYN SWAN


heart already; and she puckered her fore
head tn sheer perplexity how 90 answer e.
IL was from Mr. Mitchell asking whether
she thought he might yet propose to
Rezah. and reminding her Of the many
things she had mentioned of the girls in
cliEatlon toward him. What to say she
could not think She had. in truth. COM
pletely deceived him. and she was now
overwhelmed with the fear that when he
found out the truth he woald make her
repay him everything at once. II was
characteristic OF her that she put all the
blame for the trouble on her daughter
That was her first comfort: her next was
10 put OF the writing Of any letter until
the following day.
Meanwhile Rezah was sorely troubled
on her own account, and went about with
50 anxious look that her mother. setting
il all down to the debit OF her own act,
was inclined TO be angry with the girl
Tor making so much OF It.
RSzah's trouble was OF the heart. how
ever Her lover had not met her a. he
had promised; but instead had sent 4
telegram vaguely worded, and limiting at
coming mischief, and afterwards had
written saying that something had come
10 his knowledge, something affecting him
only that made IL impossible for him to
see her until he knew more. And the
girl carried this about in her heart for
three days till the pain was like 10 break
IL
On the fourth the blow fell A letter
came from her lover, short, crushing,
deadly.
Dearest; / can still write dearest" though all
is and must be- over between Us. We must never
meet again have deceived you as much as have
been deceived myself Seven yesrs ago. whea l;tle
more taan a lad ! was marr.ed-lured cheated fool
81 iRto Il. bat married. NY wife LETT ne after
a while. and believed that she was dead Honest
ly believed it, Rezah. as know you Will believe
and then ! s0ked you 10 marry ne. -Four days ago
to ny horror, I had news indirectly Of her and now
she la, returned TO claim ne. Ny great pain in all
this Is 70 have wrecked your life as l fear have
ray one consolation ia it all. the knowledge that
have been loved by YOU. But We parted for ever
Oh. NY dearest: God bless you FRANK.
The girl met the blow like the brave
soul that she was. All the morning she
did her work at her Office with regularity,
and only a little Observation-Disclosures In
the afternoon she took d holiday, ami
went in search Of her old lover She
wanted TO hear the truth from his lips,
and to be absolutely certain that every
thing was as he said.
But she could not find him At his Of
flee they told her ne had left; and one of
the clerks, knowing her, came OUT after
her and told Eer he thought he had gone
abroad.
She went straight to his rooms. There
a very unpleasant experience awaited her.
She was speaking 10 the landlady, who
was telling her that he had certainly gone
away, somewhere abroad-to the colonies,
she thought-when the wife appeared.
She was Haunting, large-faced woman,
gaudily dressed and much older than
Frank or Rezah. She was red in the face,
too, and looked as II she had been drink
ing.
Il know you," she said readily to
ReZah. You're the girl with the queer
name that that blessed husband of mine
thought he was going to marry. But he's
mine. don't you see? I've got i'm; and.
what's more, | mean to jolly well stick
20 i'm. Sec and she shook her head
and leered with shallow, boastful cum
ming. Il amt going to be made misera-
bic for nothing.
ReZah looked at her steadily.
I'm sorry your life has been an I'M
happy one" she said, quietly. But that
s 10 reason why you should be glad that
others are also as unhappy as yourself"
And she turned on her heel.
The little encounter did her good. Il
broke the mOnotony of her misery; and
that night she reasoned the whole posi-
ion out in her practical way.
More than once the words she had
spoken 20 her mother about Mr.. Mitchell
required TO her, and gradually the idea
NJ hat hah mt
% her appeared less and less distastefuI
and difficult. The real reason was prob
ably that she lonSed for the excitement
IF some complete change from the usual
life, and thus turned to the idea of mar
Rage with a sense of relief.
Mother. what nave you told Mr.. Mitch
ell?' she asked on the following day,
much 10 her mothers surprise and annoy
ince, because Mrs. WaTrender had put
1 of As It most unpleasant duty.
Il haven't seen him. shild. How could
tell him. She spoke angrily 10 give
herself courage.
DO you very much wish what he wish
as?"
Her mother looked up in keen, quick
surprise.
You're looking ill. Rezah. Is anything
The natter"
Il have had a blow. Frank and l are
Darted-fOr good"
Mrs. Warrender tried not 10 let her
pleasure at the news overshadow her con-
Germ at the effect which she saw il had
1n Rezah.
What is the matter? 1 am sorry"
But her voice was struggle 10 express
The girl understood her well enough.
ITS a little hard that q blow that
seems as if it would break ones life in
NO should give more pleasure than any
hing else 10 the only soul on earth where
me ought 10 look for consolation" She
sighed and after d moment added: "Nev-
n mind, mother. You can't help feeling
'elieved that after all you may get out
If this scrape with Mr.. Mitchell" AMI
he bent and kissed her on the forehead.
If this should ever be possible it Will
Inly be after Mr. Mitchell has had the
whole truth told to him. And then, if he
Knows everything-mind, everything-and
5 willing to make me his wife, shall be
;lad to marry him."
You are a dear, sweet, obedient girl.
ReZah." The daughter smiled at this
most unexpected comment, but said moth
nc. TN tell Mr.. Mitchell" added Mrs.
Narrender.
Then, with fash of great earnestness,
he girl said:
one word, mother. You must tell him
.verything-that my heart has been given
o Frank: that ] do not. and probably
never shall, love him; that ! come 10 him
or rest; and that il IL were not inpossi-
BE 10 marry Frank l should do so. Mind.
verifying And remember that | shall
20 over the whole ground again after
GU and before the marriage, and shall
ei him ali myself, so that nothing will
'e gained by holding back even the YER
est tr.ae now"
DO You think ] would deceive Won or
'im IN such a matter?" asked the mother
With the anger Of a person WHOSE |
thoughts have been clearly read ana her
Intentions anticipated.
What was said I'm the first interviews
With Mr.. Mitchell was not told 10 The
mi. but her mother said that he readily
greed 20 all, and Mrs. Warrender was |
o jGbilant that Rezah was rather in.
lined 10 believe there was much more /
han she mad been led to think al any |
inc
But nothing could have been more kind |
nd compassionate and tactful than Mr. /
iitchelfS conduct. He Was snare pc