The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29

conscious of any impending calamity.
Megs sorrow already belongs to the past.
Inc reckless elopement, that cramped, silent
life at the dreary Chelsea fiat and the horri-
bic nights at the arena, not vivid pic
lures on her brain any longer.
She does not care to dwell upon that dull
episode in her life, does she wish to
anticipate time when Gervais may return
to claim her, and insist upon taking her away
from Rokeby.
Bruce watches her with tortured heart,
putting off the evil moment from which he so
desperately shrinks.
To warn her of her husbands possible
presence in Avonlee will be to throw dark
ness on her soul, to ouench the glad light that
is shining in her beautiful eyes; and, al
though he nerves himself for the miserable
task more than once, he cannot bring him
self to speak of Mr. Golding.
Rotha Give is a malicious woman, and
Meg was dupe to her cunning treachery
before; this may be mere fabrication he
thinks, as he glances across the to
the piano, where, in a rich dress of pearly
SILK MISS GIVE is sitting playing her own ac-
compartment to a Scotch ballad she is sing
ing with effect and skill Why put even the
least particle of creduity on the word of she
who has not Scrupled to lie so successfully,
that her mean falsehood has made such a
dismal blank in lis lfe-has caused, perhaps,
his eternal separation from the girl he most
ardently loves?
Il will consult jamie he resolves: and he
glances round, to see such radiancy on the
newly plighted fiancee's face that he is
struck with remorse at the bare idea of dim
ming that cloudless atmosphere of bliss.
He hovers Meg and tries to appear as
though he has nothing to trouble him: but he
cannot hide from her the fact that he is ILL
at-ease and Wretched
Are you in any anxiety about a patient?"
she asks, for the pallor of his face is almost
startling, and begins to haunt her at last.
rs anyone dying? 1t must jar you to be
here, if that is the case she adds, in low
sympathetic tone.
| hAr with faS If rf,,I
tenderness in his grey eyes
Il am not aware that anyone is dying I'M
der my treatment he replies; and he smiles
in a forced way, adding 1T is the living who
cause me the most uneasiness.''
| Slowly she rises.
! Her lips have lost their natural hue and
she whispers
What can you mean? The living! WHY
do you speak so strangely?'
| He sees that the thought of her husband
has rushed into her mind-knows that he
ought to repeat Roth's story; but there is
lump in his throat that chokes back the
words he would utter.
Why alarm her. perhaps, needlessly?
! Why give Miss Give the qualification of
Knowing that her report has been taken for
granted and chill MargaretS soul with the
dread that, at any moment, her husband may
come and demand her from her parents?
! He cannot trust himself to meet Megs
questioning gaze.
! His heart is beating with a wild pain and
his features are drawn and sharp with mis-
cry.
To lose her forever-to hear the voice of
Gervais Golding asking for his wife, will be
the last straw to his endurance.
! 1t is as likely not that she is free and
why should he be the first to throw doubt
on that accepted belief?
| But not passing shadow on the harassed
face of Bruce has escaped Meg
| Ice seems to SILVER through her veins and
mist dims her sight.
! There is aching grief in the dark-blue
depths of her eyes-a look that thrills and
tortures Bruce.
L have been too forgetfu" she SAYS. a
break in her voice. Il dared to think that
death had released me from all binding links.
and it crue-a selfish thought was it
not?''
Don't ask me-" he huskily exclaims. Il
am not in a state of mind to answer as l
should"
ing violets from her dress, says, trembling,
as she holds them towards him
Il ought not to have accepted them Do not
be offended with me because am compelled
to return them to l had no right to wear
/ the1n-not for inEtant.'
! His face fiushes darkly, and he looks al her
with mute reproach, cruelty strung bv her
rejection of his modest gift
! Can it harm you to wear then?" he ex-
rostulates, she does not show any sign of
relentng.
! Il have no right to deck myself with flow
| ers she responds, a nalf sob in her voice IT
have this white dress, and | should have
kept to mourning: 1t would have reminded
NE of my rash folly year ago, when L was
heartless enough to leave Rokeby as 1 did
IL 1 now have to pay the penalty 1 shall have
deserved to suffer-
Hush, Meg, for PHYS sakei' he cries
passionately. Il should pay the penalty
seeing how L lost you through NV own
stupidity-my laundering mistake in neglect
ing to speak until 1 could see my wav clear
to position good enough to offer you'll
! Il loved you too well to bind You f. .r,,
promise while had but doubtful prospect Of