Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-03-15
CHAPTER XVI.

two and turned very Wnlte.
How do you do?" said Vera, quietly,
and put out her hand.
They stood in the open air. Sir Jonn
took her proffered hand and responded
to her stereotyped greeting. BY the time
he had done so he had recovered his pres
ence of mind
What an odd thing to meet you at the
door of this church" he said, rather ner-
wously. 'Do you know that my brother
was married here this morning.!
Eyes; I was in the church.
Were you? How glad am l did
not know it," almost inyoluntarily.
There was little pause; then Vera
asked him if he was going to Walpole
Lodge.
Eventually; but have come back
here to look for something. My brother
has lost little Russia leather case; he
thinks he may have dropped it in the
church; there were two ten-pound notes
In it. l am going in to look for it. Why.
what is that in your hand? | believe
that Is the very thing"
II picked it up" stammered Vera.
She began searching in the pockets of
the case. 81 did not think there was
anything in it. Yes, here are the notes,
quite SAFE
She took them out and gave them to
him. He held out his hand mechanically
for the case also.
Thank you; you have saved me the
trouble of looking for it. will take it
back to him at once"
But she could not part with her treas
ure: it was all she had got of his.
''The letter case is very shabby" she
said, crimsoning with painful confusion.
IL do not think he can want it at all;
dt is quite worn out"
Sir John looked at her with a slight
surprise.
@It can be very little use to him. One
likes sometimes to have little remem-
brance of those-of people-One has
known; he would not mind my keeping
1t, I think. Tell him-tell him / asked
for it, The tears were very near her
voice; she could scarcely keep them back
out Of her eyes.
John Kynaston dropped his head, and
Vera slipped the little case quickly into
her pocket.
would you mind walking little way
with me, Vera?" he said, gently and
very grayely.
She drew down her veil and went with
him in silence. They had walked half
way down Wilton Crescent before he
spoke to her again; then he turned to-
ward her, and looked at her earnestly
and sadly.
'<Why did you go back again into the
church, Vera?"
II wanted to think quietly little" she
rmurmured.
$50 that is what parted usv' he ex-
claimed, with a sudden bitterness, at
length. @
What do you mean?" she stammered.
"Oh, child! 1 see it all now. How
blind / have been. All, why did you not
trust me, love? Why did you fear to tell
me your secret? Do you not think that
4, who would have laid down my life
for you to make you happy, do you not
suppose | would have striven to make
your path smooth for you?"
She could not answer him; the kind
words, the tender voice, were too much
for her. Her tears fell fast and silently.
Tell me-" he said, turning to her al
most roughly, tell me the truth. Has
NE ill-treated you, this brother of mine,
who stole you from me, and then has
left you desolate?'
mo, no; do not say that; it was never
his fault at all, only mine; and he was
always bound to her. He has been every
thing that is good and loyal and true to
you and to her; it has been only miser-
able mistake, and now it is over"
What are you going to do with your
self?" he said to her, presently. What
use are you going to make of your 1ifeY'
II don't know" she answered, drear-
ely; II suppose shall go back to Sutton.
Perhaps shall marry"
I.But not me?'
She looked up at him piteously.
Listen, child" he said, eagerly. IF
] were to go away for year, and then
come back to you, how would it be? Oh,
my darling! love you SO deeply that
could even be content to do with but half
your heart, so that l could win your
sweet self. I would exact nothing from
YOU, love, no more than what you could
give me freely. But I would love you
so well, and make your life so sweet and
pleasant to you, that in time, perhaps,
you would forget the. old sorrow, and
learn to be happy, with quiet kind of
happiness, with me; would ask for no
more. Vera, let me come back and claim
you in a year!
AZ cannot do it; do not ask me-" she
SAID, QlSlracteuIy. our gOOuHeSS 10 NE
half breaks my heart; but it cannot be. .
..Why not, child? In a year so much
may be altered"
81 shall not alter"
tsNo; but, even SO, you might learn to
be happy with me-.
'sIt is not that: you do not understand.
I dare say could be happy enough; that
is not why cannot marry YOU"
ssUyhx thor, 90
esI dare not" she said, in low voice.
He drew in his breath. "Ah!'' he said,
between his teeth, is it SO bad with you
as that?"
She bent her head in silent assent
stThat is hard" he said, almost to him.
self. looking gloomily before him. Pres
emily he spoke again. Thank you,
Vera" he said, rather brokenly. .You
are brave woman and true one. Many
would have taken my all, and given me
back only deception and falseness. But
you are incapable of that, and-and you
fear your own strength; is that it,"
while he lives" she said, with sud-