The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-23
~ a. ar SA~

: Ing that he must be real, she called out
{ Ind at the sound of her voice he vanish
ed.
How old is she?" Adelaide asked the
rector afterwards.
sixteen, I believe.
and so much confidence and self-pos-
session. Chatters French like English
hope 7 may be able to influence her"
But she never was able; she never
tried very hard. And in the meantime
Sonia influenced her. She also influenced
the rector and his ward, Lucie And the
boy Norton went head over ears III love
She had brought from her home pile
of luggage. a heap Of money, an excellent
English maid and her own atmosphere.
She drove the rectory people INTO that at
mospherc and made them i've III It.
The boy Norton could not often find her
alone He was full of dumb eloquence,
Uncomprehended desires. very restless,
and sometimes unintentonal!E amusing.
Lucie Sarrant. she watched Norton
and Sonia, felt daily more murderous,
yet by the time that the week was at an
end the boy and Sonia had never been
tllone togsther, never said one word
o.alt not been overheard
AT the end of the week they would not
let her go. Though she was irregular at
family prayers, never attended church in
the morning, did-and made them do-a
hundred new things Of which they had
never thought before, they would not let
her go. Even Lucie-fatalist at fourteen
said: Please stay longer, Sonia 1t
would be at the end Of everything; but
Lucie would not let Sonia see that she
was afraid Of her-if she could help it.
Then one morning after breakfast Sonia
said: Morton. I want you to take me
through the pine woods on the hill there
Adelaide glanced at her brother but he
did not catch her eye. Lucie rose and
went from the room. Norton drew a
long breath. If neither his father nor
his aunt prohibited that walk. the gates
OF heaven were open. There was no pro-
hbition
Thank you. Sonia" said Norton.
AS they walked through the pine wood
alone, Sonia asked him hundred ques-
ton about his life. What had he done
before she came?
Nothing" he said. She spoke of Lucie,
pra isin@ her. Then for q while they
walked on in silence. She sat down on
bank to rest: and as he stood before
her their eyes met.
do You know that I like You very
much?" he said suddenly
Yes she said. Il knew that" She
laughed. and then: why have you told
me?"
q cannot help it. I meant to tell you
when you asked me to come out this
morning. l would have told you before
if I could. Are you angry?'
81 am very angry. How much do You
like me?'
More than anyone in the world So
that there is nothing l would not do for
you, if You wanted it. There is nobody
- Won MI there never has been. We
were all dead until you came. I love
you, Sonia
No, she said. ''you must not love me-
One day you will marry Lucie."
no, no.
Yes, YOU will: am going away soon.
and I shall not come back to England
any more.
Don't you like me at all?'
q shall not tell YOU
He pleaded vainly. Not for days would
she let him be with her alone again.
When she did. she said: Tell me once
more how much you like me-" And when
at the last Sc was saying goodbye to
her. she asked him it again. But this
time she said: Tell me again how much
YOU love me-" And in return? He was
nor 10 write letters to her and he was
not to kiss her handwriting. in fact.
in return.
So she went back to the haunted cas-
tie, having acquired in England a fair
the affection of two elderly people, the
love of a boy. and the hatred Of girl
From Black and White