The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-22
the house to which she had been directed.

the house to which she had been directed
Her veil was down, and the room was
half in shadow from the heavy curtains
which draped the window. but for all
that she started when a step crossed the
ball and a gentleman. his hair slightly
tinged with gray entered
She had sunk back on the sofa, and her
frame quivcrcd with emotion
You have come. madam. in answer TO
my advertisements he asked cautiously.
mo, no. she answered. There are
reasons why il will now be impossible for
me to accept the situation offered"
That voice Had il not too long haunt
ed him to be thus easily forgotten?
Would he not know it. even though it
sounded above his very grave?
Sydney. you here" he exclaimed.
"Ah. Mrs. Clayton-pardon me; for the
moment | forgot"
Then she threw back her veil Six
years had made little change. 1t was the
same beautiful face. but grown very
/ pale. and the lovely mouth quivercd as
she spoke.
Believe me. | would not have intrudcd
/ myself upon you had | dreamed it was
you who had inserted the advertisement.
| had not even heard of your marriage"
My wife is dead" he answered but
stay" as She arose to 90. TEL me how
it happens that You are in necessity. Is
Mr. Clayton dcad?'
She shuddcrcd.
You mistake" she said. Il did not
marry Mr.. Clayton. am Sydney Vernon
still"
You did not marry him."
- 4 i
know, to change her mind, but my aunt
was very angry and at her death she left
me nothing. Your advertisement attract
ed me. | thought | might learn to love n
little girl"
And you will not learn to love my lit
tie mothcrless chidT" he asked. Accept
this position beg of You, Miss Vernon
1t is only that you should see she is not
left to the mercy of nurses and that she
has some refining care"
So it was at last decided and Sydney
found the old emptiness Of life fled since
her heart and hands were full.
She rarely saw the master Of the
house. One day when She had entered
on some errand into his study She had
seen hanging over his desk the fair, pic
tured face of Mabel's mother.
"IIow soon he learned to love again, 5"
she thought. And II whom he so
cruelty condemned-threw aside ambi-
tion and wealth for the idol could new
er grasp
But one evening Mabel stole to the
side of the lovely lady who had won all
her loyal little heart.
Papa is ILL.," she said. did you know
it, Miss Sydney? Won't you 90 nurse
him like you do me when me is ill?"
"Ccrtainly, darling, if | can do any.
{ thing"
And with trembling steps she descend
ed the stairs and entered his room.
For hours she sat beside him. changing
! the cooling bandagcs upon his brow and
tanning his fcvcrcd cheeks.
Mabel had come softly in for her good
night kiss; then he had fallen asleep
and she had feared to stir, rs she might
waken him
Sydney, why did you not marry Mr.
Clayton"
Had he really spoken or was it hcl
own thoughts which formed the ques
ton? No he was awake now. his eye.
resting upon her.
you have no right to ask me-" she
said impcriously. Let the dead past
bury its dead"
mo right perhaps-that | admit, but
answer me all the same. For the sake
of all these starving years let me know
the truth"
Because did not love him" she an
swercd; thcn-"bccause found myself
/ weaker than | knew"
'Oh, Sydney. if we had known-if we
! had known! My darling was there an
other reason? Was it because you loved
me-"
In his voice there6O drilled the truth
In that moment she knew herself en-
press of his heart all these years anC
gliding from her chair until she fell bach
on her knees by his side, with her beau
tiful head close pressed against his heart
while his kisses rained upon her hair, she
whispered:
Because shall love you while life
lasts
y month later there was a quiet wed
ding, when, after six years cruel waiting
Sydney made the life happiness of tho
man TO whom She gave herself, a royaI
! gift, but they always said, with sigh of
! deep regret, that in both their lives they
| had lost-siN years.-Spare Moments.