Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-10-03
CHAPTER X.-(Continued.)


room, where the moon that had shonc
upon me in my last nights ride, was
cleaning brightly through the window
| intended to reflect and deliberate, but
l was worn out. flung myself down on
the bed, but could not have remained
awake for single moment. fell into
deep sleep, which lasted till morning.
When l awoke my poor mother was
sitting beside me, looking very i'll and
sorrowful She had slipped q pillow I'M
der my head, and thrown shawl across
me. 1 got up with a bewildered brain,
and general sense of calamity, which
l could not clearly define.
Captain Carey's man brought letter
from Julia just now" she said, taking 1t
from her pocket; ''he said there was no
answer"
Her eyelids were still red from weep
ing, and her voice faltered as II she
might break out into sobs any moment.
AS soon as my mother was gone l
opened Julia's letter. 1t began:
"A[y Dear Martini know all now.
Johanna has told me. When you spoke
to me so hurriedly and unexpectedly, this
afternoon, l could not bear to hear an
other word But now am calm, and
can think it all over quite quietly.
1T is an infatuation, Martin. Johanna
SAYS so as we'll as I. and she is never
wrong. 1t is a sheer impossibility that
you, in your sober senses, should love
a strange person, whose very name you
do not know. A Dobree could not make
an adventures his wife. Then you have
seen so little of her. Three times, since
the week you were there in March! What
is that compared to the years we have
spent together? 1t is impossible that i'll
your heart of hearts you should love her
more than me.
II cannot give up the thought Of our
home, just finished and so pretty. 1t
was so pleasant this afternoon, before
you came in with your dreadful thunder
bolt I was thinking what good wife
would be to you; and how, in my own
house, l should never be tempted into
those tiresome tempers you have seen IN
me sometimes. You could not know how
much l love you, how my life is bound
up in you, or you would have been proof
against that person i'll Sark.
II think it right to tell you all this
now, though it is not in my nature to
make professions and demonstrations of
my love. Think of me, Of yourself, OF
your poor mother. You were never self
ish, and you can do noble things. l do
not say it would be noble to marry me;
but it would be a noble thing to conquer
an ignoble love. How could Martin Do
brce fall in love with an unknown auVen-
turess?
II shall remain in the house all day to-
morrow, and if you can come to see me,
thn< h1o Of
folly from which you have awakened,
will not ask you to own it. That you
come at all will be sign to me that
you wish it forgotten and blotted out be-
tween US, as if it had never been.
with true, deep love for you, Martin,
believe me still
"Your affectiOnate
I pondered over Julia's letter as
dressed. There was not word Of re-
sentiment in it. 1t was full Of affection
ate thought for us all. But what rea-
soning! had not known Olivia SO long
as l had known her, therefore l could
not love her as truly!
There was no longer any hesitation In
my mind as to what l must do. Julia
knew all now. l had told her distinctly
of my love for Olivia, and she would not
believe it. She appeared wishful to hold
me to my engagement in spite Of 1t; at
any rate, so l interpreted her letter.
did not suppose that l should not live 1t
down, this infatuation, Us they chose to
call it. l might hunger and thirst, and
be on the point Of perishing; then my
nature would turn to other nutriment,
and assimilate it to it's contracted and
stultiied capacities.
went mechanically through the rout-
Inc Of my mornings work, and it was
late in the afternoon before l could get
away to ride to the Vale. My mother
knew where | was going, and gazed visit
fully into my face, but without otherwise
asking me any questions. At the last
moment as l touched Madam's bride,
looked down at her standing on the door
step. "Cheer up, mother" l said, al
most gaily, lit will all come right
found Julia standing by the fireplace,
and leaning against it, as il she could
not stand alone. When went up to
her and. took her hand, she flung her arms
around my neck. and chung to me, in a
passion of tears. 1t was some minutes
before she could recover her self-com-
mand. l had never seen her abandon
herself to such a paroxysm before.
Julia. my poor girl" said, II did not
think you would take it so much to heart
as this"
II shall come all right directly" she
sobbed sitting down, and trembling from
head to foot. johanna said you would
come, but was not sure.''
"Yes, l am here" answered, with a
very dreary feeling about me.
'rhat is enough" said Julia; you
need not say a word more. Let us forget
It, both of us. You will only give me
your promise never to see her or speak to
her again.
"Olivia quite understands about my en-
gagement to you," said. II told her at
once that we were going to be married,
and that hoped she would find friend
In you"
"a friend in me. Martini" she exclaim-
ed, in tone Of indignant surprise; "you
could not ask me to be that!'
mot now. l suppose" replied; "the
girl Is as innocent and blameless as any
girl living but l dare say you would
sooner befriend the most good-for-nothing
Jezebel in the Channel Islands,"
Yes. would" she said. IAN inno-
cent girl indeed! only wish she had
been killed when she fell from the cliff"
"Hushv' cried shuddarino nj tho m p,