Middletown transcript., 1901-07-06

the effect: sThe whole story OF your |
relations with Mrs Lesillian, of Grove |
road, is known to u.s. Elfrida will not |
believe it except on your own confession,
and she is heart broken at your perfdy." |
To which had shortly after this reply:
II intended to tell Elfridy the whole
story shortly, and l trusted that her love
of him would lead her to remain true
to me in spite of this drawback, the
gravity of which l do not deny. was
wrong, of course, not to have told her in
the first instance. l can only trust that
her generosity and nobility of character
will lead her to condone the fault of one
who was more sinned against than sin
ming.
81 entreat her to see me this evening,
and to listen to my explanation.
showed Elfrida this extraordinary
epistle. She went as white as sheet
and 1 feared she would faint, but with
an effort she recovered herself.
"IIe does not deny it! He does not
deny itp' she repeated to herself in a
voice that was like moan of pain.
but lie wants to see you and ex-
plain"
"Explainm she cried, and her eyes
blazed with Indignation out of her pale
face; chow can he explain-that? can
not see him, Aunt Sophy (for so she al
ways called me). 1 cannot see him
ever again, ever againP' and then her
head sank on my shoulder and she gave
way to passion of tears.
"You shall not" 1 said, soothingly,
and took care to keep to my word.
AS he tried again and again to see
her, took her away down Littlehamp-
ton, hoping that the sea breezes might
bring back the color to her white cheeks
and the light to her heavy eyes.
I tried to turn her thoughts from her
individual sorrows to the glorious des-
TIMES of our privileged generation, en-
abled to see daily more and more clearly
behind the veil that hides from us the
spiritual world.
But she seemed to have no heart for
anything. She would sit and gaze at the
sea in fit of abstraction, from which l
could with difficulty arouse her.
One day left her sitting in this man.
ner in quiet part of the beach while
l hurried home to see if the post had
come in.
'eDid you meet your yisitor?' my
| landlady asked as | entered. 81 said as
'ow you would most likely be down by
| the sea-"
"What visitor?' l asked, in alarm.
"a lady as came about 'alf an houl
r ago. Il breathed sigh of relief.) She
said as 'ow she'd try to find you, and i
: she conldn't find you she'd come bacl
E 'ere."
l hurried back to the place where
had left Elfrida. She was walking W
and down in earnest conversation witt
a lady in black, no longer young, bu
. still showing traces of past beauty, anC
:. | with that indefinable look about he
, which sometimes stamps "woman will
a history"
But what had come to the child? He
ewes were bright and sparkling, thougI
7 unshed tears stood in them; her cheek
were flushed and her lips trembling
= The statue I had left behind here ha
come to life.
I .'Aunt SophyT Elfrida cried, "thl
is Mrs. Lesillien, Laurence's mother
and"
The elder lady interposed: 81 hav
!" with great difficulty discovered, Mis-
= Darmfelder, what was the obstacle
!, my sons happiness, for he would te
me nothing. l hurried down here
once to assure Miss Stanford that
would not intrude myself into my son
future life. l am willing to go abroa
], and remain there if she requires l
But | find she was under a misappr'
= hension altogether"
Elfrida hung her head and blushed.
I was speechless with amazement, an
= l hardly heard the rest of her convers
ton.
She refused all offers of rest and r
= freshment, saying she must hurry bac
: to town. But she must have foun
" time to send off telegram, for an eyel
ing train brought US down another Wis
!. tor.
And he has been down here constant
= since, and by his extreme civility l 81
- he has not quite forgiven me yet.
He takes Elfrida long walks on tt
cliff, which certainly improve her look
!. !, They are to be married in August an
~ ! though l am glad to see the child look
happy, I shall never cease to deplore tt
loss of such an invaluable recruit to Il