Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-10-03
cHApTER X.-lcontInued.l

Without O light | went up 10 my own
room, where the moon that had shone
upon me In my last nights ride, was
cleaning brightly through tho window.
I Intended 10 reflect and Deliberate, but
was woia out. ilung myself down on
the bed, bat could not have remained
awake for q single moment. fell Into a
deep sleep. which lasted tIll morning.
When ] aweke my poor mother was
sitting beside ne. looking very VI aud
sorrowful. She had slipped pillow I'M
der my head, and thrown a shawl across
me. got up with bcwildcred brain.
and q general sense Of calamity, which
could not clearly define.
captain Careys man brought letter
from Julia jus; now" she said. taking u
from her pocket; he said there was no
answer"
Her eyelda were still red from weep
Ing, aud her voice faltered as II she
might break out Into sobs any moment.
Az soon as my mother was gone
opened 1ulla'a letter. Il began:
my Dear Martin--I know all now.
Johanna has tbld me. When you spoke
70 me 50 huPriedly aud unexpectedly, this
afternoon. could not bear to hear an
other word. but now am calm, and !
can think II all over quite quietly.
''It Is an lnfaiuatlon, Martin. Johanna
says 40 as WI as |, and she ID never
wrong. II Is sheer impossibility that
you, In your sober senses, should love
a strange person. whose very name you
do not know. A Dohroe could not make
an adventures his wife. Then you have
seen NO little OF her. Three times since
the week you were there In March! What
IL that compared 60 the years we have
spent togetherg IL Il impossible that In
your heart OF hearts you should love her
more than me.
II cannot give up tho thought Of our
home, Just finished aud 80 pretty, IL
was 40 pleasant this afternoon. before
you came Ia with your dreadful thunder.
bolt. was thinking what good wife
would be 10 yon; and how, In my own
house, should never be tempted into
those tiresome tempcrs you have seen 10
me sometimes You could not know how
much love you. how my life Is bound
up In you. or you would have been proof
against that person In Sark.
II think Il right 10 tell you all this
now. though II 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
lsh, aud you can do noble things. ! do
not say Il would be noble to marry me:
but It would be noble thing TO conquer
bree fall 10 love with an unknown adyen-
turessf
II shall remain In the house all day to-
morrow, and II you can come TO see me.
feeling that this has been dream Of
folly from which you have awakened, |
will not ask you 10 own II. That you
come at all win be sign to me that
you wish II forgotten and blotted out be.
tween us. ms IL Il had never been.
"Wlth true, deep love for you, Martin,
believe me still
"Your aifectlonate
JULIA"
pondered over Julia's letter as
dressed. There was not a word OF re.
sentiment in It. II was full OF affection
ate thought for us all. But what reR-
soning! had not known Olivia 80 long
as had known her, therefore could
not love her as trulyl
There was no longer any hesitation In
my mind as to what | must do. Julia
knew oil now. had told her distinctly
Of my love for Olivia. and she would not
believe 1t. She appeared wishful to hold
me to my engagement In spite OF Il; at
any rate. so l interpreted her letter.
did not suppose that | should not live It
down, this lnfatuation, as they chose to
call II. might hunger aud thirst, and
be on the point Of perislhng; sthen my
nature would turn to other nutriment,
stulifed capacities,
went mechanically through the rout-
Inc of my mornings work, and II was
late In the afternoon before | 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 touched Madam's bride,
looked down at her standing on the door
step. "Cheer up, motherw | said, al
most gaily, 1T viii all come right"
found Julia standing by the fireplace,
and leaning against II, as II she could
not stand alone. When | went up to
her and took her hand, she flung her arms
around my neck, and clung to me, In a
passion Of tears. 1t was some minutes
before she could recover her self-com-
mand. had never seen her abandon
herself to such a paroxysm before.
Julia, my poor girlp said, II did not
think you would take 1t 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, | am here" | answered, with a
very dreary feeling about me.
"That Is enough" said Julia; "you
need not say word more. Let us forget
It, both of us. You win only give me
your promise never to see her or speak to
her again"
"Ollvia quite understands about my en-
gagement to you," said. II told her al
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 thatp
''Not now, ! suppose" replied; ''thS
girl is as innocent and blameless as any
girl living; but / dare say you would
sooner befriend the most good-for-nothina
Jezebel In the Channel Islands,
Yes, | would" she said. "An limo
cent alfl indeed! only wish she had
been ldIled when she fell from the Cliff ;
"Hush!' / cried, shuddering at the bar.
mention of Olivia's death; 'you do not
know what you say. 1t Is worse thar
useless to talk about her. | came to ash
you to think no more Of what passed be
tween US yesterday"