The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-06-26

so impassivc and indolert that he
armed away and left the room, utter
.ng 70 wcrd Of acQuiesccnce or de-
NAL.
"But-we will seem murmured Miss
Jessica, lounging among the cushions
cc their carriage as they drove along
the Champ Elysees that afternoon, the
pale blue cushions harmonizing with
her own pale beauty, so that many
eyes were turned upon her from pass
ing carriages, sitting so carelessly op-
posite the sweet old Quaker woman
with her placid face; the strong face
Of the man beside her strangely out
of place, rs though two fires Of Ill were
set beside some nightly calm. Eve
can wait, my dear guardian. if so we
will learn; and then"
Il did not think" John was saying
in quiet amusement, as he assisted his
mother and ward to alight at their
door, that my ward was such
charming woman. Of course, being q
woman, you did not fail TO note the
admiration bestowed upon you this
afternoon, JeSsica. Allow we to con.
gratulate YOU"
"You are kind" she said, languidly.
"to compliment me SO prettily, Jack. I
thank you"
But, down in her heart, she had
learned that it was only this one man
whom she cared to please.
She could not know, however, though
she shrewdly guessed, how the words
of Beatrice Field ranked in John Win
throp's mind, cutting deep into the It's
sues of his heart. sorely wounding his
soul. Yet even now he would not yield
to the memory Of Alecia's face and
violet eyes and uplifted head as she
stood before him pleading for her hus-
band.
All these thoughts were come back
to him, sitting in his room after the
house was quiet. He could not sleep
or rest with those even, violet eyes
and that proud, beautiful face, alive
with smiling, inruding upon his stern
determination to forget her. Every
movement, every look, even every fold
of her gown, returned to him more and
more obstinately as he fought against
them.
"Well," he exclaimed, "why should
so torment myself about her. Shall
I admit that she has power to keep
s.cep from my eyes? I am weary
enough. heaven knows. and I have
done her no wrong. She shall not
haunt me like an unrestful ghost. for
some murderous deed! I will sleep,
Alicia Graham, in spite Of your eyes
or smile! You return home to-mor-
row, I understand, and so will not
cross my path for many days-perhaps
neverr'
And he resolutely went to bed and
closed his eyes and slept by very force
of will, crowding down his heart.
But, strange contradiction Of life, If
so he trampled on his heart, calling 1t
absurdity, why was it that he, among
many others, haunted the station at
st. Lazare. when he knew that the
one woman who held power to rouse
his soul for his defeat was there to
take the train to Dieppe and so TO
Liverpool and-home!
Strange imbecility Of the human
heart, that, moth-like, haunts the can
dies flame! Strange magnetism Of the
Juggernaut wheels Of fate, drawing in
and under the souls to be tried
through the mills Of life. and ground
fine and sifted!
But die John Winthrop dream that
through the gay crowds and among so
many faces one slender figure followed
him, and one fair face never deviated
from its purpose, or the bright eyes
lose him from among the waiting pas
sengers?
"Oh, but could learn to hate you,
John Winthrop murmured the slen-
der, watching woman, her eyes sim
Cling out his face always among the
many. How 1 could hate you-be-
cause Of herw And her ears, alert,
heard, scarcely needing the words
around her; but few out Of these re-
naming in her memory, and her men,
ory was good!
Foolish Dick. murmured a soft
voice. A girl with brown eyes and
hair and a charming face was stand
ing with her escort little apart from
the chatting group upon the platform.
ITO run away from his beloved art,
and away down here from Rome just
for me! And it was only last week
that you called me a wicked girl be-
cause I wouldn't"
"Well?" There was spice Of per-