Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-11-06


to take thcWatcr,, with Mrs. Do'ar,
in her coach: but when ! had come 90
. DelyiIle neither Mrs.. Bathurst MOI
the dean were present.
Come. come" said Mrs. Dolauy
| rallying me. 'your countcnmcc D,
too candid. >ir. You must bear with
me for the journey
l assured her that l wa, most fat
tered to be her squire; and. indeed.
/ it was true. for my old friend, wifci,
a charming creature-onc of the
elect company of women who make a
! little heaven on earth.
Our day was a happy one, and. 20
my amazcment ! found myself
laughing heartily at ths play of the
two young daughters of the house.
who. while We RECALLED ourselves with
strawberries and cream undcra chest
nut on the lawn, took to hingiug
rose leaves upon each other. and even
entered into their play. finging my
haUdful Of fragrance so they knownot
whence it came
But a. we drove back to town in
the afternoon Mrs. Delany let fall a
speech that seemed 10 thrust me into
the cold and darkness from which /
had but lately emerged.
Ii, a pity to make a nun of her, "
,he said.
"Of whom" asked. staring.
Why Of that heavenly woman. !
fear that she has it in her mind. She
is at th. convent oftcncr than like.
She has not confded in me, but fear
she socn Will.
TUNED cold with apprehension
\ world without that heavenly wom-
an. Ii was mthinkable. Then
blind rage seized me, and ! felt that
| could break all the bars in the
world that divided me from her.
| felt that my eyes were sud
denly inhamed-like my heart. /
glanced at Mrs Delany and saw that
her red lips smiled. ! could scarcely
trust myself to speak and when the
words came | knew my voice wa,
husky.
"'Twould be a great sacrifice"
said /.
IF we could make her feel that
she had work to do in the world.
Mrs. Delany responded. Il comics,
the dean and ! would be in despair at |
the loss Of that heavenly woman. |
But We are a selfish couple. She does |
not feel herself necessary to Us. If
she could feel that there was some |
one who could not do without her"
There is some one" | said. half |
under my breath.
"Ah' Her eyes were dewy, but
still the soft scarlet Of her lips
smiled. DO you know what your
friends are saying? That YOU are too
miserable to DO without each other.
But remember'-she laid her hand
in mine-"once she passes the pos
tern Of the Poor Clares twill not be !
.asy to di,lodge her. She is a thing
With a will and purpose"
"She shall not pass them, said.
After supper Mrs. Bathurst and /
found ourselves, as usual. alone.
Those two lovers, the dean and hi,
ady, had been separated the length
# day. They had much to talk of.
md we saw them take their way TO
hat little seat cut in the ivy which
,nly held them two.
The sky was in long streaks of rose
nd amber, with quiet water space
# green between. A young moon
limbed slowly up the sky. At the T
loment 1t was tangled in the boughs
t an ancient apple tree. We went ,
own the terraces through the ktch- r
n garden to the bayfield,, where the p
'ng swathes were drying in rows. | q
capped some for seat for her, and +
hen she had taken it stood look y
~ at her where she glimmered white =
the dark. spoke then as ] had not Il
ltended. y
$50 you would slip from me into D
CONVENT said, and knew there o,
as fury in my voice. =
81 have had thoughts that way" So
e said, "in the days Of my unhap- il