The suburban citizen., 1902-04-12

his beautiful almost Italian eyes.
There was something in his manner
that made Mrs. Miller shiver as she
glanced at him.
us there true woman on earthT
he cried. II knew from the first that
Florence Martin was false, even while
she drew me to her hated her. But
you'll would have staked my immor'
tai soul on your sincerity"
Mrs. Miller's heart was beating into
her throat; a choking sensation over
powered her. 1t never occurred to
her that he would view it in that light.
She caught his hand in hers.
1T was for your mothers sake,
Hugh" she painted, ''for your mothers
sake, to save you from one who was
utterly unworthy of you.'
He turned upon her fiercely.
I'm what are you better than she?"
he asked, passionately. "She fooled
me--so did you. You have acted a lie;
you have broken my heart-and you
tell me it was for my mothers sake"
Then without another word he left
her.
In the little hollow on the beach be-
| low, as the long hours crept on to-
ward the dawn, the flowing tide
stirred the shells and pebbles with
a gentle rythmical motion. The grace
ful tendrils of seaweed attached to the
rocks foated back and forth and back
| in the water that had returned to them
once more. Slowly, slowly the incom-
| ing food drew nearer to the foot OF
the cliff, where, on the hard dry sand,
man lay face downwards. Nearer
and yet nearer it came to the motion
less form with a soothing, caressing
murmur as to a tired child until 1t
broke upon the fingers of the out
stretched hand-and still the silent
figure lay rigid and undisturbed.
When the morning dawned, and the
little white sailed boats left the shore
in the glad sunlight Of the opening
day, there was found, at the foot Of
the cliff, where the winding path leads
up to Mrs. Miller's house, mans
side, on which was written the one
word "Good-by," and the hat was
identified as that of Hugh Cameron.
SO it came 10 pass that IN one single
day Grace Miller's hair turned white.
So also it was that when month
later John Howard, before leaving for
Glasgow, for a position in one Of the
principal banks in that city, asked her
once again il she would be his wife,
she answered she had no heart for
matrimony and no love for any man.
Thus in one short month she lost the
two persons who wero the centre Of
her world.
Time passed away. Then, after two
years, one clustering autumnal day,
when the waves We're breaking on tine
beach with a sound like thunder, John
Howard came again.
He entered Mrs Miller's own little
room and stood before her. Her thin
worn face, and dark shadows under
her eyes struck chill to his heart.
Grace" he blurted out, his love in
his voice, ARE you still grieying for
Cameron!
She looked up at him, smiling
through her tears.
why should you think I am still
grieving for any one?" she asked.
He touched her eyes, her forehead.
her cheek.
You forget" she answered. "Time
changes one. 1T is eight years since
you first knew me, John"
He drew her nearer to the window
and studied her face as if he would
read her very soul.
THE boy is still alive" he said
quietly, Il saw him in London last
week."
She started and turned very pale;
then swayed slightly as If she would
have fallen, but she did not yield to
Howard's supporting arm.
"Tell me ALL" she said family.
Still with his eyes upon her face
Howard went on.
After he left you that evening he
spent the night on the beach, but
walked to the junction in time to
catch the first train to London in the
morning. He left his hat, with the
paper in it, as a means Of revenging
himself on you"
Then he asked the question that was
burning on his tongue.
Grace, do you care for Cameron?"
The pink stole back into her cheeks, !
the light into her eyes the smile to
her lips
Il care for him more than any one
in the world, except"
Yes he said, "except-except-"
Except yourself" she replied.
The words were uttered under her
breath, yet they reached his ear He
bent his head to look into her eyes.
Reflect what you are saying,
Grace" he urged. "Once you did not
care for me at ALL"
Her lashes dropped upon her checks
Il always cared" she whispered.
Then why did you answer No for |