The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-04
(Continued)


-Four months elapsed. April came--the
month of spring the month OF change.
The course ~ time had flowed through
the interval since the winter. peacefully
and happily In our new home. | had
turned my Ionv leisure 10 good account;
had largely increased my sources of en-
ployment: and had placed out means Of
subsistence on surer grounds. Freed from
the suspense and the anxiety which had
tried her 50 sorely, and hung over her
60 long, Marian's spirits rallied; and her
natural energy OF character began 10 as
sert itself again, with something. II not
all. OF the freedom and vigor OF former
times
More pliable under change than her
sister, Laura showed more plainly the
progress made by the healing influences
OF her new life. The worn ana wasted
look which had prematurely aged her
face was fast leaving II; and the express
sion which had been the first OF its
charms In past days was the first OF It's
beauties -tAat-Hew returned. My closest
observation OF her detected, but one ser
fous result OF the conspiracy which had
once threatened her reason and her life.
Her memory OF events from the period
OF her leaving Blackwater Park TO the
period of our meeting I'm the burial
ground OF Limmeridge Church. was lost
beyond all hope OF recovery. At the
slightest reference to that time. she
g0dnsf0 ana lTfnplen Silils ncT WORDS
became confused: her memory wandered
and lost itself as helplessly "a ever Here
and here only, the traces OF the past lay
deep-too deep to be effaced.
In all else she was now 80 far on the
way 10 recovery, that, on her best and
brightest days. she sometimes looked and
spoke like the Laura OF old times. The
happy change wrought it's natural result
In us both. Erom their long slumber.
on her side anS- bn mine. those imperisn-
able memories Of our past life In Cum
berland now awoke, which were one and
all alike, the memories OF our love.
Gradually and insensibly our daily re-
lstions toward each other became con-
strained. The fond lords which ! had
spoken TO her so naturally, I'm the DAYS
OF her sorrow. and her suffering. falterei
strangely on my lips. In the time when
my dread OF losing her was most present
10 my mind. had always kissed her
when she left me at night. and when she
met me In the morning The kiss SEEM
ed now 10 havedropped between us-to
he lost out OF our Hives. Our hands be-
gan to tremble again when they met.
We hardly ever looked long at one an
other out Of Marian's presence The
talk often tagged between us when we
were alone. When I touched her by ac-
cident. felt my heart beating fast. as II
used to beat at Lmmerdge House;
saw the lovely answering flush growing
again In her cheeks, as n we were back
among the Cumberland Hills, in our past
characters OF master and pupil once
more. She had long intervals OF silence
and thoughtfulness. and denied she had
been thinking when Marian asked her
the question. I surprised myself one
day, neglecting my work. to dream over
the little water-color portrait of her
which 1 had taken In the summer house
where we first met-just I used TO
neglect Mr.. Fairlies drawings. 10 dream
over the same likeness. when II was new
" finished in the by-gone time. Changed
as all the circumstances now were. our
position toward each other in the golden
days OF our first companionship seemed
20 be revived with the revival OF our
love
II was II Time had drifted US back on
the wreck Of our early hopes to the old
familiar shore!
To any other woman could have spo-
ken the decisive words which I still hes
itafed to speak TO her. The utter help
iessnees OF her position. her friendless
dependence on all the forbearing gentle
ness that I could show her: my fear
of touching 10 soon come secret sensitive
ness In her. which my instinct as man