The National tribune., 1903-03-12

know. We were going back to England.
now that eSsn Nina, the youngest girl,
was grOwMmi, to settle down in a pretty
house at HkApstead. There thought the
girls would an little more Of the world.
and their 2ivns would shape themselves
into the confse they were meant to run.
Then my sister Elizabeth, who is I'M
married, ana talOne and delicate, went to
Winter at Rome and invited May to go
with her. III could not refuse to let her
g0;. but we fNlt parting, for We had never
been separated. Still, it could not be
helped. SWMay went off with her aunt,
who came 11lNthe way to Lutry to fetch
her. and ISfWith the two other girls, re-
turned to England.
We had plenty to do at Hampstead. get
ting the house in order and settling down;
and we spent a happy Winter. even
though May was not with us. We used
to delight in her letters from Rome. and
long for the Spring that would see her
with us.
My sister was an excellent correspond
ent, and she used to write to me every
week, telling us of all their gaietics and of
| the admiration May wOn-eyen of all her
little flirtations. l think Elizabeth was
proud of her. Gradually into both their
letters there crept frequent mention of a
young English doctor, of whom they ap-
peared to see n great deal. He was hand
some, and very popular. He had been to
tea, he had seen them hcme from a party,
he had got up picnic, and so on. At
last | began, mother-like, to wonder if he
was falling in love with May or she with
him, to feel anxious as to what sort of Il
man he was, and whether he was capable
of playing fast and loose with my child
innocent heart that had never known a
lover.
AS time went on, Mays letters con-
tanned more and more about him. DIR.
AIilet asked so much about you, dear
mother. l told him everything l could
about you. He said he fe,t as if he loved
you" 'Dr. Millet says he shall be in
England soon; but we hope he won't go
before we dove should miss him So"
And at last, in Elizabeth's letter, there
was something definite. II am certain DR..
Millet is in love with May. and am al
most certain the dear child has lost her
heart to him. 1t makes me very anxious,
| you not being here. At the same time, l
don't know why things should not be al
lowed to take their natural course. for he
is very charming, and is getting an excel
lent practice round him. So | waited
anxiously. feeling that there was nothing
to be done but to wait. The next letter
worried me a little. His manner is very
distant" Elizabeth said. in spite of his
evident liking for her, he seems to be
trying to hold off. Sometimes l can't
| make him out. Perhaps he dces not want
to marry, or thinks he has 10 chance"
| And after that came ClimaG-I think 1t
was in the very next letter. DIR. Miilet
has put some one in charge of his practice
ard has gone away. He did not come TO
see us before he went, and he made no
mention of going last time he was here.
long he will be away. Our dear May
tries to look as if she did not care; but l
| fear she is secretly grieving."
The letter foil from my hands. 1t wor-
ried me terribly. To think of May loving
! a man who lin,H perhaps deserted her-ir
was not tod BID borne. l knew what a
sorrow of tbatHort does to a young life
the des0latiGn. nnay, perhaps the lifelong
misery, it biSngs. And yet, If the man
was scoue1lreA could not believe that
| so pure thintp as Mays love could cling
| to him. IsS2i
The next morning brought letter from
! May herself that showed only too plainly
how things wefe. Aunt Elizabeth is
very, very kind to me-" she said. Il
would not h&ica her for the world; but
am so tired bf home and Of all the people
in it. l w$nt to see you again, dear
mother. IidfoI6t think / am very wei.
and / am MT HAPPY, darling. l long to
go to yon anib!to feel your dear arms
round me again. Grit --Er
Alice antll'INma had gone into town
early. l ras Alone with that poor little
letter, feeling llt the pain. all the sorrow,
that had suddenly come into my childs
life-it needed no words to tell me. l sat.
stupefied, trying to decide what would be
best to do. Elizabeth was too delicate to
come back to England before the March
winds were over. Perhaps | could take
one Of the other girls to her and bring
May back. l felt as il she wanted her
mothers heart to comfort her and give
her strength.
1 got up and put log on the fire, for
we had not yet reconciled ourselves to the
English fashion of burning coal. then
walked about the room. looking vacantly
at the polished floor and all the pretty
new things about the room. 1t was Il
lovely morning; the sun was shining down
on the trim lawn and neat garden. the
snOwdrOps We're coming up in the corner
bed. l thought Of May. and of how pretty
she would look in the Summer time POTTER
ing about among the flowers. if she were
only bright and well. She had so often
longed for an English garden. Then look
| ing down the road. | noticed tall man
n long way off. He was coming towards
the house. AS he came nearer could see
that he looked like n gentleman. He was
tall and dark; he appeared to be about 30
years old, perhaps younger. and he was
| ctTtilIlty StOppeu DeICTe
the gate and for a moment hesitated; then
he opened it and entered. 1 watched him
coming along the gravel walk by the lawn:
l saw him disappear under the porch, and
heard the bell ring. In some odd way he
seemed to he familiar to me- The servant
entered with card. Before took If.
knew perfectly that it was DR.. Millet's,
and that crisis was at hand-that in an
hours time Mays future would be no
mystery. The next moment he entered. l
could not remember where had seen him
before, but he was not strange to me. He
had good face, clever and thOughtful:
he looked like Supplemented. honest
gentleman. There was something sad
about the face, too. as if he had suffered
much. or understood suffering.
Mrs. Standing" and he came forward
with curiOusly eager smile, as if in some
way he knew me.
"Yes," l answered, looking at him
again. Even his voice was half familiar.
yet l could not remember where l had
heard it before.
You do not know me-" he went on. 81
have just arrived from Rome. / know
your daughter and sister there, and l
thought you would forgive me for coming
IL could not help it." The last words
were said toshfmself, and seemed to have
escaped him. li9l
Il have hoard of you," said. "Won't
You sit down?'eH am glad to see you"
For he st0OdGlo0king at me in an eager
way. whichrI accounted for easily, but
| still II amha ria ssed mo ssDid thex. n oh ron