Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-03-28

She clasped her small white hands
pleadingly: the blue veins showed
through them with painful distinct
ness.
Don't. Dick. dear Dick. ever think
OF il again, 1 am so fond OF life, I |
must live"
You speak rs II l had suggested |
killing YOU" he said in an injured |
tone
NO. no. But you must understand. !
/ am so horribly delicate. 1t would |
be- madness for poor man to marry
me. I always have 20 winter in the
South OF France l need Injuries: they
are a fatal necessity 10 my existence.
You want quite different wife"
NO. l don'tr
"Some one strong and capable"
Il want YOU"
His voice shook: his brow clouded
suddenly with the dark shadow OF
despair.
oh. Dick" she murmured. have
hurt YOU SO deeply"
He answered almost roughly. and
though he looked at her. he could not
see her face FOR the mist before his
eyes.
You misled me. Lily" he said: "un-
consciously. no doubt. yet at times il
seemed you would not let me escape.
When I tried TO 90 you asked me 10
remain. YOU did not weigh the conse-
Quenccs. l was a toy in your. hands.
II you had realized what YOU were do
ING. you might have spared me"
They had crossed the field and
reached little iron gate into Lilian's
garden. Tie opened il Tor her. stepping
back TO let her pass.
Won't you come Ing"
The words rose naturally 20 her lips.
giving color TO his complaint-"You
asked me 10 remain"
No" he replied sharply Il am 90
ing. Good-by."
You have no right to hc angry; II
isn't as II l did not care"
But YOU care so little"
His face had lost every vestige of
color; he trembled as he spoke.
Il have always loved you" she de
clared; but marriage is impossible
You think me heartlesS. mercenary
because I cannot face a life OF poverty
Men are very selfish; they expect 5,
much OF women"
He took her hand silently. held Il
moment with eyes fixed on the groun,
and then went back across the Ia,
slowly. under the glare Of the hot mid
summer sun.
A year had drifted away. and agai
IL was midsummer.
In the country" thought Lillian
''the hay is down"
She was enjoying the manifold d,
lights of a London season as the fiance
of man whom her parents explaine
would make a most desirable hui
band"
Lillian will have everything sh
wants" they told their friends. ISL
can now look forward to a life
perfect ease and personal indulgenc
We always dreaded her marrying
poor man."
Il must see Dick once more befol
my wedding" she told herself. de,
old Dickr'
She thought the matter out. and b,
desire for a sight of his face overcan
her better judgment. Strange 81
should wish TO stir TO life those sluI
beriHg memories, But somehow Il
scent of last years hay still lingere
the midsummer sun glistened tenn
ingly upon the dainty curtains OF h
Doudoir.
AS IL a brain wave sped through L
air. at that same hour Dick. knOwt
she belonged 10 another, paced
small room in Pimlico. and thought
her Lilian's photograph stood on
writing table, a sad little face WI
large eyes crowned by a halo OF I;
fluffy hair.
Il must see her again." he said. ~
once before she is married.
He glanced at the clock. Perhaps
might find her In the park, catch
glimpse OF her as she passed in her c
riage. He hated the fashionable woI
with Its lavish display OF wealth a
grandeur; but for n sight OF Lillian
mounted a humble omnibus and tr
eled on II 10 Hyde Park Corner.