Mexico Missouri message., 1903-05-14
cnAPTER vIII.--tcontlnued.l

without pause, without an eraSuIe,
this letter had transcribed itself from
Cornelia's heart to the small gilt-edged
note paper. but she found II much
more difficult thing to answer the re-
quest Of Rem Van Ariens. She was
hurt and agitated and withal a little
sorry for Rem, and she was also In a
hurry, for the letter for Joris was
waiting, as she wished to send both
by the same messenger. Finally she
wrote the following words, not MOTTO
ing at the time, but remembering
afterwards what a singular soul re-
luctance she experienced; how some
uncertain presentiment, vague and
dark and drear, stihed her thoughts
and tried to make her understand, or
at least pause;
my Dear and Honored Friend:
Your letter has given me very
great sorrow. You must have known
for many weeks, even months, that
marriage between us was impossible.
It has always been SO, 1t always will
be so. l grieve at your going away;
pray that your absence may bring you
some consolation. Do not, l beg you,
attempt to call on my father. With
out explanations, tell you very sin
cerely, such a call will cause me great
trouble, for you know well a girl
must trust somewhat to others 1udg-
ment in her disposal. Please to con-
slider your letter as never written.
With sad sense of the pain my words
must cause you, remain for all time
your faithful friend and obedient sery-
ant, Cornelia Moran"
Then she rang for lighted candle,
and while waiting for its arrival neatly
folded her letters. Her white wax and
seal were at hand, and she delayed
the servant until she had closed and
addressed them.
"You will take Lieut.. Hyde's letter
first" she said. "Mr. Van Ariens'
note you can deliver as you return"
AS soon as this business was quite
out Of her hands, she sank with a
happy sigh into a large comfortable
chair; let her arms drop gently, and
closed her eyes to think over what
she had done. She was quite salts
fed. She was sure that no length OF
reflection could have made her decide
differently. She had Hydes letter in
her bosom, and she pressed her hand
against it, and vowed to her heart
that he was worthy of her love, and
that he only should have 1t. "Oh,
there is nothing l would alter in him,
even at the cost of a wish! Joris!
Joris!" and she let the dear name
sweeten her lips, while the light of
love frightened and heightened her
eyes, and spread over her lovely face
a blushlng glow.
The tea tray was brought in at five
o'clock, but DR.. Moran had not re-
turned, and there was in both wom-
ems hearts a little sense Of disap-
pointment Mrs. Moran was wonder
ing at his unusual delay. Cornelia
feared he would be too weary and
perhaps too much interested in other
matters to permit her lover to speak.
But even So" she thought, "Joris
can come again. Tonight is not the
only opportunity"
When the doctor came Cornelia was
so thoughtful for the weary mans
comfort, so attentive and so amusing,
that he found it easy to respond to
the happy atmosphere surrounding
him. So an hour passed and Cornelia
began to listen for the sound Of
Hyde's step upon the tagged walk.
With her work in her matchmaking
laborious stitches by a drawn thread
she sat listening with all her being.
Halfpast eight! She looked up and
caught her mothers eyes, and the
trouble and question in them, and
the needle going through the fine
muslin, seemed to go through her