Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-06-05

O. slipped into the great and fathomless sea
of Eternity.
"Ah! so latew says Dulce, with little
start. "How swiftly time has gone to-
night. l never saw it fly with such hot
haste. That proves I have been happy,
does it n0t?
Che smiles down upon Mr.. Cover, who
is still at her feet, and he smiles up only
too willingly at her. At this moment a
dark figure energies from amongst the
moaning frs, and comes toward them.
Portia, whose eyes have been upon this
newcomer for a full minute before the
others noticed him, only turns her head
away, and lets it sink degree more laZ-
lily into the cushion of her chair. The frs
mounting high into the sky, stand out
boldly against their azure background.
Fabian advances with more haste and
says:
1T is only me-" In his usual clear, slow
! voice.
Passing by Portals chair, he drops into
| her lap little bunch of dark blue flow
| erS.
"Ah! she says quickly, then checks
| herself. Taking up the deeply dyed bios
| SONS, she lays them in her pink palm,
| and, bending her face over them, exam
| ines them silently. Sir Mark, regarding
| her curiously from the background, Won
ders whether she is thinking Of them or
Of their donor.
why. those are the flowers we were
talking about" says Dulce, with a faint
| contraction Of her brows. Fabian! Did
/ - 81, fo& b How
"IQur lifew says Portia in an indie
| scribablc tone, as if the words were drawn
from her against her will. 1 think she
! had made up her mind to keep utter 81.
| ience, but some horror connected with
| Dulcc's hasty remark has unbound her
lips She turns her eyes upon him, and
he can see by the moonlight that her face
is very white.
ut was the simplest thing in the
world" says Fabian, coldy. '"There was
the ledge Dulce told you of, and plenty
Of tough heather to hold on by. l assure
you, if there was the smallest danger,
should not have attempted it. And, be.
sides, was fully rewarded for any trou'
BILE undertook. The view up there to-
| night is magnificent"
10 Portia it is an easy matter to trans
! late his last remark. He is giving her
plainly to understand that he neither
seeks nor desires thanks from her. The
view has suficed him.
With the flowers still in her hand, POr.
tia has wandered away from the others,
and entering the drawing room before
they have mounted the balcony steps,
goes up 70 a mirror and regards herself
attentiyely for a moment.
| A little gold brooch, of Indian work.
manship, Is fastening the lace at her Dos
! ON. She loosens 1t, and then raises the
| flowers NOW growing rather crushed and
drooping) as If with the evident intention
of placing them, by means Of the brooch,
| hand half lifted, she hesitatcs, giances al
her own image again, and finally, turning
away, leaves the brooch empty.
Fabian, entering the drawing room al
this moment with the others, has had time
to notice the action, the hesitation, every
thing.
Then comes bed hour. The men pre-
pare to go. to the smoking room-the
women think fondly Of their own rooms
and their maids.
Fabian, lighting candle, takes it up
to Portia. They are all standing in the
hall now, beneath the light of the hang.
ing lamps. She smiles her thanks with.
out letting her eyes meet his, and let him
place the candle in her left hand
"Have you hurt this?' he asks, lightly
touching her right hand as he speaks.
"No." She pauses a moment, and ther
slowly opening her closed fingers, show,
him the blue flowers lying therein.
'They are lovely" she says, in a low
tone, "and l did wish for them. But
never--never-do that again."
"Do what againT'
"Eldanger your life for me-"
There was no danger-and you hao
expressed q wish for them"