The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-26
CHARLES READE
(continued.)
CHAPTER VII.
LOVE LIES BLEEDING"


Bella Bruce was drinking the bitterest
cup young virgin soul can taste. IL
lusion gone--the wicked world revealed
as IL is. how unlike what she thought II
was-love crushed In her. and not crush
cd out Of her. as II might II she had been
either proud or vain.
Frail men and women should see what
q passionate but virtuous woman can suf-
fer when a revelation OF which they think
but little comes and blasts ner young
heart. and bids her dry up I'm a moment
the deep well OF her affection. since II
flows for an unworthy object and flows
In vain. tell you that the fair head sew
cred from the chaste body is nothing
compared with this. The fair body pierre
cd with heather arrows, was nothing To
her In the days Of old compared with this.
In word-for nowadays we can but
amplify. and so enfeeble. what some old
dead master Of language. immortal though
obscure, has said In words OF granite
here
Love lay bleeding"
No faintitg-no vehement weeping; but
Oh such deep desolation, such WEAKNESS
OF life: such pitiable restlessness. APP
petite gone; the taste OF food almost lost;
sleep unwilling TO come; and oh, the
torture OF waking-for at that horrible
moment all rushed back at once, the JOY
that had been. the misery that was. the
blank that was to come.
She never stirred out, except when or
dered, and then went like an automaton.
Pale. sorrow stricken. and patient, she
moved about the ghost Of herself; and lay
down a little. and then tried 10 work
little and then read a little; and could
eettle 10 nothing but sorrow and deep de-
spondency.
Not that she nursed her grief. She had
been told 10 be brave. and she tried. But
her grief was her master IL came Well
ing through her eyes in a moment, OF It's
own accord
She was deeply mortified. too. But, in
her gentle nature, anger could play but
secondary part. Her Indignation was
weak beside her grief and did little to
bear her UP.
Yet her sense of shame was vivid. and
she tried hard not 10 let her father see
how deeply she loved the man who had
gone from her 10 Miss Somerset. Besides.
he had ordered her 10 tight against a
love that now could only degrade her, ne
had ordered. and II was for her 10 obey
AS soon as Sir Charles was better ne
wrote her a long, humble letter, oWh,"s
that before he knew her ne hao nae leT sSnca "a
free life, but assuring her that ever since
that happy time his heart and ms tiine
had been solely hers: as 10 his visit 10
Miss Somerset, II had been one or busis
ness merely and this he could prove III
she would receive him.
The admiral could be present at that
interview. and Sir Charles hoped TO con-
vince him ne had been somewhat nasty
and harsh in his decision. -
Now the admiral had foreseen Slr
Charles would write TO her, so he had
ordered his man TO bring all letters 10
He recognized Sir Charles hand and
brought the letter I'm TO Bella. Now, my
child" said he, "be brave. here is
letter from that man.
"Oh, papa, | thought he would. knew
he would And the pale face was nush-
ed with Joy and hope all in moment.
"Do what?"
Write and explain"
Explain. thing that is as clear as
sunshine. He has written 10 throw DUST
in your eyes again. You are evidently In
no state to Judge l shall read this let
ter first"
He did read Il. and she devoured his
countenance all the time.
There Is nothing i'm IL. He offers no
real explanation. but only says he can
explain, and asks for an interview-to
play upon your weakness. II | give you
this letter II will only make you cry and
render your task more difficult. must
oe strong for your good, and set you an
example. | loved this young man, too,
but now / know hIm''-then he actually
thrust the letter into the FIRE.
But this was too much Bella shrieked
at the act and put her hand TO her heart
and shrieked again. 'Ah! you'll Kill us,