The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-30
CHAPTER XIII,
Continued.

4Ou WOulu IL IL hoAu fhOdSA VIVIAN
to parse a sentence of mine. Now,
Aunt Theodore really does write the
most beautiful letter. without even
making a rough copy first. Every SEN
timent correctly expressed, every
word"
"Mrs. Chester, are you about to pro-
pose that Miss Theodore should be-
come my correspondent instead Of
yourself?"
Correspondent! Oh, Sir John, you
know that 1 never could be that. OF
course, if 1 promised it, I will write to
you once"
"a formal note, hoping that I had a
prosperous journey, informing me that
the weather is hot, or cool, that the
harvest prospects continue good, that
the Misses Vansittart desire their kind
regards, and that Paul remembers me.
not quite as wildly, on the whole, as
he remembers the burnt almonds of
Cousin Felix. I understand"
paul will be made to remember you
while my life lasts" says Daphne, Sc
riously. GAS for letter writing-why,
] might not write to people for a dozen
twenty years, but I should think or
them the same in my heart"
"Have I the good fortune to be in
cluded in that happy class of peo-
ple?a
"You know you have. You know"
right bravely, without hesitation, she
gets the words out, "that I shall think
warmly Of you, and Of Miss Hardcas-
tie, both now and in the long future
years to come, after your marriage"
For a minute or more Severne walks
grimly on in silence. At last: ut is
easy for you to speak calmly" he ex-
claims, a vibration Of sudden ardor
in his voice. easy for you, who feel
nothing, to talk about the long future
years in which my life is to be made
wretched. Nay, Mrs. Chester"-for
she has stopped, turned away from
him; has raised her hands in mute de-
precation e the avowals she cannot
escape-"it Is too late in the day for
you to refuse to listen to me. You
cannot be ignorant, you cannot affect
to be ignorant that-I love you? AS
well my crime, if crime it be. should
be acknowledged in plain speech be-
fore we bid each other good-by."
Easy for her who feels nothing! And
all the time Daphne's breast is SWELL
ing to agony; all the time, were sacri-
fee of self the only thing needed, she
would 60 to the other end Of the world
to love, to serve him, nay, to minister
to his merest whim or caprice. She
dare not trust herself to speak; what
speech Of hers but must inevitably
turn into a confession? And, moved
by a quick impulse, Severne takes her
hand, draws her toward him, and sees
her face.
Her face is wet with tears.
r "Mrs. Chester-Daphne! Tell me
that you are not indifferent-that it
causes you just n brief pang to bid
me good-by forever"
And though still no actual word, no.
nor even a culver Of the lip, betrays
her, before another minute has passed
by Sir John Severne guesses her Sc
cret.
1t is a secret, the barest possibility
of whose existence he had never, up
to the present moment, reckoned on.
That his own heart should be %irreVoca-
DIV given to a woman so sweet and
aovable; that her face, after pursuing
him during every moment Of his wax
ing hours, should render his pillow
sleepless; finally, the brief madness OF
an explanation and a parting lived
through, that he should work Or mt
destiny, marry Miss HarrGd iook 10 ok
7eve out Of his e1isteFo,a tho nrosaic
~ III age, as men, welded
=" pe .Ssna, do look to the Rebecca OF
%Heir youth! All this vista Of personal
loss and disappointment has, during
the last few days, grown gradually
clearer and clearer before S%everne's
vision. That he should have won love
an return, that the richest cup human
lips can taste should be held out to
him, might he drink thereof, Of
Daphne's hands-of this contingency,
being in very truth no coxcomb. he had
never dreamed.
II don't think, remembering your en-
gagement, you should have spoken to
me like this"
Her face is white, her breast heaves
convulsively, and forgetting every
thing but that she is in pain, and that
he is the author of her pain, Severne
clasps her in a wild embrace.
MY engagement" he repeats, with
growing agitation. "a careless prom
Use made years ago between a boy and
a girl ignorant Of love and Of them.
selves! Would you let this weigh
against the happiness or misery of all
our lives?"
II would have you keep faith with
Miss Hardcastle, let it cost what it
might" she answers him simply.
"Of course, 1 will speak to Miss
Hardcastle tonight. I will give her
back her freedom-a gift you may be
sure that she will joyfully accept.
Daphne" his voice sinking to a low
and pleading whisper, you will love
me, you will be my wife? I will are
not such desperately hard words to
pronounce. Pronounce them, and let
me know as much Of heaven as a man
can know this side of DEATH"
But, by this time, Daphne Chester's
self-possession has come back to her.
She realizes upon the brink of what an