Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-04-07

nephew, he strove to see no manner
of connection.
And what about Hugh?
At one and the same time had the
gates of heaven and hell been opened
to him, and he reVeled in his bliss,
only to writhe in the agony involved.
No words on the subject had he and
Adelaide exchanged, thus far they had
been loyal to Sir Hervey. But Hugh
smiled bitterly as he acknowledged TO
himself the limitations of that loyalty.
None knew better than he the sub
tlety of loves confessions.
On the evening of the last day in
March he waited nervously for his un-
cle's approach to the smoKing-room,
which had been the scene Of many
confidential talk before his voyage 10
New Zealand Sir Hervey's step
seemed to have lost its lightness, or SO
it seemed to Hugh, as he listened 10
its drawing near. He was later, TOO,
in joining him than was his wont,
Had any suspicion crossed his mind?
Were his thoughts of next weeks hap
piness unalloyed, or were they shad-
owed by a vague yet unmistakable
cloud?
Hugh Ralston wondered, but said
nothing as his uncle entered the ROOM
The latter, with his usual precision
and neatness, lit a cigar, seated HIM
self, and was soon engrossed in the
pages of the evening paper.
Thankful to escape the customary
evening chat, Hugh paced monotonous-
ly up and down the room, with tenn
pies throbbing and the blood surging
through his veins. How could he
breach the subject that tonight must
be faced once and for all?
my dear boy" said Sir Hervey at
length, glancing over the top of his pa
per, could you not sit down? You
seem restless tonight"
Hugh dropped into the nearest chair.
Silence reigned for full five minutes,
a silence that Ralston broke by saying,
with the composure born Of despair;
az cannot stand England after all, I'm
Gle Hervey. l am off again next Sat
urday. You can do without me on the
sixth, can you not?" He laughed lit
tie curiously as he added: Il am hard
ly a necessary part of the play"
Sir Hervey folded his newspaper,
laid it on the table and deliberately
adjusted his glasses before looking in
his nephew's direction. do l under
stand you Alright? You prefer not to
be with me on the day of my mar
riage?"
Hugh Ralston bowed his head.
Sir Eervey rose from his chair and
instinctively the younger man did the
same, a movement that brought them
face to face as the words: "You dare
not be with mel" broke from the bar
onet's lips.
The eyes of the two men met, and the
soul of each was read. Then as Hugh
leaned on the mantelpiece, burying his
face on his arms, with groan, it was
the elder man who proved the strong
er. who first brought light into the
darkness that had descended.
Hugh was conscious at last OF the
pressure of a hand upon his shoulder
and as through vast space and time
he heard the voice of Sir Hervey say
ing: ut is well, my boy. l am not
worthy of her, and might not-and
should not-have made her happy
You must not blame yourself; faI
from it. am going now to Lady
Wolverton's and-will-release her -
The last words were wrung from lips
that were growing pale. Sir Hervey
walked slowly to the door. Hugh had
never moved.
Turning round as his fingers closed
over the handle, the uncle said, i'm
ploringly: Don't, my lad! Dom
take it so to heart. I shall get Over
it, and you-you will be happy, as yor
deserve to be-"