The Morris County chronicle., 1904-10-25
CHAPTER XIII.
Continued.

most beautiful letter without even
making 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
yourselfg'
Correspondent! On, Sir John, you
know that / never could be that. OF
course, if promised it, will write to
1 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 vividly, on the whole, as
he remembers the burnt almonds Of
Cousin Felix. / understand"
Paul will be made to remember you
while my life lasts" says Daphne, Sc
riously. .'As for letter writing why,
might not write to people for a dozen
twenty years, but I should think of
them the same in my heart"
Have the good fortune to be in
cluded in that happy class of peo-
ple?.
you know you have. You know"
right bravely, without hesitation, she
gets the words out, ''that shall think
warmly Of You, and Of Miss Hardcas-
tie, both now and in the long future
years to come, after your marriage"
For minute or more SeverEe walks
grimly on in silence. At last: ut ig
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 cc 1he 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-
flee of self the only thing needed. she
would so 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 confession? And, moved
by quick impulse, Severne takes her
hand, draws her toward him, and sees
her face.
Her face is wet with tears.
sMrs. Chester Daphne! Tell me
that you are not indifferent-tha it
causes you just one brief pang to bid
me good-by forever?"
And though still no actual word, no.
nor even a Quiver of the lip, betrays
her, before another minute has passed
by Sir John Severne guesses her se-
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-
bly, given to a woman so sweet and
loyable; that her face, after pursuing
him during every moment of his wax
ing hours, should render his pillow
sleepIess; finally, the brief madness Of
an explanation and parting lived
through, that he should work ont his
destiny, marry Miss Hardcastle, put
love out Of his existence, and look back
to Daphne Chester from the prosaic
paths of middle age, as men, welded
to Rowena, do look to the Rebecca of
their youth! All this vista of personal
loss and disappointment has, during
the last few days, grown gradually
clearer and clearer before Severne's
vision. That he should have won love
in return, that the richest cup human
lips can taste should be held ont 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 wild embrace.
MY Engagement" he repeats, with
growing agitation. "A careless prom
Use made years ago between boy and
girl ignorant OF love and Of them
selves! Would you let this weigh
against the happiness or misery of all
our livesT
Il would have You keep faith with
Miss Hardcastle, let it cost what il
might" she answers him simply
"Of course, will speak to Miss
Hardcastle tonight win give her
back her freedom a gift you may be
sure that she will joyfulIy accept.
Daphne" his voice sinking to low
and pleading whisper. you will love
me, you will be my wife? ! wiz are
not such desperately hard words to
| pronounce. Pronounce them, and lei
me know as much Of heaven as 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
abyss she has momentarily stood.
If Miss Hardcastle wishes your en-
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