•
HAW LE Y C RU S E R
. .
Why do I love you ? I don't k ow,
They say love never gives a reason,
But that he has one "don't doubt,
Do you ? Do you ? That"); downright
treason. `.
Not always, let me tell you, sir , ,
Love practiced such excess of prude \ nce;:
'Twits once in custom to t explain
The why and whereforeto his students. *
And how to solve each puzzling case
He taught by rule and instructions:;
But skeptics; such: as yon, hive mape -
Love shy of giving dedionstratiOns.
Why foolish mortals love at - all,
Why we two hold each other. dearth. ;
How long 'twill last, and •WheWtwilli end,
You'd like to know you prec l ious quer
-Ist? I
; •
You never Will, I'll tell yOu that, ."
Yet still reniainsmy first assertion ;
Love understanas•what he's akit,
And binds you first, for his, diversion;
Ab, why I lOve you. If i knew,
1 .1. would not tell you—no, no, *never I
IFor souls like ours are made to seek, .
And mine to bide, you ee, forever:
There's little, sir, you didn't find out, • •
i But since that little makes life pleasant,
II think rirkepp it secret still,
And so keep you,' too, for the present. .
"ONLY
From• --m-4----• ,
From "only one word" many quarrqs begin,
Al 4 "only this once" leads to many a DM-1•.
"Only a penny" itastes many a‘pOund, ,
"Only once more" and the diver was dround, •
"Only one diop" many :
,drunkards have made,•
1
"Only in play" many gamblers have saidi
"Only a. cold" opens many a grave,
"Only resist" many devils will pave, .
"Only use rightly"' makes the weak to grow
j.
strong
"Only think clearly" will ke
,p you from.wrong.
OTTALIE'S HUSBAND.%
THE waves:are:rolling, in slowly; the
rows of eottages,and the one hotel are
bathed in an unbroken ancl grayish flood
Of light; the .bench is doted, With .the
usual speeiAiens of "the hurnauf.foirn-di
vine" that , one sees at the seashore.; while
the inevitable small child . trots around
übiquitously, overshodowed by a large
amount of hat, and dispaying an omaz--
ing brevity of skirt, and • muo(alb, very
much!) of bare, mottled leg.
Last i jr, he re am I, • u n e f orn for tably*at
ed on a pile of wood, the, Centre ',;of a
swarm of - gnats, trying. to Ipo4 as if ten
joyed it, and conscious that I atri. failing
miserably.
It is not one of our .pcipulons • places,
resorttd to by fashiOn, - a little prtini
tine beach, sought by .th'f.le'e who reqiiire
31ealiness or priVael. I : . •
"If," I metilittite, j-,.e9uld only . thi:nk
of an approlitiate poem, - ilerbaps I nitg4
be able to get en th usidst4e over thatdreary
sweep of
.water.. There's nothing elsefor
.
'me to do." -
• Poetry is not my strcfrig point,. and I
rack, my brain,for . aLI least three minutes.
At the lines come- •
The sea, the sea, the open sea !"
The blue, the fresh, the:--7—"
A woman's vnice, r clOSe band says,
roast veal." I jiear nOt,'for
those two wordS, carry ny' thoughts fol . ,
ward todinner.-.. "no4-'-vain hope T7
dinner is still aibing.of - the fUture.
At this pointthe aforesaid 'small child
sits up a dismal howl; Viand fires in,',4thject
fromterror "some-.real :monster • ‘cifs• the
deep" (length one inch and,a half) tkat
its grubbing,has
.disinterrekl:. Its
gives me malicious pleasure, but 'even‘
that.d.,.s not init.long, and 'after a . long
yawn, I rise to go.: But at phis. moment
a .60ire in lilacgingharn,cOmeStn :
and I sit down. ittjwait. - •
She conies along with light, eisY !steps,'
and presently slif) drops down silently her
side me. She is a girl of 'twenty- twO, with
wavy, auburn hair,
and a pair of deep
set, gray eyes,. with dark brow,And lashes ;
her mouth is somewhat white,and her hose
short and retrousse; but the light gown
shows off, every curve' of a ,superb Qgure,
and, her skin is prettily tinted. -SotnehoW
people always look twice at her.
"Well r' I say, lazily interrogutive,
"Well ?" she echoes. "Look here; -De
borah. If I get so bored' in :this place
that I drown myself,just ternember,OlF-me,
that vou brought me here."
"Why, Ottalie—," I begin, with -4 - 7
griev(-d sharpness. •
"Perhaps you didn't,"' She itterrupts,
contradictorily but placidly. ''Th at what you are going, to say, and.l dp,relsay
it's true. I did not:want to come to the
'Ee , uide; and—and as, we had to bury our
seves somewhere this an te-deltivian place )
S'lnfa. was as good as any other. And the
‘:e a is always nice, you know,bnly,"—her
big eyes turned wrathfully _seaward—
"thery is .I . little to_much of, It heie, and
'thinfY. Anntrthing else I Buch a cad.
t poup;e - eu.tikt .
eel any.place but &net
"As for the People, had , an
idea we wanted to avoid' ocie.Ox' Be 8 , 1 d 8 )
Sage is cheap—r,
-. .
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•
WRY? 1111
"And nasty," puts in my sister.
"And do ; you 'indulge in these' words,
Ottalie? Sone is not bad, though there
is no circulating library," I go on ; "no
thick i to'eat, anct no sleep to be had for
tht , gnats." I end by making -a frantic
enemy --of at one of the enemy course • I
I always d 0.4 Ottalie: laughs.
"Poor, old "Deb, you are getting On
.bravely. -Novels, eating and drin king—
'sure sign of. spinsterhood ! Don't think
I say it reproachfully. I wonder"--elasp
ing her hands ftercely—"why, people ever
`Marry?" .
- "I'm sang don't knoW."
“1.1 aunt Rebecca would only die, and
go to, heaven," she goes on meditatively,
sie should be ,rich.
"And' what if we were rich ?" .
'We could go away ever so far, where
nobody =would ever\see or find us."
"Afghanistan is a very good palce."
said dryly..
csres!" she says+, . with a short laugh.
"Only aunt Rebecca won,!t. Though she
is not tv,bit of use down here--ecept, to
sing hyths."
"You;aught to . be ashamed, Ottalie."
"I'm not, 'she, says, cheerfully. "You
w always wishing yourself, that aunt
Rebecca was lone somewhere.
wisely affect not to hear. .
"Let us go over to the inlet," she adds,
jumping up; 'anything's better than sit
ting here." s' '
.
0
The inlet is ,a small bay, chieflYire
makable for its calmness, •sOlitude. - and
gnats: . But why it should have been nam
ed the inlet, nobody: seems to know. .
•"Sometimes I think all this must be a.
dreidn,'7 Ottalie says,..as- we saunter along
'in the heat -i`how _things have changed!
What a.contrast it :presents to, the days_
when-.we. . were • With, papal. and ha:was
flourishing. This is a.wretched.life."..
•"Ifisa. little better than, your . life last.
e Jahe
b -
.” , -; -
_
• She turns away quickly but presently.
beginiito\hum a tune... - Wietched-I knew
it - is ,for her; but any reference to the past
, 'she.will not . hear from me. ~ , F iverminutes
'later. we stand on 'the.: edge - , Of. the water.
to'a small ‘'rowing boat.
she says, "that boat is what Iv'e
been - trying to get ever sine() - we . came
here.. We'll-borrow it. Dix- a little while,
Deb." • . • . • •
.."Borro., It ?" ' . • '
.‘.Jiist to del sayS, jumpthgin.
"Oh, it is cool and pleasant sitting here!,
dome in, Deb." - • . •
, I don't know why I always obey her;
she knows that she tyrannizes. over me.
In I get. . : "The - least -little -push—so—
Deb :well run it off into the water."
The boldness of the, assertion locks my
lips,•apd almost before. i understand the
situation,-We are skiming away from shore:
People hare said Ottalie rows well; I
..know thelact does not comfort mein the
least: I Close my eyes and cling to the
boat 7 sieke. ' , . • .
Ottalie laughs, and begins toeing ; so
I ain,left in peace to indulge wy fears.
I always t!q-is a coward On the water.
"Won't you piit.tack, Qttalie?" •
But c,t,t4liejihly smiles, .and sings the
louder. .Presently.l.find myself-almost a
mile, out." -
" - Pout r 1-say, drawing out my
watch: • -• • .
"It is Ottalie asks, lazily. "I know
what an inquiring mind you have, De
borah, and lam taking you to explore,
the Isle of' Shoals!" Her eyes flashed
laughter as 1 expostulated ;
"It is dinner-titne. At least it will be
by, the time we get back." ,
"My dear Deborah," ..she says coolly,
backing Water„"l am not a well-regulated
individual like - you; my apPetite does not
depend on the clock!" And, as she spoke,
she runs the boat into land. "Now, let.us
explore," she says, preparing to get out.
"nd let the boat drift off'?" 1 asked,
tart. •
"No ; don't come Out; stay c where you
are," shouts out a strange masculine voice
from the shore: We both start.
"Push off," I whispered, nervously.- But
before - Ottalie, with all her dexterity, can
obey, a genilemen, with fishing basket
and tackle; C•MIeS rushing dawn and
j _
iumps n.
"My girl," he says - to Ottali - e, as he
takes theireat facing her. "the next time
,MicheAl sends yon to bring a hungry man
bitek . to: shore qid: dinner, please dont
make a nleasure excursion of it. Row
quickly iolv, and make up for lost time,"
Ottalie's back is toward Me, but just as
I open my lips to reply, she turns me a
very red Tace, and makes•ryte-a sign to be
quiet.
The gentleman lights bis cigar, and
leans back, fixing his eyes, on Ottalie,
"By Jove he; ejaculates presently,
- "YOu are .pretty, and no,mistake."
I have noticed the best of men think
thernselvevat liberty to speak out to :a
girl the admiration they only dare - look
to a lady. -
Qttalies glances over her sholder (with
a crimson face) at.. me again, and once
pure hold my stotione. Well. rorh og
_
in the position :I,' was_ , net 4 tt.) ,ne silent.
had brought it upon ourselves.
"I would take tlie, oars myself,'' she adds,
"only .1 . gave my 'wrist an , ugly
yesterday; tbere eau be , no more rowing
MONTROSE, PA., OCTOBER 11, 1876.
• •
•
for me yet awhile. Tell.your father to
send yon . as - long:as I ant helplessthat
is; if you want to come. \Do you?" - 1
• There is a.little pause, and then Otta;
lie answers, in 'her old, care ior-nothing
:tone,'
- I- hold my breath ; bent nothing Morels
said. He only 'laughs;* .. So he takes ue
for "Micheal's: daughters; whosoever be
'and they way be.
- . I feel dowdy ; I feel tha i t we. both look
just as Micheal's daughters• . might look.
t am nit Much to boatit'yof on Orthodox,
oceasiFes ;hut now my ' : fiat -Over . one
ear, my cotton gown is . rumpled , and'l
can t tell that.my nose its.reckaitil . my faCe
a ass of freckles...o.ttatie . is, also rnin- •
pled. Her sleeves are relied up, and .
her bat is lying at my - feet.. Yes,, ~we
might surely ,s,it as.
..tno.clels. for these . '
mythical •daughters of lii . pheal. ' Next I.
look at oui"fare . ." . . He tall . and broad
'isliotilderedi and .clean - liiiibett; his face is
'rather square;' his jeattiies -are irregular,
and' his mouth .is cAered..•by 'a • black
moustache; is either very dark:or - mulch
sunburnt. But thereis.soniething in--bis .
countenance that I like; something also
in his voice, and lie haa - Abe. unmistakble
I
brarng of oa well-bred
.than. •
I •
Finding that'be cannot make Michael's
daughters talk with hith,l . he sudsides in=
to-silence, enjoying his 'cigar. Then we:
reach shore. . • . ,
I scramble out Srst..befOre he dris.es • he
folloWs; then, comes Ottalte.. Onee't;iore.
on land mymourage revives.• - '
"Tell Micheal," be beginsbrit I in-.
terrupt him... In' my opinion it is high
time the farce should 'cease., . • '
"YOu are mistaken 'I say: tartly,
trying to speak de.hirut . en - has.. "We are
not Micheal's daughters."
• "Not Micheal's daughter!" he repeats.
"Then who the'dev--1 — beg' your pardon.
Theh. who are you ?" But. he spoke . with
a ring,. of mockery in his tone. White:
with that, aiid. what with .Ottalie's black
:looks at me "turn back to speak again.
• "Yite•did notgo after\ yon— r to,tetc.h you
—we Idle*: nothing about. yon. Ott—
. this lady got into.the boat 'f'or-pastime,
believing it . to be at and' she was'
foolish enough row' 'over - to -the'op'
-postte.side of the We are ladies.
: , "Thanks;'!` he. answere,, ..taiing..at, both
of.ne, and rat4ng
,his straw
,hat. My. tones
may not- impressed`him—perhaps
. puzzled him;. for 'there is -sligh ting ligh t
nesS. about him, ' and anything . but re
verence:in his face.' "Thanks, for your
kind exertions," he . adds whO
blushed furiously and makes no reply.
1 Raising his bat again, he walks his way,
land we walk ours. Glancing Lsee
a man in re - ugh costume. approach him.
"(;Food glictouß. that Must be Micli , !al
1-. say. "He wilt want to
.charge uslor
the boat." • . •
, .
. °babe turns npon me -savagely.
.boralt,' you are an -idiot! Had you only
--held your tongue, he would, have never 1.
found as Out—Lever What.does it mat-
Jer if he did'take us for •.the • boat girls?" .
"dud ou not better : . tell me it was.my
fault we took the boat at all?" I retort„
"I wish you would not - do _these things."
" What:a good lookina.man-he is." - -
.wa I k ho silence, - • for I don't
ansser h. r. Qttalie hates reproach, but
little ashamed of,' the escapade
herselt,• - - - •\
lii time. we
: learn : that he stranger's
name is Daine;- he is apparently well-to,- -
do, and is supposedto have ; conic to : thia,
t-of-tlies work] place, - Sone,..fOr a
,spell of .quietness.. He lives at the hotel,
pays.liberally,
,and "keeps! himself to
himself," occupying his titne' with. boat....
ing and fishing. It is 1..wh0 hears these'
_ltems of I news, and I try' to-impart them:
to Ottalle,•btit she will not listen. Mean
:while, if by ehanCe we meet the stranger,
be lifts his hat in silenbei and gazes at
Ottalie , aShe Poses. Probably, just.aa
We have heard his name, hehas heard ours,
and knows that. we are not - -- Miebeal'a
daughters, but the. Miss ''lleyres. - - And,
each time this, meeting 'occurs, Ottalie's
blushes grow more ridictilatts. ,It makes.
me angry With her.
Three
,Su ndaye come and.sgo. .On the
fourth_ we see our schoolboy cousin, Keith
Harland, who has came down to, Sone
with leis ;Mother.' Alia. -. Harland- looks
frostily. blue, and does.not give us the tips
.Of her fingers, to . shake . .. .Of coursesbe
did- not knOw We - were at Sone,- for we.l
did not
.eolighteo . ,.the*orld as to our
movements. Her dead husband was _our
.mother's cohsin.,•so-'
.the relationehip
her is not much, but- what: . is it she is
ashamed - of. The -.scrambling, .movin g about; shady .kind of - life'. :Ottsalie '.and I.
lead does\ not•en chance our Worth iti. - her
eves. Lead-it we mnst4.. hoWever,-tiritU
-
the end comes' and .the ‘..'finis" is said, 1
And then ?- perhaps - ,in the - Great:
Hereafter 0001 e and - attain to
respectability.. • •
~
'
On Monday _-morniu%:-_Keith:-'-:oomes
ruShing.,intO- . our. lodgings;i.- '..excite
meet
-'
"I say, Ottalie,. whet do :you' :think?"
iol von'think ;0 - 1- 1 „:„-.?,:
hc. ) i4r . ".7ltsk's place on,
the: music:- stool. • _ .
"Jasper' Paine 1 have just seen 'him!!.
Ottalie runs away and. does not answer..
She is red_ as the poppieioutside.-
"Who is Jasper Winer I question.
"A regular brick," • responds Keith.
"He was at college
\ wit Toni ages ago,
I :and he came:over to see TQM last ii,utumn
and get some shooting. Ile has a nice
- place of his own." .
"And is well off?" •
•'Well off ? I. Wish was - likely to be
half as'well. He 'la going to takme out;
fishing this afternoon. I told hink.you
two were here, and that
. you were my
cousins." •
I drew the boy to me as Ottalie leaves
the room, and look into his eyes, speak
ing impressively : •
"Seidl; you -mnst take . . care. ; No No tales
out of school; you know, about past trou
bles.
• _
At first thelad gazing:hard at tile with
his honest eyes, seareelyT'teems -to under , ,
stand:. And 1 add, "For: .oLtalie'a
"Why, Deb, I hope you don't think
there's need to caution me on that score,"
he says, promptly and half indignantly.
"My . mother would likin me, I e.xpect, if
I could-talk about that.- And serve me
right too i"
Sitting on the bench in our solitary
cottage garden at sunset, I see, two
figtires coming across the safids. Can
Keith be going to bring thtit man here ?
How stupid the lad. is 1
Yen, on they come, and. inside the'
;gate—Keith eager as the schoolboy he is,
thp other already lifting his -0111 W hat
retpectfully.2 Ottalie risen. S'deliberaiely:,.
turns her back, and 'looks over the side
palings.
Daine, Miss Peyre," cries the lad,
making the introd tiction after the manner
of his elders. "And this is her sister,"
he adds, pulling Ottalie round by the
arm. "Ottalie, here's Mr. Daipe."
Ottalie and .I boiv stiffly ; she puts on
her, coldest - manner, comes back, to her
seat, and takes it. Mr. Daine sits down'
facing us ) in a small iron' chair. Keith'
cliMbs the irnnk of the big tree and
lodges himself amid the 'branches. He
begins telling of their fishing expedition
in the afternoon and. what they caught
and did.ll4 catch, which 'leads rig nu- to
general. nopversation.' . ln the midst of
it appears the small servant maid,L -•
"Tea is .waiti..g ma'rna," she :says to
- •
What t'do buti, - ;ask the intrnder. to
take saute tea •?, Juin, 'the.,Sit:;,
ing-rnorn- - -togethPr. - ; I, place- mself be.,
P ure the table ;• ~trey range.thetnAeives at
the open windows.' Ottalie's beautiful
gray eyes glance up at - him' ever and
anon through their .long. dark lashes,as .
. . _
he talks to' her.
he . not a jolly brick ?" - de
Mands Keith. as • Itr. Daine says - good'
nighlt and ! lear2s.
Ottalie, sarcastically. _-
"I; can tell-,you, Ottie;
,all the girls
down with us thought so. Not that he
thinks much of women," 'adds Master
Harland- "He does not take to them.
And nowl hiust go, or my brother will,
be outrageous. Idined with him at the
hotel—sudh g, j-ollv-,ditinerr • •
f - Well,•thisle-very pretty ?" I cry, as
the boy dikaripeare. • •'Thatinsolent, man;
of all othtiris, - to makesfriends .with
---‘Why-did you - give him .tea ?" silys
"Give him tea! could .1 help it.? And
for you to talk so freely with him, 0 italic.
I, did hope you had 'learned prudenc . r.
hive yotrhad . learned prudence"
mimics Ottalie. "Mark. Me, Deborah ;
if • aarbitli upsetsr: ou equitnimity, our
domestic you will" have brought tt•
Upon 'yourself." • • • . -I
"Go onIO 'child." •
• But sheidOes:not go on.
.She tuna to
the. piano,iank begins the first hart :of
the old
. French song t. "Partant , pour la .
Syrie, le jetine et braNie
"Women and.' inothe,".' I murinured;---
"She has- Singed: berself:ionce,' and thed
like to flutter:near' the flame . again:"
And I take.-.-np the bedroom candle
stick.
Day.: Stinday.s. Time : 5 o'clock on a
sultry afternoon. Dramalfs penonce:
Ottalie, myself, and Jasper Daine, who
had just . u,nlatched the gate and is saun
tering towards us. Ottalie is. on the
bench under the tree. I am_ in the room
looking i from the windo'w. , _ -
"Been Oshing -2" she asks, laconically,.
as he drops down by her Side, and nods
to me. Fishing!, how irreVerent she is.-
"No," be says, "I have tieeii boring,
myself. After inflicting MY"conipany on
you in.the morning, I had not the face
to come: any Boone{ . ; and while I,' was
thrown on my own resources.: I Camila
the conclusion that, in,point of dulltiesi„,
Sone :aid :church are - about on a pat." •
I am getting used to this man and his,
cynical irreverence ; hut this last: startleii
me,iso that I -. exclaim"ln reproof. 310
turns to'give me an amused look.
"As usual. . _ I have shocked-Miss Peyre',""
he says. "But -L."
At this point Ottalie aglove drop's. :,°
picks it up,and goes On in his laxy l lu=
different manner with some explanation,:
.nftA l wArel4 o.wou, Thom he
tae gioye.s tosnisiipe.
rny favorit6 perfume," ha
coolly says: Is it also - Yours,Ottalie/"
; He calls. hprOttalie for, the: 61.41111 a
in my hearink. It is on five Sundays
VOL. 33-N0,42
since Keith introduced him to us, and
yeehe calls her Ottalie.
As the aborigines reckoned the flight
of time by the moon, so we' of Sone reek-,
on it by our,solitary landmark . , the Sab
bath. KeithAlarland and his haughty
mother have :gone -away.. My thoughts
iranderldeff .on Ottalie's affairs, and
just'as I come to the conclusion that she
was sent into the world for the sole pur
pose of ruining my temper and getting us
both into
.trouble, his voce startles me.r--
or rather
. not his voice but what he:
have called you. fast," it says, "even
a 'girl of the 'period. Inever meant to
fall in love with you. But yet—l have
done it. • •
, .
There, *twin nild, half -humorous tone
in the voice and its owner is, Clutching
Ottalie's two 'hands. Her head , is bent
so low I can only' - see the outline of' a
flushed face.. Apprehension—anger—l
. hardly know wliat feeling arouses me.,
"Ottalie •
may as
_well Call to the moon. She
dos not hear or heed me. Mr. Daine
bends down. to - her =and, speaks almost , in
a whisper. s Her eyes—the big, beautiful
gray ones- 7 glance up at him.
In my .vexation retire from the win
dow. In-my trouble I walk bade to it.
Both Of them have forgotton my exist
tence.
"Do yon know," he goes on, and my
ears are quiek. ‘q • began by meaning to
dislike you. I did not care for a girl who
could be fast enough to row a stranger
over the bay and personate a,boatinan's
daughter. Ottalie.. how did you - subdue
my prejudices ? • How 'did you get the
bettei' of me ? Are you a witch ?" •
Mr. Daine is certainly an odd lover, if
he means it for. love ' and woos after a
fashion of his own ; but Ottalie does- not
seem to object. And as he bends to her
the wind stirs her pretty' 'hair, and the
water comes rolling in slowly_ over the'
sunshiny sand-- 7 poor, foolish, pretty
Ottalie.
"You are a witch, perhaps," he says,
after a palm.. "On Illy •nip cannot
tell ; I only know one thing—flove you :"
f'Really'and truly ?" asks she, child
fshly twisting her fingers together, as she
rises to her feet and looks upat him.
"Better than life," he ausivers.. and
takvsjiotil her hinds = in his.. 'Dismay
has held 'my beeibin, but I cqll l- noW."
- Offline !" •
He hears that, and looks around. She
goes aud looks out at the morning sea.
At that moment the maid comes in with
a tea tray, cake and • bread and butter.
We dined early on Sundays.
"Come to tea," I cry out, in vain hope
of putting an end to the folly.
were
wind,
no ; just as though my words were
wind, tile) , regard them not. Opening
the gate, they stroll off together across
the sands. I take my tea• alone with a
sinking heart. How intensely. foolish
Ottalie is I • _ • _
The wildest jinagivation could. not, I
fear, picture Deborah Peyre as a "pray.ing
woman." 'Of course Igo to church. 'I
go t:his -. vening. I have called 'myself a
miserable sinner scores of times ; now. I
feel I am oneor that she is, or he is, or.
teat we are a'll *sinners together. I get
into a backpew and Lbelieve I pray,more
earnestly'perneps than .I'ever did before.
And after the service is over I-go home
and wait. I see two dusky figures pacing ,
`the sands just beyond the gate, and I
fold my hands tightly and wait.
• The gate clinks at last.. Ottalie comes
in, and stands blinking . in .the doorway,
half darrled by the light. -
"Wilt-you , condescend to tell me how
you intend to vind up this highty credit
able farce you • are playing?" cry la
helpless rage. • . . -
• "Wind—it- 2 up," she repeats,' the
'brightness fading . all at once out of her
face. Then With, a: sadden' dash of reek::
lessness: "I don't know. I don't. think
lI'S a had plan Deb. I • let myself drift,
drift, drift. It is so much easier.' And
she laughs a little strained laugh that
cannot take.the shadow out of her eyes.
"Understankthis"rouch," says I; "If
you do not put `an end to this, I *ill." •
She gets up .as white as her dress and
seizes my arm.
"No, oh nol Debosrah, you are joking;
only joking, are you not ?" And she
drops my nrm and sinks , on her knees
beside me. , „
"Am I given :Jo joking ?"
.:"But'., you won't," she repeats. 0 1 will
•-•-do whit yeti want=-=only not .now,
Deborah; '-Got now.- Lei me be happy,
please, just a little, % Do you grudge me
these few days, 'because my life has been
'co happy ?"
"'; lam silent. She grnspa my arm to
hasten my reply. ,
"Haile I had so happy a life, Deborah P"
Heaven knows. that she has not—of
jate years. But how shall I answer her ?
What am Ito do In One sense of the
word lam =at rest ; she has too much
'rectitude,-too much pride; to give - cause_
for rim' fear hot—there.. arrr ,nomnl4m.
, • . . n- ' -
41 Debnab o , dear Deho,rali, won't vott
herAwl!' and her voice broke,. and
her fir:6'4'6lW arm;:creeps up round toy
[Contitified ou Eight .Fagg.] -
{4 ~ i