A Day of Fate

battle, in which I think I succeeded fairly. I talked that it might not be noticed that I was eating very little; joked with Mr. Yocomb till the old gent

aintance of Mr. Hearn's little girl-indeed, her father formally presented her to me as his daughter Adela. I knew nothing of h

that he could stealthily and critically compare the diverse charms of the two girls, and I imagined I saw a slight accession to his complacency as his judgment gave its verdict fo

t nothing could take the place of much observation and comparison, by means of

h and rural life have not given her much opportunity for observation and compariso

mit me to add that Miss Adah has at this moment only to glance in a mirror to obtain

genial spirit. "She delights in her lover's keen thrusts," was now my thought, "and is pleased to think I'm no match for him. She should remember that it's a poor time for a man to tilt when

Then I was stupid enough to add: "But newspaper men are prone to have opinions. Mr. Yocomb

r's authority, you are on safe

too, that Mr. and Mrs. Yocomb did not like it either, and that Adah was blushin

; for so complete was my enthrallment that it was intolerable pain to see her the object of another's man's preferred attentions. I knew it was all right; I was not jealous in the ordinary sense of the word; I merely found myself unable longer, in my weak condition, to endure in her presence the consequences of my fatal blunder. Th

his is just the time for a twilight walk. Come, and show me the old garden;" and he took her away, with an air of proprietors

urn of the landing, and there my strength failed, and I held on to the railing for suppor

imed Miss Warren, "you a

aged to say cheerily. "

ng on the land

m, for she seemed a little embarrassed at meeting me on the stairs. In her absence I made a desperate effor

ed, as she came back. "I'm taking it so lei

ing yourself?" she a

nge. Mr. Hearn is waiting for you, and the twilight

to gain my room without revealing my condition; but when I reached the topmost stair it seemed that I could not go

hy did you try to deceive me? You

tion. "I meant that your first evening should be without a shad

she pleaded, in the

avily against the wall. She held out her

ly enjoined to cherish such a 'scrupulous sense of hono

e of protest and distress whose strong effect was only intensif

weather-vane

heard enter

exclaimed, in

banker's voice, "are

fierce whisper: "Never so humiliate me as to l

s like ice,"

ence, leaned back,

then, with a firm, decisive bearing, tur

ept you?" Mr. Hearn aske

" she answered, in a clear, firm

t, Emily?" cried Re

me tone that she would have used had my name been Mrs.

er me as he came bou

-that's the way it looks-but I'm stuck-hard aground-you'll have to tow me off. But not a word, remember. Lift me up-let me get my arm around your neck-there. Lucky I'm not heavy-slow and easy now-that's it. Ah, thank th

et me tel

ind

't Emily W

I wanted

something or get

tle while, and I'll be all right.

I'm afraid thee'll die yet; if thee does, thee'll break all our hearts," and

ry long, for Mrs. Yocom

so well. Emily was greatly surprised, but she enjoyed her first evening far more than she otherwise could have done, for she's one of the most kind-hearted, sensitive gir

ou know, the stupid things, though certain to be scorched. One in the room at a

don't trouble about me. You

nderstood the effort thee was making, and I think Emil

ha to-night, through and through, but please say no more, or I'

'll excuse a housekeepe

anything, ri

row gently for a moment,

May the Sabbath's peace