On the Church Steps

oming to settle down for the winter. I was glad of it, for I could make my arrangements unhampered. So I carefully elimin

tead of the heavy envelope I had hoped for, it was a thin slip of an affair that fluttered away from my hand. It

aw-offices, tore it open as I jumped in. It enclosed simply a printed

" I said as I scann

rty. Was it for this, this paltry thing, that Bessie has denied me a word?

mphasis, "I am glad, very glad, that Fanny Meyrick is to sail in October. I would not have her stay on this side for worlds!" Then the next day, twenty-f

had to admit, and to admit tha

the Russia to the later steamer, and, to crown all, that leaf

She had told Fanny Meyrick

to learn of the law's delay in those pompous old offices amid the fog. Had I been working for myself, I

s it was well for me that I had the monotonous, musty work that required little t

te to Mrs. Sloman too, but no answer. Then I bethought me of Judge Hubbard, but received in reply a note from one of his sons, stating th

I was too proud. She knew of our relations: Bessie had told her. I could not bring myself to reveal to her how tangled

y, and we were in the new year, I could bear it no longe

t. Fanny was sitting alone, reading by a table. She looked up in surprise as I stood in the doorway.

ying away so long, but that is accounted for now. Why didn't

I said, bewildered, "only v

an expression of deep concern. "Poor fellow! You do look worn. Come right

mfort to hear a friendly voice after all those lonely weeks! When the servant entered with a tray, I watched her

away with woman's tact: "he always smokes after dinn

rant, "I should never have congratulated you, Charlie, on boar

n Bessie must

stammering: "w

that long walk, that you had this important case, and it was

the floor as I jumped to my feet: "Was that all she

died away suddenly and left her pale as ashes. Mechanically she opened and shut the silver sugar-tongs

able and looking down on her, "that day at Lenox that we were engag

whispered, "Indeed, no! O

ome mystery. I have never had one line from Bessie since I reached London

ttering to herself. "Heavens! To think-Oh, Charlie," with a

ted myself again and tried to speak calmly, for I saw that something very painful was to be

ered upon a scene as his quick eye took in the situation, but whether I was accepte

lief, "just come and talk to Mr. Munro while I

he time. I was conscious that I talked incoherently and like a school-boy of the treaty. Every American in London was bound to have his spec

in his eye, while he was evidently aston

grew gray in its flaky ashes

ere some special directions to go with the packet, and it took me a long time to get

d felicitations-and that the satisfaction he expressed was genu

raperies to the windows, heavy curtains around the bed-and I

ed thickly in several wrappers and tied w

e I have most innocently made. What must you have thought of me that day at Lenox, staying close all day t

ething in your manner once or twice made me look at you and think that perhaps you were interested in B

year before we had spent it together, too?-September 28th. True, that year it was at

e out. You had rescued me from the stupid gayety of my first winter-from the flats of

thing, but for the deeper harm I hav

out you, to find out what you were to her. But she was so distant, so repellant, that I fancied there was no

she told me you were going abroad, I could not help being very

ish; and I write it, thankful that you are not here to see me. So I scribbled a little note to Bessie, and sent it

w from something that he has just told me that this is so, and that he consoles himself already

hat Bessie did not care for you, I said to her that once I thought you had cared for me, but that papa had offended you by his m

that explanation upon your ceasing to visit me, and because papa

that I wanted, and I believed that

hat that pilot-letter mean

so that by no chance should I read it fi

out so much that you need not write me the progress of your romance,

rling, so sensitive and spirite