Playing With Fire

be the last ti

brow and wreath

music sweet

shall draw me

let m

must have dry eyes and take part in conversation; for the moment we differ from everyone else everyone is surprised. The meals are to be cooked, the parlor swept, callers are to be received, and calls are to be made, and we

of him, and talked of him, and watched for the letters that were sure to come to her, constantly reminding her

ip; for it is the sorrow not sure which we feel to be unbearable. That letter enabled her to locate her lover, and, though the halo of distance and the mystery of night travel were around him, her soul sought him out and found in the romance of the situation some balm for her anxiety not without value. For the young like to believe that their trials are not common trials, and Marion knew of no girl whose lover had been torn from her side and sent off to India for nearly t

continuance of this new element in their lives-an element of constant change and of unusual events-conversations about letters received and sent-and the looking forward to those journeying to them

him. Now his empty place at the table was a constant shock, his voice haunted the house, and he was sometimes so positive that he heard him going upstairs, whistling "Listen to the Mocking Bird," that he silently ope

l his other love losses. But nothing that she said had a tone of reality, nothing was positive-she was going to stay all winter in Paris, she was coming to London at Christmas time, she was

said that when love flames before it burns it dies quickly; but Ian's love, flaming in a moment, had stood within the past three months all the tests that a capricious, abse

ken to pieces, and nothing that had once seemed of great importance to him was now cared for. One morning near Christmas he packed, with angry haste, all the papers and books left to him by the late Lord Cramer, and sent them to the care of the steward at Cramer Ha

ows Mrs. Caird watched the man carrying the box to the cart which would convey it to the railroad station. It was a plain wood box, much longer than it was wide, and in the dim gray light it looked very lik

room to rest a while, and she fell asleep and dreamed that the long white box was full of slain souls, and it cost her a stro

ned to her room to see if she was preparing for the event. She found Marion fully dressed, and the

ichard could see you. Where did yo

ht that I wanted a bertha, but disliked to go out in the fog to buy one, and Fath

n see your father walk up to a clerk and say, 'I want a bertha, so

very

rtha should cost-but it was a good spending, and I dare say

d, Aunt, at last-I kissed him. Yes, I really did. And Father looked at me with te

. Your father oug

your lips. Nothing in life could sepa

r, and be in a hurry. I hear a carriage at the

me one here. I

s the vehicle drove away a youth step

good time c

little

and tinkled the little silver bell, which was answered by Kitty bringing in the teapot under its satin cozy. A few minutes afterward the Minister entered. The table had been set for him and Mrs. Caird by the parlor hearth, and he took his chair silently. Then they were alone, and, as he

and asked, "Wher

ht she t

ten. To James Lockerby

gaged to David Grant. It

t Thomas Reid to-day on Buchanan Street. He told me t

im

uiring extra diligence in business and ver

send to Parliament than Thomas Reid-althou

leverness, according to Darwin. He sent Mari

he to say

he should take all his family to London for the season, and that then Marion might have stepped into a c

r did you m

ece, and I answered haughtily: 'Sir, on her twenty-first birthday Miss Macrae will become the wife of Lord Richard Cramer. He was in Her Majesty's Household before his father's

give the cocksure insolence of the purse-proud creatur

ittle laugh, 'That is a great exaltation for the young lady. Just keep her head level by remind

entative manner, as if reminding herself of the circumst

ess voice did not show it; however, Mrs. Caird was watching his

? Has he rea

ent. He escorted Lady Cramer fro

y Cr

ested him

onald doing

near. Then he resolved to spend his Christmas in England and leave for New York at the beginning and not at the end of the year. In Paris he met Lady Cramer in the foyer of the Grand Opera House, and she induced

hat do you m

y ornamental to themselves. As like as not she will be making eyes at

afe in the hallowed halls of St. Andrews. How c

hile I live; forbye, the violin

had given to some men intelligence and to

ne thing-Donald's gift is the gift of God, and every gift of God is good if used for innocent purpose. For myself, I am real glad that Donald's gift was music. There will be music in he

but a passing remark-blame Iza

ear after year putting hooks through the throats of fishes only weighing a pound or two. I think he would need few

which did not brighten his sad face, and t

u would do right if

e no fear, Jessy. I will be a

ake it as a great honor. Speak kindly to the youn

and my people, something that dashes a

r voice strong and sincere, your simple presence encouraging. Your face is now troubled, your v

terial to be moved by anything but

it. So the sense of desolation, which has been stirred in you by the writings of Darwin, Schopenhauer, Comte and others, is visible o

od. Listen to this," she cried, as, moving swiftly to a small hanging bookcase, she took from it a slim volume, "a man like yourself, Ian, fighting his doubts and fears and sad forecastings, wrote them;" and her eager face and intense sympathy made him bend his head in acquiescence. They were standing together i

aunt tho

in Phil

ast thou

perplex

e the Sp

ken cisterns

secret treasu

nd Peace

g forth in

t the dull

esh breeze

rong curre

d to the Et

Jessy, had lain with me in the

well-nigh slipped, but he constantly struggled to hold fast the

f near two t

here their to

earnings o

onsider i

ooking at it. What Mrs. Caird was saying he heard not, his

humiliatio

ime, and yet div

ething most shameful

something most perfec

ok appears to reveal a soul. I will take it t

conclusion that Lady Cramer's attentions to Donald were a most delicate revelation of her love for himself; and this conviction brought instantly an acute longing for her presence. He felt that he must reach London as soon as it was possible. For some weeks he had anticipated this visit and

rney purposely to see Donald again. It is so good of

ird. "Your father has gone t

onald would be in London; he

e not start for

thought so also. She liked to have young men waiting upon her. She

ng, it is not his way to wai

er and Lady Cramer are in love wi

the world? Your father is a very handsome man and Lady Cramer is

e so old

d call a young man. He will

r been married. I am his first love. H

n I was a girl we used to sing a duet in which the soprano declared she had heard of a land where

sweet s

a long

to go to it at once, and asked, 'How am I to get there?' Upon which a yo

t down the

round the

d lane, or all around a square, no one can find that happy land of your girlhood. I will g

Donald's care of his stepmo

hat also. I had forgot

e forget

Donald was not forgotten, answered careles

what he wants, and he takes what he wants, and so he is well served." She was leaving th

and spontaneous that they were actually dear to him. And among these relics of ancient feeling was the pleasure of giving surprises. All the way to London he was telling himself: "How happy Ada will be! H

airly well lighted, and he judged her, therefore, to be at home. So he dismissed the cab and then walked slowly up and down before the house for a few minutes. As he was thus steadying himself for his eagerly desired happiness a carriage drove up to the house, and immediately afterward Lady Cramer, attended by a tall, middle-aged gentleman, entered it; and

s length from her?" And the inner man answered, "You could have stepped to her side, laid your hand upon her shoulder,

e, jealousy, mingle with all his nobler love thoughts; then he noticed that th

ne to the play,

our will s

re is a supper and dance at Lad

asked to what theater Lady Cramer had gone, and, hav

esty's T

sed the unhallowed threshold." And he had made this declaration with what he considered a justifiable spiritual satisfaction. Would he now transgress a law of his whole life? A

of them. She was the center of a gay party and the most beautiful woman in it. His ticket, bought at random, had placed him in an excellent position f

manner beyond his power to itemize; yet he felt with a thrill of idolatrous passion the total effect of the combination. And he kept telli

med Englishmen who represent the imperial race at its best. There were two other ladies, a young naval officer and a well-known diplomat in the box, but Dr. Macrae took no note

ess which hundreds of thousands might receive from such an entertainment if a mistaken public opinion did not prevent it. And, though this decision was only rendered mentally, he felt in its rendering all the ministerial intolerance of one who is deciding ex cathedra a point of great moral importance. The end of the performance found

da

ctor Macrae! Is it possible? In a

see you, no

with me-nine o'clock. See, we are delaying people behind us-excuse me--" And as

th a sense of humiliation he went rapidly into the gloomy street. What had happened to him? All his spirit, all his p

d her in words equally extravagant and unusual, and he had pangs of such cruel suffering, and thrills of such exquisite love and longing, as

theater to be explained, and at the bottom of his soul's crucible there was yet a residuum o

isit. However, the rest had refreshed him, and when he left his hotel for Lady Cramer's residence there was not in all London a man of greater physical beauty or mo

laid on a table drawn to the hearth of her private parlor, and when she took her place, and made him draw his chair close to her own, the cup of his happiness was brimmed. Never before had she seemed so beautiful and so desirable. Her hair was loosely dressed, and the open sleeves of her violet

his manhood, and in winning again those tender marks of her favor which had really made her fly from his influence before.

ffair between Richard and Marion ends before I entangle myself;" and, while she was making this excuse, there was the sound of a man's deep, authoritative voice in the h

oor. It is such a lovely morning.

e introduce you to Dr. Ian Macrae, the

ning gallop-her physician considers it imperative. I have left all my affairs to take care of her, and I hope you will

lady on horseback in a public park; he knew nothing of the rites and regulations of that duty. It was

morning ride, Lady Cramer

octor, and let us have our

enient," and with th

man," said the Duke. "Make some has

her dressing-room she sighed

hted and disappointed love raged within him! Through the busy streets, forlorn and utterly miserable, he wandered slowly, careless of the crowd and the cold, and only thinkin

th the bitterest tears, and, even in the cold, crowded London streets, his melancholy eyes and miserable face attracted attent

so. He preferred to sit still in his room and try to discover the truth concerning the position in which he so unexpectedly found himself. He had firmly believed in the love

e he had been intensely mortified by her changed manner, and by her reference to Richard and Marion, as if their love affair accounted for his presence in her household-th

er been in any society he considered more noble or more distinguished than his own. Yet undoubtedly Lady Cramer had been ashamed of his presence. He recalled the expressions on her face, the tones of real or pretended boredom in her voice, all the pretty coquetries of her eyes and hands, and a

he could not endure the memory of the covert slights he had felt compelled to ignore. And it was not long ere he became furious at himself for not boldly taking his position as Lady Cramer's fu

minister's daughter. He knew exactly how she would represent the subject; he could tell almost the words she would use, and this mean, underhanded denial of himself hurt every nerve of his consciousness like a physical wound. Indeed, the suf

laid aside; there was none from Lady Cramer. Then his aching disappointment revealed to him that, in spite of his anger, he had been expecting a propitiating note, and p

o he went to Lady Cramer's house and found it in semidarkness; consequently she was out. The obliging porter informed him, in return for a crown piece, that his lady had gone to

d Ian; "put me where I can see

gher tier woul

ake me

five shill

Give me a good locatio

king, and there was a great deal of sweet, sensuous music. He did not hear anything either sung or spoken, for all his life was in his eyes, and what they saw burned the word unattainable on all his hopes. He left the theater before the performance was finished; he did not wish to meet his false mistress until he was quite s

it, for she by no means realized her offense nor her lover's indignation at it. Indeed, when he entered

she cried. "I have just written to you

m. Then he raised his hands, palms outward, and said: "Stand where you are, Ada. I do not wish you to touch me. You

! What do

ing to marry that old Duke-goi

sold for a dukedom than a Free Kirk pulpit. And, if you have come he

I will never trouble you again

it, I might have done so. You are a very indifferent lover. Twice

ecause you are utterly deceitful. I

ourself. You can nev

ot. I have ce

love you leave off loving whe

annot be rekindled;

ive in you

, and, for the graves of the he

Ian. I did love you! I

ut a heart. It would have been a good thing for you to ha

at happiness it is not to be your wife! You have much learning, sir, but you do not know the way to a

sed him. At the door she turned, and he was just lifting the ring. "Ah!" she cried, "the diamonds ar

sank wearily on her bed. "Farewell! You wanted too much. You made the great blunder of confounding love-making with love. You took every trifle too seriously. I thought I loved you, b

his time had kept her ignorant of danger until she had drifted past it. If Ian