CHAPTER XLV.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 99, 25 April 1885, Page 4

CHAPTER XLV.

TIIK J'AKTISO. " He said good-byp, and the spell was ovrr, Too warm for a friend and too cold for a lover, There "n as nothing elt-e to sa> ." Ella Whkklek, Ah, me, " the wooing o' it !" Such a courtship ! But who that starves j will not snatch at a crust ? i The morning following the evening he I had dined at Gage's Marc called. It was rather early for the vibit of evon one privileged. He paced the library into which the servant had shown him — nervously, impatiently. He was looking wretchedly ill and haggard, far more so than he had the previous evening in the uncritical gaslight. He did not look like a lover who had hastened hither his feet by desire-lent wings. In truth ho had passed a miserable night. Try to sleep a» he would, resolutely phut his eyes, or open them wide and staie defiantly into darkness, always one face rose before him, came, and would not be denied— and it was not that of Evelyn (ia^e. More a child's face than her?, fresher, fairer, if less proud more tender, if lacking in dignity gaining in sunshine— the pure, shy, rose sweet face of Velia Vernell. A bitter battle he had fought in those dragging hours. Ho was to marry another than she he loved ! Well, why not? Had she not pro\en worse than faithless — treacherous ? What consideration, loyalty, did he owe her? None. And yet— he loved her ! Ah, there was the rub ! There every argument, resolution, burst of indignation, ended - light thy re ! He loved her still as deeply, devotedly, passionately as ever -he would love her so every hour and second of his life. And he was going to marry Evelyn Gago. Ho turned at the sound of the opening door. His ga/.o rested upon her as docs that of a critic on a clever picture, expres sive of approval and approval merely. Her gown of feome eoft, whito stuff was of palest pink. In front, from throat to hem, it was cascaded with ivory lace. The texture and hue of the sweeping draperies set off her milk white skin, blue eyes, and braided raven hair with delicious effect. On her lids neither, the previous night, had the little god of sleep shaken his golden sand. But her wakefulness had only brought her happy thoughts and bright visions. Of how little Marc cared— could po&sibly care for her. Yet she never for a moment let herself think. She was to be his wife, and she leved him dearly. That was the refrain to which the long night sang, and its repetition had been sweet. The sleeplessness to which joy gives birth never blights beauty. So she looked well this morning— handsomer, indeed, than Marc had ever remembered seeing her. He went to meet her— bent and kissed her. For just a moment it chilled her, that conventional grave fcalute. Then she told herself ono does not betray one's emotions lightly nowadays— that self repression in all things is the natural outgrowth of goodbreeding. " You were good to como so early. I cud not dream of seeing you before the afternoon." If she expected him to say that the hour seemed late to him, that the morning had seemed i>. terminable, or any sucn sweet and foolish lover's protest, she was disap pointed. "It is you who arc good," he declared, with formal courtesy, "to forgive my intrusion at this unreasonable hour, but I have just received information which will make it necessary for me to leave town today, and of course I could not leave without running up to say anf loiederschen." She started. "You are going away ?" "I musf. There is some trouble about those mines in which lam interested. The affdir is too delicate to intrust to hired skill." He had placed a chair for her, but remained standing hipiself by an Elizabethan i desk,.

" I should hardly have been so glad to see you," forcing a smile, "had I known the meaning of your visit." He laughed. "Ifc is pleasant to know one will be missed I" he said. »• It is not pleasant for the one who does the missing, though 1" she rejoined, with a i pretty, positive little nod. «« When will you return ?"' " That I cannot tell positively. Perhaps in three weeks- it may be five !" ... The homage and regret in tho limpid lifted eyes wore enough to warm any man's heart. But they stirred not to more rapid throbbing one pulse of Mavk Tracy's. "I will write," he avowed, "and you will let mo hear from you often, will you not?" He drew out his watch and consulted I must bo off. I have a good deal of business to attend to before I start. Goodby, Evelyn !" "Good-by?" reprovingly. II No, not that !' " That was a slip. It's a detestable word, isn't it 1 Auf xokdcrschen !" She rote. " That sounds bettor !" How confiding was the hand she laid in his— how fond the face uplifted! Why couldn't he care a little for the royal gift she gave— make hor think he cared ? A disagreoable, cold-blooded brute was the rather unflattering manner in which at that moment Mr Marc Tracy montally apostrophised himself. Thus conscience-smitten, he embraced her and made his adieu with a shade more warmth than he had yet exhibited. She stood at the hall door as he walked swiftly away down Walnut - street, but not onco did he turn his head. She was still standing so when a livoried lad, j coming up the squaro, attracted her attention. A telegraph messenger. Ho scanned j the numbers as he came, stopped before her house, ascended the steps, tfe touched his cap, and extended his receipt book and ' a yellow onvelope. Of course, some des- ! patch for her father. Mechanically she scribbled her name on the line indicated in the receipt-book, then turning, re-entored the house. As she went toward tho dining- ! room, where her father sat at a late break- 1 fast, she abstractedly glanced at the en vclopo she held. She stood still. For her? It was addrosped to hor — "Miss Evelyn Gage." Who on earth I could bctolegraphing to her? Sho hold it between her and the light, tore off the end, drew forth tho inclosure, i and i*ead : "To JtM Evr.i.Y (Jaoe: Id Volla with )ou? If not. ploasn anwr at onco. Silonce will imply assent.— Voyi.k Vkk-.nki-l." The sheet dropped to the floor. Vella with her ! What would bring Vella Vernoll to her ? Had she started to visit her ? Woll, of all the astonishing despatches ! If it had only cornea few minutes sooner she could have shown it to Marc, and he would have answered it for her on his way up town.