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