His Sombre Rivals

him, and he almost staggered into the dusky parlor and sank into a chair. Burying his face in h

t he felt a hand laid upon his shoulder; he looked up and saw that the lamp was lighted and that his aunt

light. "I cannot bear that you should l

having loved Grace St. John,

has seen her as I have would be less than a man had he not loved her. But oh, the f

hat my disappointment is bitter als

ow all,

your secret. I let the happy girl talk on, kissed her, and wished her all the happiness she deserves. Grace is unlike other girls, or I should have known about it long ago. I don't think

y, "think of her future. Grace is so good and kind that she would be very unhapp

then more and more slowly. Soon he turned up the light, and

ng, sensible wo

remise for the sake of le

I said to myself at the time, there was more of incentive than warning in your words, flow self-confidently I smiled over them! How perfectly sure I was that I could enjoy this rare girl's society as I would look at a painting or listen to a symphony! Almost before I was aware, I found a craving in my heart which I now know all the world cannot satisfy. That June day which you arranged so kindly in my behalf made all as clear as the cloudless sun that shone upon us. That day I was revealed fully unto myself, but my hope was strong, for I felt that by the very law and correspondence of nature I could not have such an immeasurable need without having that need supplied. In my impatience I left my business unfinished and returned this evening, for I could not endure another hour of delay. She seemed to answer my glad looks when we met; she gave her hand in cordial welcome. I, blinded by feeling, and thinking that its very intensity must awaken a like return, stood speechless, almost overwhelmed by my transcendent hope. She interpreted my manner naturally by what was uppermost in her mind, and exclaimed: 'He has told you-he has written.' In a moment I knew the truth, and I scarcely think that a knife p

ford!" faltered his a

a complete life, while we, with all our reason, so often b

life is false. We are both materialists-I from the habit of living for this world only; you, I suppose, from mistaken reaso

t and therefore to suffer, may become the best one can h

strong emphasis; "and brave Grace St. John would revolt a

have kept you far too long. Let us go through the formality of supper; and then I will prove to you that if I have been weak here I can be strong for her sake. I do not remember my mother; but nature is strong, and

could make us. You do not remember your mother; I never had a child. But, as you say, nature is strong; and although I have tried to satisfy myself with a hundred things, the mother in my heart has never been content. I hop

anything that I can give. Fate, in denying us both what our hearts most craved, has indeed made us near akin; and there can be an unspoken sympathy between us that may have a sustaining power th

t you cannot rema

ow impossible; that

e it is," she

that we would go over as usual to-night, a

e a nice little supper on our return. N

joined his aunt. She looke