The Man Who Rose Again

ntly, "you've heard st

no

believ

em. But never mind thos

nly sometimes. Generally I have a feeling that there is no past; t

you are

ding is to be early, then in the afternoon we are going to drive to London, and take the train for the Continent. We are going to Florence, to Rome, to Naples, to Capri, to Corsica. We are going away to suns

ould so arouse this proud, self-contained man, that she could drive his cynicism

; "I am haunted with a great fear le

hed almo

"and even now our minister, Mr. Sackville, is t

if there is no past.

d. "I have heard all about it, and-

ou find out something which you cannot forgive. If so

he said quietly. "You have ne

"I have never t

that since your Oxford fiasco, when that girl jilted

been since that time, I have never given any woman but you a

emaine laug

all not trouble a littl

ossible. He was still a cynic with regard to others, but he no more doubted Olive than he doubted the sunlight. She

uld murder the man who tried to take you away from me. Oh, I am in earnest; I would

er as though he were ashamed to stay

th your whining convert. And yet I know I shall be a good fellow with you as my wife. And I never break my promises. I was never so mean as that. Oh yes, I was whisk

tensity of his words; nevertheless, she was proud o

Olive. I don't know why, but I f

hand in his, and looke

Radford,"

s not enough in me to love. You are the only woman in the world to me; I could no

aid the girl; "you

in. Tell me that whatever may happen-yes, I repeat

she cried. His face was as pale as death

er or for worse, and you will vow to keep to me as long as we both shall live. Yes, I've been reading the marriage service. My God, the wonder of it! That's why I'm afraid. If I lost you, I should sink into a deeper hell than ever Dante saw in his wild journeyings. No 't

"I will never ma

uld you?" he said,

eplied, "I

re not like other women, to whom a promise is no

ise is sacred to

rce, devouring eyes. He t

t me,"

passion, yet steady with the strength of the man behind them; hers stea

it ag

what

marry another man, w

y another man, wha

rt, and rained kisses upo

armour bright' I can face anything. Olive, there is no happier man in the world than I; nay

ay across the park, but he did not seem to heed it. The flames from a log of wood in the

o wonderful

is, Ra

rs. If a man has stood in my way I've shoved him aside. I've seen only the worst in life, and I've acted on what I saw. I was drink-sodden, too. I was a slave to a vile habit. But for the fact that drink made no visible impression upon me, I should have been one of

as an uneasy look in her eyes,

f I ha

I would not have pr

mean

I could not respect such a man as you were, no matter how clever I might thi

lso. Yes, she had driven all his old theories to the winds. Whatever was true wit

ilent fo

t. And I want to believe, Olive; sometimes I do, I do now. And I w

may, Radford; but only God

that Christian

eve it, don't

he was

ay, a Divine man. I believe, too, that He has ennobled the whole thought of the world about God; but for the rest-I don't know. Still, you know what I promised you: if there's a

eyes were lovelit. What wonder, then, that Oliv

me to an end, they would be on their way to Italy, the land of sunshine and song. The future revealed itself to him in glowing colours. He saw himself climbing the hill of fame with Olive by his side. It was almost certain that the General Election would take place in less than two months from that time, and even if it did not, it could not be postponed later than the following autumn. Then he would enter

und to be brought forward. Master them, Leicester, an

ky, love burned in his heart, while his

ather admired him, and how keenly he enjoyed his conversation. She noted with gladness, too, that her marriage was not going to cause her fath

ve," he said, as he k

will not

ough it seems an eternity.

nd she meant what

se how happy! Only until to-morrow, and

ess in his voice, and as he spo

will know how good God is, you wil

he kissed h

he said, "good-night un

-morrow,

turned and saw her standing at the door wa

l to-morrow, our we

gh. He kissed her again, and then hurried a

ew seconds before was clear, now hung with great black clouds. Shadowy forebodings came into her mind and heart. She heard her father talkin

entered

ters, wha

just come fo

e last

a few minutes ago. I did not like to bri

he wanted to be alone. Still holding the letter unopened in her hand, she drew a chair before the fire, and sat back in it, and closed her eyes. Why

elessly at it. A minute later her eyes became riveted to the paper. As she read, one express

and unclenched themselves as though she had no control over them. She threw the letter from her; but immediately she caught it u

e saw nothing, heard nothing. She was oblivious to her surroundings.

lf, and pulled the bell-cor

her face towards her, and she spoke with evid

st saying good-nigh

o him, and ask him to

, mi

e you w

that you will co

es

live continued to look into the

she felt herself falling. Clutching the back of the chair she held herself for a few seconds, then, as if by a sudden effort of will, she controlled herself. Then she walked across the room steadily, opened the door, and went downstairs slowly. Her face, even to her lips, was still ashy pale, and in her eyes was a stern set l

opened it. John Castlemaine looked up at his daughter's entrance, and was startled by

is the matter? Are you

m, and threw herself into his arms, while John Castlemaine h

rapped her kindly arms around him, as if she desired to be specially kind to him just then. When he awoke he could not for a time realise where he was; but the truth soon came to him. He remembered, too, that it was the morning of his wedding-day. His hea

gain to himself. "I wonder how she will look as s

verything was settled in due order. When Leicester had been asked whom

?" John Castle

t of acquaintances, but I do not wish them to come to my wedding. My father died five years ago. I ca

onform to convention a

think. Yes, Winfield will do. H

led it. Like lightning the fact flashed into his mind that on the night of

tlemaine. "He's just the fellow.

not invite him,"

For my own part, I think I should have liked you to have i

r, "don't ask me; reall

n, and arrangements had been made for the two to meet that morning at a station three miles fro

riage which he had engaged. Here, too, he found Winfield, and

happy man," rem

es

as gone smoot

es

were at The Bee

es

tiful day for th

though spring we

don't look as happy a

nd there'll not be a happier m

e was thinking about. He reflected that he was not a man from w

r the church, "let us pull down these confounded

sure to b

wo hundred guests. Besides, Miss Castlemaine is so well kno

. He noticed that the church gates were locked and that there were no signs of a wedding, save that a

Leicester, who noticed th

right last nig

ng. Why d

look out for yo

ates were locked, the church doors were loc

o Leicester's eyes. His

on't want to show yourself to this cr

nd then closed the door with a

an it mean?" he sa