CORALIE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 291, 8 December 1893, Page 3

CORALIE.

BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME,

Author of ' Dora Thorne,' ' Wife in Name Only,' Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER VHI-(Conbinued). How fervently I blessed these Cherokees before the day ended no one will ever know. Lady Thesiger never left us; Agatha worked very hard. Looking at the sweet, calm, high-bred face I x wondered if she knew fcbab a lover, with his heart on fire, sat near her. Lunch came—we wenb to the diningroom. Lady Thesiger told us we had only half an hour to spare ; she had promised the duchess to send everythine in that evening, and she did not wish to break her word. ' Ib is worse than slavery,' I said ; and Lady Thesiger laughed, little knowing why ] I was so impatieut. Back again bo work. Happily, all was finished and the servants were called in to pack the pretty, fragile articles. • Now, I shall have five minutes,' I thought to myself, 'and I will find out whether she cares for me or nob." Alas ! there was the dressing-bell. IWe have just finished in time tor dinner,' said Lady Thesiger. 'Sir John will not be ab home; he does nob return until late.' I was torbured wibh impabience. Had I been waiting for a verdict over life or death my agony would nob have been ono half so great. The long ordeal of dinner had bo pass. ' You will allow me to go to the draw-ing-room wibh you,1 I said to the mistress of the house. ' I could nob sit here alone.' Then I saw a chance. Agatha wenb to the piano and played one of Mendelssohn's 'Songs Wibhoub Words.' The difference bebween the pure, sweet, high-bred English girl and bhe brilliant, eeducbive French woman never appeared to me so greab as when they were ab the piano. Coralie's music wrapped one's soul, eteeped one's senees, broughb one nearer to earth; Agatha's took ono almosb sbraighb to heaven. Listening to her pure and holy thoughts came, hiph and noble impulses. Then, seeing that Lady Thesiger looked tired I suggested that she should rest upon the sofa while I took Miss Theeiger for a little ebroll through the gardens. The evening was beautifully warm and clear, the golden sun lingering as though loath to leave the fair world to darkness. At last lab lasb! My hands trembled with impatience as I drew the black lace mantilla over her white shoulders. Ab lasb, ab lasb I had her all to myself; only the birds and flowers around us ; only the blue eky overhead. Then, when I would have given worlds for the power of speech, a strange, dull silence came over me. ' Agatha,' I said at last, * I came over today on purpose bo see you. I wanb bo ask you something, a favour so greab my lips can hardly frame the words,' She looUod ab me. There was infinite wonder, infinite gentleness in her eyes. I took courage then and told her my bale in burning words. I can nob remember now, bub I told her how I had loved her from bhe firsb moment I had ever seen her, and had resolved upon winning her, if she was to be won. Never mind whab passed. I only know the sun never shone so brighbly, the flowers were never one half so fair, the world bo bright, no man ever one half bo happy. For she—well, she had listened to me, and her sweeb lips had quivered, her beautiful face had grown tender and soft; she had laid her litble white hands in mine and said she loved me. I have wondered since thab bhe weight of my own happiness did not break my hearb, the suspenae had been so great. 1 You love me? Gay it again, Agatha. I cannob boliove ib. Oh, my darling, ib seemed to me easier to reach bhe golden stars than to win yon !' • You did nob try,' she said, with a smile half sweet, half diviue. 'You always looked frightened at me.' 'So I was, bub I shall grow boldc now. Such beauty, such puriby, such goodness as yours would awe anyone. I can haidly believe now it is my own good forbune. Say ib again, darling.' She raised her sweeb face to mine. •I love you,' she said, 3imply; and ib seemed bo me bhe words died away in the Bummer wind more sweetly than an echo from heaven would die. 'And you will be my wife? Agatha, promise me.' • I will be your wife,' she said, and thon, bo my thinking, wo wont straight away bo ; fairy-land. I do nob remember the sun setting, although ib musb have seb; tor when my senses returned to me a servant was sbanding before us, saying thab Lady Thesiger was afraid it, was growing cold. There lay the dew shining on the trees and flowers, yet we had noo even eeen ib fall.