"Won't you go back to Uncle Guy? Won't you let him adopt you? Do,
please. See how grim and pale he looks. Won't you?"
"No. He has ceased to care about my welfare; he is not distressed
about me, I assure you. Good-by. Write to me often."
"Yes, I will; and in vacation Ernest says you are to come up and
spend at least a month with us. Do you hear?"
The carriage was whirled away, and Beulah walked on to her
schoolroom with a dim foreboding that when she again met the
beautiful, warm-hearted girl sunshine might be banished from her
face. Days, weeks, and months passed by. How systematic industry
speeds the wheels of time! Beulah had little leisure, and this was
employed with the most rigid economy. School duties occupied her
until late in the day; then she gave, every afternoon, a couple of
music lessons and it was not until night that she felt herself
free. The editor of the magazine found that her articles were worth
remuneration, and consequently a monthly contribution had to be
copied and sent in at stated intervals. Thus engaged, spring glided
into summer, and once more a June sun beamed on the city. One
Saturday she accompanied Clara to a jewelry store to make some
trifling purchase, and saw Eugene Graham leaning over the counter,
looking at some sets of pearl and diamonds. He did not perceive her
immediately, and she had an opportunity of scanning his countenance
unobserved. Her lip trembled as she noticed the flushed face and
inflamed eyes, and saw that the hand which held a bracelet was very
unsteady. He looked up, started, and greeted her with evident
embarrassment. She waited until Clara had completed her purchase,
and then said quietly: "Eugene, are you going away without coming to see me?"
"Why, no; I had intended calling yesterday, but was prevented, and I
am obliged to leave this afternoon. By the way, help me to select
between these two pearl sets. I suppose you can imagine their
destination?"
It was the first time he had alluded to his marriage, and she
answered with an arch smile: "Oh, yes! I dare say I might guess very accurately. It would not
require Yankee ingenuity."
She examined the jewels, and, after giving an opinion as to their
superiority, turned to go, saying: "I want to see you a few moments before you leave the city. I am
going home immediately, and any time during the day, when you can
call, will answer."
He looked curious, glanced at his watch, pondered an instant, and
promised to call in an hour.