He had expected to meet Daisy in the hall, but she was nowhere in sight,

and she who appeared in response to the card he sent up seemed confused

and unnatural to such a degree that Guy asked in some alarm if anything

had happened, and where Daisy was.

Nothing had happened--that is--well, nothing was the matter with Daisy,

Mrs. McDonald said, only she was nervous and not feeling quite well that

morning, and thought she had better not come down. They had not expected

him so soon, she continued, and she regretted exceedingly that her

husband was not there, but she had sent for him, and hoped he would come

immediately. Had Mr. Thornton been to breakfast?

Advertisement..

Yes, he had, and he did not understand at all what she meant; if Daisy

could not come to him he must go to her, he said, and he started for the

door, when Mrs. McDonald sprang forward, and, laying her hand on his

arm, held him back, saying: "Wait, Mr. Thornton; wait till husband comes--to tell you--"

"Tell me what?" Guy demanded of her, feeling sure now that something had

befallen Daisy.

"Tell you--that--that--Daisy is--that he has--that--oh, believe me, it

was not my wish, and I don't know now why it was done," Mrs. McDonald

said, still trying to detain Guy and keep him in the room.

But her efforts were vain, for, shaking off her grasp, Guy opened the

hall door, and with a cry of joy caught Daisy herself in his arms.

In a state of fearful excitement and very curious to know what was

passing between her mother and Guy, she had stolen downstairs to listen,

and had reached the door just as Guy opened it so suddenly.

"Daisy, darling, I feared you were sick," he cried, nearly smothering

her with his caresses.

But Daisy writhed herself away from him, and, putting up her hands to

keep him off, cried out: "Oh, Guy, Guy, you can't--you mustn't. You must never kiss me again or

love me any more, because I am--I am not--oh, Guy, I wish you had never

seen me; I am so sorry, too. I did like you. I--I--Guy--Guy--I ain't

your wife any more! Father has got a divorce!"

She whispered the last words, and then, affrighted at the expression of

Guy's face, fled half-way up the stairs, where she stood looking down

upon him, while, with a face as white as ashes, he, too, stood gazing at

her and trying to frame the words which should ask her what she meant.

He did not believe her literally; the idea was too preposterous, but he

felt that something horrible had come between him and Daisy--that in

some way she was as much lost to him as if he had found her coffined for

the grave, and the suddenness of the blow took from him for a moment his

powers of speech, and he still stood looking at her when the street door

opened and a new actor appeared upon the scene in the person of Mr.

McDonald, who had hastened home in obedience to the message from his

wife.




Most Popular