At parting, he pressed her hand, and to his surprise, the pressure was softly returned. And he left her, thinking “the sex” more of a riddle than he ever thought it before.
The next day, about noon, Major Cabell and Zuleime met in the saloon, and had an interview of nearly an hour’s length.
When Zuleime left him and came out, she met her father in the hall. Taking his hands in hers, she looked up in his troubled face and said—
“Dear father! you remember many weeks ago, you asked me to fix the day when I should be married to Cousin Charles?”
“Never mind, never mind, my dear! That is all over now! You shall not be troubled, my love!”
“Dear father, I have just told Cousin Charles that I will give him my hand on Tuesday fortnight,” said Zuleime, and pressing both the old man’s hands to her lips, she turned and left him standing there in speechless astonishment, while she went up stairs—and throwing herself upon her knees by her bed, buried her face in the clothes, and breathed—“It won’t be for long, Frank! Oh! Frank, you know it won’t be for long!”
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE YOUNG MOURNER.
Mine after life? What is mine after life?
My day is closed. The gloom of night comes on,
A hopeless darkness settles o’er my fate.—Joanna Baillie.