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The Supercilious Sacrifice
AmoryBlaine,who"gavehisaddress"as,etc.,hadbeenrequestedtoleavehishotelinAtlanticCitybecauseofentertaininginhisroomaladynothiswife.
Thenhestarted,andhisfingerstrembled,fordirectlyabovewasalongerparagraphofwhichthefirstwordswere:
"Mr.andMrs.LelandR.Connageareannouncingtheengagementoftheirdaughter,Rosalind,toMr.J.DawsonRyder,ofHartford,Connecticut—"
Hedroppedthepaperandlaydownonhisbedwithafrightened,sinkingsensationinthepitofhisstomach.Shewasgone,definitely,finallygone.Untilnowhehadhalfunconsciouslycherishedthehopedeepinhisheartthatsomedayshewouldneedhimandsendforhim,crythatithadbeenamistake,thatherheartachedonlyforthepainshehadcausedhim.Neveragaincouldhefindeventhesombreluxuryofwantingher—notthisRosalind,harder,older—noranybeaten,brokenwomanthathisimaginationbroughttothedoorofhisforties—Amoryhadwantedheryouth,thefreshradianceofhermindandbody,thestuffthatshewassellingnowonceandforall.Sofarashewasconcerned,youngRosalindwasdead.
Adaylatercameacrisp,terseletterfromMr.BartoninChicago,whichinformedhimthatasthreemorestreet-carcompanieshadgoneintothehandsofreceivershecouldexpectforthepresentnofurtherremittances.Lastofall,onadazedSundaynight,atelegramtoldhimofMonsignorDarcy’ssuddendeathinPhiladelphiafivedaysbefore.
HeknewthenwhatitwasthathehadperceivedamongthecurtainsoftheroominAtlanticCity.
