Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-07-02

quickly, almost fefcely-"you know have
not forgotten ten years ago-oF the woman
who promised to be faithful TO me, either
That woman, however, was Alice Chisholm,
and net"-he paused moment, and added
bitterlyL"Miss Inglesby's sister-in-law."
"We won't tear open the old wounds, or
reopen the old quarrel" said she, gravely
at is all over--utterly past and gone. But
fate having brought us togetheI--in man.
ner, too, that win make It hard for lis 10
avoid some slight intercourse you will par
don me ii ask Why Alice Chisholm cannot
be your friend.
''Alice Chisholm was a woman of the
world ten years ago" he answered, still full
of bitterness. "She has not so far forgotten
her worldly knowledge that she should need
TO ask that question now"
''GTanting that she was woman of the
world, " said she, with vibration of scOm in
her voice, ''do you think that she did not
know then, and does not know now, that
yOu-l0U Laurence Kennon---are the last
man in the world to feel deeply or resent BIT
terly mere love disappointment If you
still refuse TO take the hand which ] offer
for the last time, remember-l shall know
that il is not wounded love, but wounded
pride, which has made you so implaodble "
''You can think what YOU please of me, y
said he, leaning back against the rock from
which she had risen, and looking passion
atcly at the beautiful face before him "My
God how | 0ught to hate you! !" he went on.
so think of your treachery and your &C e
quetry--to think how you have wrecked my
| life, as much of il as was left to wreck--and
then to think that | should come here
now"
He broke off here with something like a
gasp. She did not answer, her color did not
deepen, her eyes did not quail. She stood
before him like a proud, calm statue, daring
him, as il were, TO say and do his worst.
Suddenly he advanced step and grasped
her arm"
''You talk of Alice Chisholm" he said, al
most fiercely. "What If | were fool enough
to call her back to life and accept her friend
shipp Would she like to play the old game
over again? | believe once was enough for
me. Am l any better, any more desirable
now than when so dutifully and obedIently
she gave me up-left me to live or die as
best | could and married."
She lifted her hand with silencing gest-
ure. "Hush! for the sake of the old time,
you can say what you please of me; but he
was my husband and he is dead
''Yes he is dead and did not mean to
speak i'll of him Why should /? No doubt
he was a good fellow enough-only hated
/ him too much even TO md II out. wen, you
married him-not me. Now, that you are
free again, would you marry me if gave
my heart up for your sport again, and asked
you to do so 2
Passionate as the question was, and full OF
bitter scorn-the scorn of one who meets
some sore temptation beyond his strength, tc
which he must succumb-it was earnest with
an earnestness that few things possess in this
world of sham and sentiment Perhaps the
fire that rang in every tone stirred the heart
of Alice Chisholm sleeping in Mrs. hglesby's
breast. But she was a woman of the world,
and no outward token of this appeared on
her proud, calm face, no glance of it flick
cred into the clear, brown eyes steadfasty
facing his own. When she spoke her voice
was soft and even
"Tell me, rather, if you would advise me
TO do so? Those prudent counsellors OF
whom you spoke are all gone now. | stand
quite alone, with my own life in my own
hand to make or mar as please Laurence,
should | make or mar il by marrying you ?
There was something of solemnity both in
the form and in the tone of her appeal. Fol
reply, the lids sank slowly over Kennon's
eyes, and once more the dark flush rose in
his cheek.