The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-01

| He lifts her easily in his arms, and as the
smoke holds back an instant he springs for the
stairway. \ few moments more and they are
| out in the cool, fresh air and away from the
crowd.
| \ slender youth comes to Barbara's side and
! kisses her raptuously.
| "Oh, my dear sister! thank God you are
| safe.'
| Then he turns quickly to her companion,
but the eager light fades from his face, as he
recognizes his sisters faithless lover of three
years before.
Mr.. North! We are greatly obliged to YOU"
This coldly and proudly.
You are mistaken, Glare. 1t is who owe
my life to your sister," Then aside to Barba-
ra II must see YOU Do not refuse me. Tell
me when and where"
Il shall be at my old home after tomorrow
| Stay, after tonight for it is morning now |
will see you Tuesday evening at my home in
M-"
Thank you; will come"
| He tiushes a little beneath the gaze of her
clear ewes. and after offering to assist her fur.
ther, which offer Clare declines haughtily, he
| bows and walks away with the fitful light fall
| ing over the cleaning chestnut hair and cle-
| CANT figure.
CAAPTER H.
Another September evening, but intensely
warm for the season The chirp of the cricket
comes up from the yard; the leaves are notion
| less on the branches, and the moon hangs like
a ball of fire in the sky. The air is odorous
with the breath Of lingering summer.
In the two figures on the verandah we recog-
nize Louis North and Barbara Vaughn.
There is something indescribably attractive
and fascinating about her tonight. Her robes
of muslin are very becoming. Her face shines
out Whitley from its frame of dusky braids.
One or two sweet peas droop from the brown
Of her hair, and another cluster is thrust into
her belt. North devours every little detail of
her dress with his greedy eyes.
| Barbara" he is saying, II owe you an apol.
ogy for the condition in which you found me
on the night of the fire"
| He pallscs an instant but she only bows, and
he goes on: What you thought of me | do
not know-I dare not ask. But may ask if |
have drifted entirely out of your lite:'
He knows that he has been something to her
Her face is turned from him, but he snatches
one white hand, and bends towards her saying,
| almost tiercely:
You do not answer me. You mustw
IL must:'
How royalty the dainty head lifted, and how
clear and scornful are the eyes that once droop.
| ed beneath his own!
Forgive me- Barbara, and answer me- |
love you. Forget the past, and let us always
be happy"
The girls dreamy gaze is fixed upon the old
gateway, with an expression of half regret for
the days that will never come back.
Through her brain there drifts the memory
of that night at the gate three years ago, and
she turns to him Il little sadly:
You deceived me once. ! cannot trust you
again"
Barbara Barbara! You know not what
! you say"
The same familiar voice, and he takes her
face between his warm, strong hands in the old
: fashion. He realizes now that his power over
her is gone, because she does not flush and
tremble, and drop her eyes with that shy, I'M
conscious smile as of yOre
You may repent this, Barbara" dropping
his face with a gesture of despair.
She turns to him and says quietly:
| Louis North, no man can deceive me twice
As for your condition Thursday night, you
owe an apology to yourself rather than to me.
| may cherish some little regard for the man
once knew, but it is not love. l think of him
as of one dead. You have no place in my re.
gard, and remember, when | say good bye
this time, it is without the least sh adow of pain
5 or regret"
'And this is my answer"
: 1T is"
Another moment and she is alone While
she fingers there in the shadows, u sound of
, voices falls on her ear, and presently she rccog
nizcs her brother Clarc's accents as he is say.
Ing:
e You'll find her on the front veranda, Grant
I'm going up the road Good night
= Good night" This last in IL very pleasant
5 manly voice, and Barbara turns 10 respond to
p his greeting.
I, \ man some five years the senior of North
A plain rugged face that has not Norths silkc,
J.! tcurls or flowing chestnut beard to beautify 1t
hut Il face that one would instinctivcly turn tC
II for help and guidance
+ Are You i'll, Barbara, or only scrious:" III
l. asked, noting her pale face.
~ little serious. | think, but | shall he bet
II ter nOw that You are here, for you always pu
me in good humor"
5 II am glad to hear you say So Barbara" N
says with sudden carnes,ness, as he lays hi
N hand over the slender one that lies on the VI
randa railing.
10 Her heart heats ~ ;rilc faster, and Gain
Is scarlet breaks over thc white Of her cheek
SC beneath his kind, stroisg eyes.
DC II care more for yoa than you think" il
H. continues. bre and respect you more thu.
any other wo-rsln living. | have seen ~" on
ic since my motIsr died vino SO completely rea
e, my idea of trRs woni;.uhOod rs you. 4 al
IL aware that yols might make II more briIlial
match. but consider that have right to hci
r. my fate from yanr lips"
III He smiles Il Iitic, but s,'tGrs almost Instant
c' for he is deeply IN earnest and his face grow
he pale while he nsuits her answer.
X Il can have aut one answer" mndin. Ia
head slightly b,f0rc him, and holding ous bo
us hands. II bcliesr in yoW-l can put my sr,
in YOU"
N, His warm ss;s,dy han,.s close firmly ov
nd hers. and he bewE to kiss the curving inrut
wravcly, tcndciSy, and respectfully.
do II il sp very uinrll unlike NOrtn'S 1er