, 1875-02-20

never have thought of connecting his
( stay with herself. After an instant's in
/ decision she turned up the street in the
| other direction from where he stood. He
/ followed, keeping her SLOW movements
/ just in sight.
As to the rest, his ideas were rather
/ indefinite: to learn where she lodged, to
examine the strangers book, question
some scTyant-thst was what soated
vaguely through his mind. But his way
was sinplified: for as his unknown
/ beauty turned aside into a hotel court
she was met by young man, with whom
/ she exchanged some words, and in this
! blessed indiFi1 Ial Clarence Br 3ughgou
saw an old acquaintance of his Own.
" You here, Broughton?" said George
| Paulett, "a he shook his hand You
turn up Just in time to do penance with
me in the museum Awful bore, isn't il?
| But one doesn't dare leave the place
! without having been inside
! But Brougnton was in no mood to
occupy himself with the pleasures or
pains of museum. He turned the con
yersation to the subject of which his
| thoughts were full; but at tho first word
Pauletts face changed
oh" said ne, dryIy, so that's where
you are. If YOU take my advice, you'll
| be quit with one wasted morning, unless
YOU want to have your trouble for your
| pains"
" You mean come too late?" said
| Broughton, with pang of disappOint-
ment, the keenness of which surprised
| himself
"Imean- Look here, Broughton: you
might as well make love 10 one of those
stone women in the archway there
She wouldn't understand you, in the
first pace, Ind if she did The
| amount of it is, she's "A little iceberg
There isn't spark of fire in her whole
composition
An iceberg with those eyes?" said
Broughton.
You don't believe it now, of course;
had no idea you would; but you'll
come round all the same in the end. Only
try it." concluded Paulett, with short
laugh.
Only give me the chance" said
| Broughton, answering with another
laugh. Come, old fellow, don't take ii
SO az grand serte,lr pretty girl is worth
| a few shivers, and I'm not obliged to
stay and freeze longer than | like.
She may be as cold aS those stone
women, but she is long way better
worth looking at than any | have seen;
so if you don't unlock the door of the gal
| lery, why, | shall have to get in at the
window, that's all | don't stick at tri-
| fies, as you know"
Paulctt did know, and, besides had no
! preteXt for refusing; so Clarence BrOugh-
! ton had his own way, as usual, and made
| Margaret Fane's acquaintance.
He had made light of the matter TO
| Paulett, but it was not light matter to
| him for all that. He had been Swayed
by impulses enough in his life be
fore, but none that took such entire
possession of him His whole heart
was in the venture, and TO his i'm
peruous nature, which circumstances
had conspIrcd To spoil, the delay and
caution necessary to success were almost
intolerable. His wishes had never
brooked opposition, and it was late to
learn the lesson now.
Marguerite was such amystery 10 him!
Was she indeed SO cold2 But why, then,
that softness that lay in the depths OF
her dreamy eyes, that strange wisttul-
ness which hOvered about the Childlike
curves of her lips? They were not for
him, it was true: but if they were in her
soul might they not one day be for him
if he could only school himself to waltz
As for that, he could wait any length
of time, he thought, with such an end
IN sight: still, the words were trembling
! n 4 ~ nd : VI u
only the fear of running his own cause
that kept them back.
They were spoken at last. ltwas one
morning that he brought her handful
of mountain blossoms which he had
gathered at no little trouble and some
risk. But what did that matter if he
! could make her eyes look at him an in
stant with that look which flower,
picture. breath of music, could call in
| TO theme He had his reward, but the
| look faded again as she said:
! But, Mr. BrOughtOn, Lieut.. Won An
dernach said these flowers grew only on
! the WaSserberg, and that the ascent was
/ dangerous"
Lieut.. Won AndernaCh often talks
nonsense" answered Broughton lightly.
MdTGutEllt p'htN dt nm a LAioLil' III
| still and then with a sudden movement
dropped them into the rapid stream that
ran foaming through the raTine below.
THAT is very fattering," said Brough
ton, biting his lip. "Supposing had
risked my life it is pleasant to know
what value you set on it,"
What right have to your life?' said
Marguerite in low tone. Did you
| think | would take them at that price,
WHY note" he returned, coming and
| standing before her. Don't | know l am
nothing to you in comparison? Haven't
| | seen YOU look at those sensclcSS things
with a look | never could hope for
though | would sell myself ten times
over: Haven't | seen the tears in your
eyes"
He could see the tears in her eyes now
and they made him panse.
Marguerite" he said, bending down
and taking one OF her hands IN his,
have no right to speak to you so, | know,
but you try me beyond my strength
Since the day ! saw you | have had no
thought but you, and you are hardly con
scious of nv existence. You live IN
world of your own and see nothing and
care for nothing outside. II had gone
over the Wasserberg or were lying at the
bottom of that river | dare say
YOU would not remember 1t by
tomorrow; YOU would have the
mountains and the clouds TO look
at. and would not miss me:
You are so cold! Oh, Marguerite, am |
nothing to yous can l never be any
things"
u don't know" she said, vaguely.
Her face wore look of pain and per
plexity. but in the eyes she lifted for
moment there was something that was
/ like a revelation 10 him