The Osceola times., 1881-09-03


Mr. StrettOn launched at her.
"it firsi thought, care say you will
consider my proposition premature; but
and he smiled observation-disclosures
things haye- happened. You cannot
possibly have failed TO know, Miss Feu-
ton, the admiration and respect with
which l have always regarded you.
You are equally aware that my daughter
looks TO YOU, upon you, next in affection
and dependence to her mother. My
sister leaves rnv house very shortly
Will you remain, as my wife, as Flossie's
mother2-fur you are the only woman
who will ever Gil thar position"
5luriel was sitting with the child in
her lap, end in her shock of amazement
she sunk back almost helplessly against
the cushions.
Strip t"
l. was all she could say. But the
thoughts that were crowding fast and
furious over her, were almost beyond
her endurance 10 contain.
Ole month widower-and propos-
ing marriage already.
D. Somehow she was Mortified out OF her
usual dislike for the man, perhaps by
bis very audacity, and, certainly, he
laid his case very plainly before her,
while, fir m sheer force of his masterful-
ness, he went quietly, yet resolutely, on
with certain touches Of passion that can
never, under any circumstances, fail
somehow TO impress woman.
1t seems unnecessary, SO far as am
concerned, to say-I love you, and yet
know | ought to tell you-not how
r,,.,,h hat xpa,,ll l.
only life,time Of devotion can prove
that. Butt love you want you for
my wife-you will not say me nav ?"
And then, Muriel put little Flossie
gently down, and then stood up before
him pale, trembling. disconcerted-hor
rified.
"Mr. Stretton, l cannot tell you how
awful this is to me. For your dead wife's
sake / will consider it unsaid; for this
cnild's sake, / will forgive it. But
cannot remain under your roof another
hour"
? For answer, he took Flossie's hand
and led her to the door, telling her to
run and play somewhere. Then he
turned the key. and walked back to
Muriel, standing still.
Miss Fenton, can understand your
intentions as well as though you had
spoken them TO me. You dislike and
despise me you have not the remotest
idea of marrying me you are in love
with a man whose name is Cyril Vernon
all the same, knowing all these un.
deniable facts, in the face Of all l have
asked you to. and l intend that you
shall marry me-"
A strange sensation of his power, her
helplessness crept vaguely, yet terrlfy-
ingly, over her"
Because" he went on, his voice
softening into tenderness and pity,
when | have told you, first, that al
ready gossiping public have spoken
of your stay here since my wife's DEATH
'pud that have it from indisputable ai-
thori;v that. on last "Wednesday. Nr
Vernon was married to Miss Gordon
| think you will be wise enough to at
least think of it, and discreetly decide
in my favor"
She walked weakly to the chair she
had previously vacated, and almost fell
upon it, crushed as nearly to death as a
were crushed. Not-and it hurt her to
realize it amidst all that tempest Of an
guish not 80 much that cruel gossip
had sullied her pure name, her consci-
entious duty-acts, as that Cryll was
married. Cyril false-her one hope and
happiness gone, to which she had clung
--n. - Ia .A-~ I~I uuyn vi tneee
past months
The room seemed to whirl round and
round, green darkness suddenly in
volved her. She saw Mr.. Stretton step
suddenly toward her as she felt herself
sliding suddenly of the chair, in such
deadly, dizzy faintness. And then
When the quiet-voiced, gentle-man>
nered nurse told her, three weeks after
ward, that it had been a hand-in-hand
struggle for life with her, Muriel was be-
wildered and amazed, and in the days
that followed, when remembrance and
realization asserted themselves, she
wondered why she bad not been left to
die.
Mr.. Streiton never came to her room,
but unfailingly, each morning, sent hi,
message and a bouquet OF rare flowers.
And as Muriel grew slowly back to
health. and Mr.. Stretton renewed his
resolute attentions, there were times
when her heart and courage failed her,
and through weakness of body and
brain, she let herself drift along with the
current Tat was too strong for her.
Until she was well enough to insist
upon being taken to her own little un.
homeike lodgings.
Aud then one evening, when Hubert
Sretton came and urged his suit in a
passionate, resolute way, that somehow
termed her, she said him yes, for very
despcration's sake, and agreed that
when he came week later. she would
he ready to 20 to him, only he must
give her the whole week, and not see
her once.
lie left her at 10 o'clock in the even
ing, and the instant the door closed on
him, she rushed to her room and lost not
an instant in dragging her clothes down
from the wardrobe, and Historically,
frantically plunging them in her trunks,
her cheeks alternately paline and flush
ing under the excitement.
"Only a week-only short week to
get as far as / can from him. where lie
fcan never, never find me. But vii le
not find me wherever go ? Am safe,
so long as tread the earth, from man
so desperately persistent as he ?"
By daylight she was ready, and while
Hubert Stretton was drinking his coffee
Ieisurely in dressing gown and slippers,
Murie and her luggage were at the sta
ton waiting-not for the express due in
three minutes, but for her fate.
But for Cyril Vernon, who stepped
out of a carriage as the long train
steamed in, a fair young girl on his arm,
with eyes like wood violets and hair
like spring sunshine.
He instantly saw Muriel, and walked
rapidly up to her, his eyes alight, his
hand sorna face flushed with DELIGHT