Connecticut western news., 1883-05-16
VOL. XII.

that I would have given anything to have been able to trust him.
 Within the sound of his musical voice some of my doubts did vanish and, knowing that he had to go away on the morrow, I had the grace to beguile his mother indoors, while he and Jet went down to the lake after water-lilies- at least that is what they said they were going for.
 "I can hardly realize that am going away tomorrow, he said, with an audible tremor in his voice. 'I wish there was no occasion for me to do so. I suppose it's an old story to you, Miss Georgette, to hear man say that he would like to spend his life ill your society,""
 "I have heard it before," she said slowly; "but l have not believed 1t always" 7"
 His face flushed for an instant, and he made sudden gesture, but he bit his lip 8 moment after and turned his head away.
 'You know that I love you," he said, in low tone. "When go away to- morrow, I will leave all my happiness behind me-"
 cone never knows when to believe you men," Georgette said with affected care lessness.
 1T suppose it doesn't make much diff ference whether you believe us or not" he answered in 8 piqued tone.
 "Excuse me" she said quickly, "but it makes all the difference in the world to me-more difference, infinitely more than it ever could make to another wo- man."
 "How?"
 She paused @ moment.
 "My position is so peculiar" she said presently. eff accepted in good faith any protestations that might be made to me, would be called upon to subject them to trying ordeal--a test of sin cerity perhaps stronger than they could bear"
 "You may"-
 "As for you, MT. Dearing," she inter rupted hastily, I know of old your gal lant speeches, so I do not take them for more than they are meant. But fancy my position if some day were to take man at his word and entangle him in matrimonial engagement Perhaps you did not know, MT. Dearing, that my un- cle only bequeathed his fortune to me. conditionally? If I marry an American it is to revert to distant cousin. My uncle was bent upon me having Ger man husband, and if I married for eigner was to forfeit my inheritance.
 Ralph Dearing had paled suddenly, and he caught at the branch of tall shrub as though he sought its support.
 "What very absurd proposition?" he exclaimed. "It is no wonder, Miss Schubert, that you have resisted the pleading of so many suitors. A fortune like yours is not to be thrown away for 8 passing fancy. I was not aware that you held it conditionally. If I were only German nobleman, now! But, alas am only poor barrister and 8 free-born American"
 He laughed but there was something in his voice that made Georgette's heart strings vibrate with pain.
 He did not know, and she would not have had him know, that her money would have been as nothing in the bal ance against his love had she only been sure of it.
 "Shall we go out on the lake ?" he asked, changing the subject so quickly that her heart gave despairing quiver.
 It was only her money, then, after all, that he had courted so assiduously.
 "No," she answered, shivering slight ly. "I think it is too damp this even ing. Besides, the lilies are closing. ] will get some in the morning."
 When they came into the house I saw by her face that something had hap pened.
 That night, after Ralph and his moth CT had gone, she came into my room and said simply: l l weighed him in the balance and found ] him wanting."
 Three days later she received lette, from Ralph Dearing, from which this is an extract
 "I love you with my whole heart Georgette but am neither foolish nol selfish enough to ask you to marry me when I know what you would sacrifice by so doing
 "At first I was afraid to ask you be cause I feared you might misconstru, my motives, and my love for you caused me to shrink from the imputation tha might have fallen upon me.
 "Then when learned that by marry ing me you wolud lose the fortune yol were born to enjoy, I saw how wrong would be for me to expect or ask it though that you would for one momen listen to my suit is nothing more thal presumption on my part"
 She gave me this with a sarcastic smile.
 "What does he mean about you losing your fortune?" I asked when had read it.
 "I told him that my uncles will wa made in my favor conditionally, and tha if I failed to marry German I woul forfeit my fortune"
 "You never told me that |! I crieG , "No? I never cared to speak of il l cannot bear to have questions of il terest and matrimony 50 closely COT
 nected."
 l F