Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-01-11

He laid down his hat and stood on
tho hearthrug. looking at her silently.
Margaret perceived great change in
him. Her heart sank, with n dismal
foreboding of what was coming. She
was soft-hearted, and hated to hurt
or wound any creature. The idea of
having TO put so noble creature as this
TO mortal pain Of the supremest kind,
thrilled her with anguish, even in an
ticipation. She had never seen
him look as well as he did now.
with the air of resolution on his
face which warned her that he
had braced himself for struggle and
would not tamely yield. What Louis
Baldwin had said was too true. MALTA
barr had, indeed, been "hard hitn
Before he spoke one wild idea darted
into Margaret's mind. After all, her
instinct, as well as her judgment, told
her he was the best of these three men
who would each, within so short time,
have cared for her. and told her so-he
was noble, simple, true and high
hearted. After the glimpse she had
had of the hard and uncompromising
side of Louis nature. she feared him.
Could she not make up her mind to
stake her all on one throw, and say
Yes" 10 John Mallabarr? He would
take her as far away from Foulhaven as
she chose, and for as long as she chose,
and she, unless she went out of her
mind, or were n very bad woman. must
gain some affection for him in time.
"Horrid Speculationsr says Prudery;
"improper, nay, immodest!" You are
very praisewOrthy, dear Prudery, and
/ ar, .,x.s,1lar.N Frf.u1 a.. Il
who stand i'm need of your projections;
but you can not do away with the fact
that such horrid speculations do occur
daily to women who are both proper and
modest, and that they are very fire.
quently answered in the affirmative.
Before Margaret could give any kind Of
answer TO herself John Mallabarr had
taken up his parable. and she was forced
to give car TO his words.
"You will hardly believe that have
been in London nearly all this time. |
had great deal Of business To attend
10. Quite unconscious Of what was
taking place ut Foulhaven. i quietly re-
NAMED in town. came home the day
before yesterday. Yesterday afternoon
called upon Mrs. Lascelles. / asked
after you-where you were. She told
me-"
That she had been harboring an i'm
postor."
"fou an impostorl" he echoed scorn-
fully. That shows what false ideas
have been put into your head of your
own angelic goodness. She spoke of
YOU with enthusiasm and with the
.warmest affection. She said that until
YOU had gone they had had no idea to
what extent You had been the sunshine
OF their house; that you had gone home
because n friend of yours was going to
be married from your house; and also
forgive my speaking plainly, but so
much depends upon it-because she be-
lieved you had had quarrel with Louis
Baldwin, who had said something that
he had no right to say to you. She
told II me in confidence, because she
said she felt so sad and lonely, and
Louis had quite deserted them"
Mallaharr paused, and looked at her
with wistful earnestness. Before that
gaze Margaret could neither deny nor
equiyocate. She felt it was no time for
delicacy, for scruples, quibblings. She
answered him with forced composure:
''Alrs. Lascelles Was right. He said
things to me which would not allow
| any man to utter without resenting il.
could not remain in house where
was likely to see him often"
IL did not tell Mrs. Lascelles nv
purpose l saw she was distressed, and
i did not wish to distress her further.
She has not the least idea of what was
in my mind"
IL am glad of that" said Margaret,
beneath her breath.
81 said was sorry there had been a
quarrel. Perhaps, said, It would soon
be made up"
"Never." said Margaret, frowning.
"Then, said he, after a pause. and
speaking very quietly and gently, evil
you tell me, Margaret, If there will be
any chance for mel don't say now,
but ever?"
A pause. She $50 with pale face
and agitated breast, her hands clasped
before her. Then.she summoned up all
her resolution, and tried to look st hun
firmly rs she spoke the word: "Nol'
but the lookshe met shook her TO the very
soul. Hard hit was n small way IN
which TO express John Malabarr's
wound. But having once said It, ut
tered ''NOr' although in the softest of
tones, she chung to that monosyllable
as to her only hope.
Needless 10 follow out the scene in
detail. Before il was over, she was
crushed and heart-broken-more shat
tered. IL less desperate, than himself.
Nothing could ever be so terrible
again as this. IL was nothing short OF
torture to have to see his heart laid bare
before her-to have to realize the
strength OF the passion with which she
had inspired him-tO see his blanched
face--to hear his broken voice-to be-
hold TIE utter break down of everything.
of tirmness, pride, everything, In the
agony OF his pleading. II was no
boys quickly burning passion. IL was
the deep love of a deep nature. IL was,
as he said to her once during the inter-
view, "such love as one can only go
through once; two such passions in a
lifetime would kill n man" She still
maintained her "Nor' replying to no
arguments, answering no questions;
unable TO realize anything save that she
must refuse.
At last she rose from her sofa, on
which she had thrown herself, and
looked ut him, repeating the word for
the twentieth time beneath her breath.
and with gaze that was like an appeal
for mercy. No one ever appealed in
vain to John Mallabarr for fOrbearance
no woman, or child, that is. The
look did what her voice had been una
Bile TO accomplish. He stopped. looked
at her with his haggard eyes from his
white face. and said.
Perhaps am forgetting myself-I
don't quite know what am doing; but I
think-I must not say any more 10 YOU. "
With that, and without another syl-
able--without farewell look or vale
dictory word-he left the room, never
looking behind him. lizard hit" in
deed.
Margaret, putting her arms on the
mantel-p, zee, buried her face upon