Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-06-05

lutely forced j. back and steeled himself
for the coming ordeal
The flush again rose to her cheek. II
was impossible to mistake his meaning
For moment what he would have con
strued as almost happy look came
over her face: but it passed away
quickly, and her features grew hard and
set.
II hardly understand you,'' she said,
nervously; and he noticed that. despite
her efforts to remain composed. the
hand nearest him was trembling viO-
lentlv.
The dearest remembrance / shall
have when l leave Manchester will be
OF YOURSELF" he said. Il scar civ in
tended to make this avowal so soon,
Miss Maitland, but now that circum-
stances have led up to it, it would
simply be cowardice if did not speak
plainly. ! love you! know that this
is great presumption On my part, and
that l am not half worthy of YOU, but,
indeed. 1 couldn't help myself. 1t was
impossible to be in the same house with
you without loving YOU. Oh, my dar-
ling, if you only knew how much l love
you. how passionately, since l came
here, have hung upon every look and
every smile you have given me. surely
your heart would come out to me as
my heart has gone out to you! Will
You try to love me, Lily? Will you be
my wife?"
He had flung himself upon the ground
beside her as he spoke and had clasped
her hand in his. For moment she
permitted it to remain there unresist-
ingly, while her whole woman's nature
seemed to respond to his appeal; then,
with a sudden effort, she drew herself
away and rose to her feet.
''No, [ will net be your wife," she
said. with flashing eyes and quivering
mouth. 'Mr. Henniker, you came here
despising us poor Manchester people.
You thought we were half savages, de-
void of all cultivation and refinement.
From the height of your intellectual
superiority you looked down upon us
and ridiculed us. saw it in your man
ner, in your LOOKS. Among others you
thought fit to despise was my father,
one of the best, the noblest of men.
You scorned his speech and manners
because he did not happen to have been
so fortunate as yourself in receiving a
good education, but had worked his
way upwards by energy and industry
from comparatively low rank in life.
l saw quite clearly what was passing in
your mind. And do you suppose l
would marry such man? No--a
thousand times non
Henniker had grown very pale.
"Will you listen to me for moment,
Miss Maitland?'' he said very quietly as
she turned to leave the room.
''For what purpOse?' she asked, the
tone OF passionate indignation still
thrilling her voice. ''Do you fancy you
could alter my decision? Never! Even
the daughter of Manchester merchant
has some little respect for herself and
her relatives. am ashamed of the
man who is ashamed of my father. If
you would 60 down on your knees and
offer me all the riches the world con-
tains Il would not marry you! The
subject had better be dropped between
u.s.
In another minute she had swiftly,
but none too steadily. assembled the
stairs, and was lying on her bed, her
face pressed into the bed-clothes, Sob
bling as if her heart would break. Only
a woman after all!
Whit-Sunday that year was a glorious
day. All nature seemed at her bright
est.
Mr.. Maitland, Henniker and Lily
went to church. Coming back the mer-
chant joined friend, and Henniker
and Lily were perforce thrown to-
gether.
He had seen very little of her since
the affair of the previous evening.
When they had met she was shy and
In church he had once or
twice cast quiet glances at her-indeed,
his thoughts were far more occupied
with the pretty figure dressed in black
at his side than with the service; but
her eyes at such times were always
downcast, and her attention seemed
wholly riveted on hec prayer-book.
Henniker was terribly detected, and
he looked quite pale and haggard. He
felt that he could endure this torture no
longer. To be in the same house with
this girl whom he loved with al the
strength and ardency of particularly
strong nature, to feel the constant
charm and attraction of her presence,
to know that she was not nor ever
could be his, and to realize that it was
entirely through his own fault that he
mad missed winning her. was more than
he could bear. He would 90 away, but
before he went he would explain mat
5ers to her.
The walked alone in silence for some
distance. At length Henniker said,
with slight effort:
Il am sorry, Miss Maitland, that
should still stay to offend you by my
presence. Believe me, would willing
y have gone away last evening could l
nave done so-indeed, it is misery for
ne now to remain here. But. rs Mr..
Maitland expressly asked ME for Whit
Sunday, it seemed rude to run away on
he very eve of it; and indeed could
;hink of no excuse that would Justly
such course without Introducing your
lame into the matter"
Il hope you won't think of leaving
IN my account" she interrupted hur-
'iedly.
LAS this, however. is perhaps the last
ime | shall have the opportunity of
speaking to you alone" he went on,
noticing her remark, Il should
ike, if you will bear with me, to say a
word in answer to your charge of last
light. will speak frankly to you, Miss
Maitland. l did come down to Man
hester with the views you describe. and
was an ignorant man in doing so-far
more ignorant than the very people
whom despised. did not think your
ather well educated or we'll bred; but
zee now how wrong 1 was to Judge a