The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-12-19

bort Yves suave smi ing AM blanl. He
spoke of the interest he felt in the young
sculptor for his father. Mr.. Herbert's sake.
he admired some embryo designs, AM
wished and prophesiei SUGGEST Then, a
Gerald began to hope that Elgenia's brother
might some day be his friend, no turn l
upon him and tore him to pieces
"But, after all, Mr.. Laigl, my great OBJ
jet in calling concerns my sist'r"
GNrad grew very pale
'Sle is good girl. but weak. She has
con'esSe to me that some sort OF romantic
nonsense has passed between you
'She has vowed to be my wife-no more,
no less
His impetuosity seemed to amuse Herbert
- am afraid such thing is an impossible
ity,' he sell, serenely. Il shall not insult
you by telling you she is all out penniless--
peniuS,s, | know, never think OF money
but fear | lust pain you by saying she
rereats of her hasty words"
That" said Gerald slowly, yet fiercely,
sis lie
"My good sir, l cannot allow you to use
such words My temper is fair, hut it has
its limits
81 apologize" said Gerald, sullen'y 81
should have said you We're coarcing her"
"A never coercei any one III my life,
much less my sister. Naturally. shall OBJ
Jet to her marriage with you, but that
max $ no d ference"
Tell ne what you have to tell" said
Gerald, nervouSy. He hated and feared
this smooth, smiling man.
in few words, then. Ny sister is I'M
happy and unsettled For several DAYS she
has been trying to answer a letter you sent
her At last sac conf lei all to me. | am
sure am not go.ny too far wh'n / say she
would be glad to think that all boy and girl
promises between you were forgotten"
"She sent you to tell me this" asked Ger.
all. hoarsely.
"No. She Hnew / was coming. am
putting her thoughts in my own words"
a don't exnect you to understand what
| my love for your sister means-you could
not" said Gerald. "BuJ you know she has
vowed to be my wife,
"Yes-and will keep her promise if you
insist upon it," The emphasis Herbert laid
on insist made Gerald's heart sick
He said nothing, but with a strang, smile
| on his white face went to a tabls an
wrote a few words He handed the paper
to hi, visitor
Read" he said you say you are her
m IS senger, now you can be NINE The
worls wer2:
EUGENIA: If this is unanswered, / shall
believe tnat you wish to recall everything
that has passed between u.s.
"Thank you, sail Herbert This is all !
coull expec ~
" it'll trembling hands the sculptor pace
the paper IN an envelope AMI once more ten
dered il to He:Le.t {.
'>No, tn n yJu," sail II 'rbsrt people
have been tenn pied to suppress letters be-
fore now. Post 1t in the ordi lary way
G raid left the room. He returned in
few moments auI Herbert knsw that the
letter had been po,tei. He hal nothing
further to do with Gerald, so held out his
hand afrably.
NO" sad Gerald. II would rather
not" His eyes were cleaning strangely.
"As you will, sa d Herbert, with indiifer.
enca.
II will change my mini" said Gerald in
low voice, AMI taking the others hand
CONDEMNED people always shake hands
w. tn the hangman, think
He spoke with CHASTITY attempt at IN rth
Herbert left the studio without another
word but as he drove to Mrs. Cathcart's
sad to himself: THE sooner that beggar
shoots or hangs himself the better"
He went straight to his sister. He placed
his hand on her shoulder, AMI with a look
she had never yet seen on his face, said in
cold, conte nptuous manner:
"Eug,nia, | have been taking soma
trouble en- your behalf. To-day two things
are going to happen which will settle your
future Norga.e will be here presently to
ask YOU to b. his wif,. By the next mail
YOU will get Letter from that stonecutter.
Befors you answer it shut yourself up and
think until you are in proper frame OF
mind. Women are foors, but surely you
can't be the Liggest among them"
you have seen him" said Eugen,a,
family.
Yes. An extremely Mica y Dung man IN
his pace,
Was he wellF'
Very we'll and very comfortable. My
dear girl, he quite won my respect-a thor
oughly practical young man, with lots of
common sense. Now, goodbye. Don't make
any mis- AXE
Did she he lr Alright. Her brother found
Gerald thoroughly practical young mani
The lie was so gigantic that it seemed i'm
POSSIBLE it could be all lle Sne was re-
voiving i. in her mind even when Sir Ralph
No gate was announced.
As for the practical young man he had
grouni James H,rbert's words had i'm
pre- sei him, and perhaps bis faith in Ell
genia's faith was not so great as he ianC.ed |
Tomorrow ha would know the verdict. He |
telt sure thai if his letter remained unan-
swered fer twenty -four hours Jane, Her.
le, t had spoken the truth.
Mis-, Herbert found her bro,ber a true |
prophet. Sir Ra.ph Norgate offered his !
hand, and when the offer was re'usel tod |
her he did not mean to accept her answer
as final She did not, on her part, say any.
thing about her love being given else where |
Then GeralI's letter cam., and following her |
brothers ad vice, she did think ever, thing
over; she sat for hours trying to nerve her.
self to answer the letter as love and faith |
demanded.
She loved him. Had he been present Der
In decision would soon have vanished; hut,
as Il was, she c1ud reflect fully on what an |
answer to his letter must alienation |
Of all her friends-an end CT SOCIAL ambi-
tion--many years, if not a life. Of poverty |
Eugenia shuddered as she thought Of the
consequences AMI wishel that shs and Ger
AID had never met She wishei moreover