Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-09-23

tears. but smiling lips. II have read
about such things as that. l under
stand quite. You would buy my pic
lures yourself, and give me for then
fabulous prices, out OF the gsOdnes:
and generosity of your heart. But
cannot let you indeed"
"You will not let me help you?"
"No-not in that way. You are a
great help to me in many Others. You
give me all my pretty iowers''-glanc.
ing round her room-''and your friend
ship, and your interest in all do. Do
these things"-sweetly- countp
And then your goodness to my poor,
poor Katel You do not know what
you have done for her in giving heI
mind food. You can hardly"-coming
nearer, and laying her hand upon his
arm, and raising softly to his great shy
you cannot guess how | love you for
| itr'
"WIth grim deliberation Sir Gerald
takes her hand from his arm and Im-
prisons it in both his own. His face
has grown very pale.
SIS that the exact truth, or a mere
figure of speech?" he asks quietly.
''Is what?"
"You say YOU love me-do your"
''One must love what is COED and
true and generous, ~ returns she brave
ly, trying to keep her hand from trem-
bling.
''That is not an answer. Do you love
meP"
She is silent
"No? Then l am to believe you think
me anything but good and truep"
"Oh, no, mol"
"Then you do love me. You will
marry me?"
At this she resolGtely releases the
hand he IS holding, and stands back
from him. Her lips are quivdring but
her eyes are steady.
''Do you forget? Are you mad2" she
says, in low tone. you are bound TO
marry in your OWL. rank
THAT is what mean to do. A wo-
man can be only lady, after al. ~
81 am hardly that, looking at it in
the light of your world. My father was
a merchant, my mother-a milliner.
You must understand dhowever"-draw-
ing herself up with sweet proud ges-
ture-'that | am not ashamed of her
for that. But-but others might be. F"
''If so, am not of those others"
$50 you think now; but after
wards"
''Our afterwards would always be as
now, if you love me as | love you. And
if you will only let me have my way"
THAT can never be-" returns she
sadly. NO; do not say another word.
| will not do you this wrong.''
"In refusing To marry me you do me
the deepest wrong Of all. But you will
not refuse''-holding out to her both
his hands in supplication.
Il shall indeed" returns she resolu-
tely. white to the lips.
''Does that mean. in other words,
that / am less than nothing to you!n
asks he sternly. Have all your pretty
wiles and looks and bushes had no
meaningp Speak, Esther! Confess the
truth at least"
But Esther will not confess.
81 don't believe it." says Sir Gerald
passionately 81 cannot, | will not.
There is truth in your eyes, or there is
truth in nothing. Bou will marry
meP"
~ shall not indeed" says the girl
recoiling from him with gesture he
misinterprets.
He releases her hand and steps back
from her; his face has changed.
Il flattered myself, it seems, lie says
with low discordant laugh. "What
fool have beenl And so''-looking
at her with miserable searching eyes
that try vainly to be scornful-''al this
time there has been some other man"
mo, there has been no other man."
1t is with little passionate effort she
says this; and there is a passionate re-
proach too in her gazs rs she turns it
upon him.
"How am too believe your If that
is true, bid me now remain"
~ cannot"
"You tell me deliberately to 70, IL
do shall never return"
"Even so-gor"
"You mean that, Esther2"
Yes" says the girl family, pointing
to the door. $50, goI"
"You shall be obeyea, of course"
The very anger and surprise and
grief seem all to have died away from
him now. He moves toward the door
and then comes back again, and, tax
ing her in his arms. presses his lips 10
hers for the first time. 1t is almost as
sacred as dying farewell.
81 shall never cross this threshold
again" he says. with an anguish in his
voice which amounts to solemnIty.
A moment afterwards she awakes to
the fact that she is indeed alone; and
herself upon sofa, she buries
her face in her hands,
1t seems to her that but an hour or
two have elapsed since that last miser-
able parting, though in reality the night
has worn itself away and is now fading
before coming morn, when her door is
again opened somewhat hurriedly.
Springlng to her feet, she sees a stran-
ger standing on the threshold, pale and
full of muttered evil.
'sMiss Horrocks," he says hoarseIy,
my brother, Sir Gerald Bonde. has
met with an accident. He is calling
for you necessarily. You will come to
himp The doctor says it is his only
chance = your presence, / mean. 1
hardly know what to say; but come to
him quickly, quicklyl"
A little cold hand seems to clasp her
heart. 1t is all over thenl He is dying
Alas, alas, those fatal last words of his,
81 shall never cross this threshold
again" In dull emotionless way she
dresses herself, and follows her guide
down the stairs and into the street and
The hansome outside.
A darkened room, one or two silent
figures, helpless form,
weak yet excited voice crying always,
''Esther, Estherl' A tall aristocratic
looking woman glances curiously to-
wards the doorway as Esther enters the
room; but the girl herself sees and hears
nothing but the stricken figure, the
plaintive cry.
am here-I have comei" she whis-
pers tremulously. falling upon her
Knees brside the bed and clasping the
)ne uninjured hand between both her
,wn. Her voice catches the wounded J
mans wandering attention. Again the
light of reason warns his eyes; great |
content, a greater gladness covers all |
III face.
"You-souIn he SAYS fesblT: but bis !