The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-07

i THOUSAND POUNDS.
A STORY BY PHILIP BOURKE MARsTON.
PART 1.


"a birthday gifta' he asked in a hard. con-
strained voice.
Yes, dear, of course. Now, mind. you are to
be good today"
Whose giftr he demanded in the same hard
tone of voice
My cousin Willis"
"Then you have no need of miner He took
them from her hand, and with no consideration
for Mrs. Bellwards faded but still much respected
brussels carpet, he set them beneath his heel,
while his brows really did contract and his face
grew darker and darker"
II am sorry you should be so petulant," she
said, drawing back, while smile, in which
scorn and pity were blended, grew round the
corners of her mouth
And the fan2" he asked, catching sight of it,
and speaking with rising infection of tone lis
that also a gift from the same liberal handP
Then with a sudden impulse she went to his
side, and putting her arms about his neck, said:
Dear, don't be cross! How can you misjudge
me soY Surely, it is natural that my own cousin,
VINO as boy was my playmate, should pay me
some attention on my birthday2
But the demon of a naturally violent temper
aggravated by insane jealousy, was reused in the
man, and he thrust her from him almost rough
ly. She drew back to the other side of the
room; there was dangerous light in her eyes, a
dangerous red spot on either cheek In the win
dow the unregarding bird shriled on, then
ceased, and Reginald spoke:
"Will you fling those flowers out of the win
dow, send that man back his gift. and swear to
see him never more7 Will you do this2"
mo, will not do it," and her voice was
firm.
You will not do that to please met"
Il will not do that to please you will be
your wife; / will not be your slave"
The man answered, swept away in storm of
rage: Then, by heaven, we part now and for
ever! l thought love might have tanned the frt
In you, but see my love is powerless to do that!
Marry you! and have my life rendered hell by
that long. lank sentimental brainless fool! I've
seen how he would look at you with those saw
ney, schoolgirl eyes of his when he thought
mine away" Here she interrupted him.
please vent your stream of abuse elsewhere!
You are growing offensive to me.'
Then that is because you love him! I've
seen how things have beer going! Had you re-
spected either of US"
There she interrupted him again.
/ "Wait must speak here! l know should
have said before what I am going to say now"
she went on, her voice softening as she con-
tinued. "Our engagement, Reginald, has not
been a happy ore, though there have been hours
in it which I shall always love TO remember.
There has hardly been man to whom l have
spoken of whom you have not been jealous, till
| about my cousin. You say l am f1irt, and
that you had hoped your love might tame MET
l firt, but hoped-and now see how
vainly-that tenderness and forbearance
might cure you of your jealousy. The last
time there was painful scene between us, be-
cause of it you were penitent, and swore it
should not happen again. thought you meant
your words-and see what has come of them!
Another woman might have concealed both OF
these gifts but could not respect man from
whom had to conceal things to win his favor;
and will marry no man whom cannot respect
You have said more than once before that IL was
better we should part. and when you pleaded for
forgiveness / forgave you; but the words you
have said to day take as final. Don't think
that misjudge you! believe in spite of your
words that you love still! and dear" here
her voice faltered, indeed / love you! / shall
love no one else But, as / have said. can
consent to be mans slave. You
would be always suspecting evil where
none existed, and the frequent repetition of such
scenes as we have had to-day would il time wear
out the strongest love; and love worn out might
even turn to hate! There are qualities in you,
attractions about you, infinitely dear to my
heart l shall pray for your success. There are
plenty of women meeker, less sensitive than my
self, whom you might make happy, and who in
have done! 1t is better to be lonely apart than
desperately miserable together Remember, it
was you who said that we should part-but do
not let us part in bitternessw
She moved towards him, but he turned from
her. saying bitterly
you could bear with my moods well enough
till this rich fool of cousin came back from his
travels"
"That is unworthy Of you," she said; but he
went on
IF you marry him, may you be as miserable
as would have made you happy"
There was a pause. Beauty in his cage ran
sacked his seed-tn for hemp. Reginald gazed
at the woman be loved with hot, bewildered
eyes; then he said brokenly:
GOOD bye-and good bye forever!"
And no more!' she asked, her voice trem-
bling.
mo more!" he answered, tearing his eyes
away from her. and moving to the door. He
opened it, and then turning back quickly, dashed
something violently on the table, The next mo-
ment not only the room door but the street door
closed upon him. He was gone indeed
Miss Bellward opened the small case he had
flung with such violence upon the table. and saw
there, reposing upon bed of white satin. a
cross to wear at the neck-a cross Of roses
carved in ivory. Aboutit was strip of paper on
which was written Roses to the Rose" She
knew that he was skillful in carving, and that
taken out of time that he could i'll afford to
spares and as she gazed the hot tears crowded
into her eyes, and her life to come looked gray
and empty as winter sea, without sail upon it
or gull above it. The birds song seemed to
lacerate her brain and she did what every wom-
an in trouble does; she went to her bedroom.
cast herself upon her bed, and cried as if her
heart would break.
It is q curious habit that women have of taking
their troubles at once to bed. 1t seems to be
their one and only resource. A woman takes
her trouble lying, while man, if he can, always
takes it walking. But take it how we may, that
| is a bitter hour when we seem to be closing to
open it never again. the thrilling book OF romance
| for, after all, youth means only the power to
enjoy romanticaly
THAT youths sweet-scented manuscript
, should close"
| Reginald strobe away through the glorious
May sunshine. 1t is what may be called the
trivialities of grief which makes the pathos of it.
The heart of the trouble is tragic and tragedy is
never pathetic
| As Reginald was storming on through the Lon
! don streets, toward tho quarter of the town In
which he had his rooms, he was encountered by
! a Bohemian acquaintance pipe in mouth-a