The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-12-31

ulS eyer, uC CFCn SlullCS.
Florence, terrified, breaks into bitter
weeping.
"Come home, you little silly fool"
says ugly Darlington, not altogether
unkindly; and then he actually laughs
aloud, as he may who wins. But pres
emily, seeing how she sobs and trembles,
he goes nearer to her, and finally places
his arm round her.
But she shrinks from him.
al wonder you can bear to touch me-"
she says, shivering 81 suppose, after
this my best place is with my father"
"Your best place is with your .hus-
band" says George Darlington, if you
will only trust him."
90 George. that word trust undoes
me quite! How can you trust me"
IL would trust you with my life
nay. with far more, my honor-this very
moment" says Darlington simply, "in
spite of all that has come and gone. A
woman who found difficulty in run
ming away from her husband, without
first apprising him Of her intention.
can't have much the matter with her.
Let us forget tonight. 1t is known
but to that cur and you and ME; and
he, fancy, will be slow to speak of il"
"But you will think of it,"
"Not l.; or even if do, it will be only
to laud myself afresh for my clever
treatment of a grievous evil. l I'M
masked a villain just at the right mo-
ment, and before the necessary witness"
IF you had treated me differently
just at first-had shown me that you
loved NE"
"Nay, then I should have been a
clumsy fool, and have lost my game.
Now breathe the air of heaven with
renewed lungs, and hope again there is
still a chance to win your love-"
Hope, that some fool has called
the anchor of the soul,'" murmurs she,
copying the tone and words he had used
on the evening of their marriage to a
nicely. He smiles, and she smiles too,
because youth is warm within her, and
it is so hard to be always signing. Still,
the smile is followed by sigh.
But the ice being slightly broken, he
bends down to her. and kisses her
warmly.
"That is the first real kiss have ever
dared to give you" he says, his plain
face lighting up until it is nearly hand.
some. "Now l begin to WOO you in
earnest. And there is one thing, sweet
heart: let no sense of mistaken graft
tude, of revulsion of feeling, induce
you to fancy you love me until you
really do. Let me be your suitor for
the present"
She makes him no answer TO this.
They have regained the house now;
entering the hall, glow of warmth
smites on their hands and faces.
"At least tell me-" he says, looking
into her nervous eyes, that you find
it pleasanter returning to warm fire
than to be hurrying, on such night as
this, through sleet and snow
She shudders.
"What have You not saved me FRONT"
she says. She half puts out her hand.
as though to touch him, and then tim
idly draws it back again.
"Now, will have none Of that" he
says. in his masterful but tender FASH
ion taking her hand and laying it upon
his heart.
"There is one thing" she says, with
downcast lids. "Since our marriage,
though have not kissed you, have at
least kissed no one else." She bushes
excessively as she says this, but she
lifts her head and looks him very
fairly in the eyes. He draws his breath
quickly.
~ thank you for that" he says; and
then more lightly, LATTER all, believe
your liking for him was more fancy
than anything else"
"And obstinacy," confesses she, in
low, sweet tone. any father was so
averse to him; and besides, he used to
say sweet words to me when all the
world seemed unkind."
"And when I, who should have pro-
tected you, was silent and reserved.
The blame must rest with me, for was
the better man of the two" says Bar
rington boldly, land should have found
victory easy. After ALL" quantity,