The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-01-15

DeniaOn stopped me, and persuaded me-
to defer my departure until tomorrow
BY holding out the hope that I should
see You tonight"
His tranquil unrufiled manner, his
conven tionnl words might veil anything
or nothing. Fred felt; but to Constance
his eyes were sufficiently Ineligible in
their message when she met them. If
her own expressed anything, however,
it was the same careless Indifference
which filed her voice when she said,
putting her slender fingers into the
hand he extended, II am little sur
prised to see you. Fred told me this
afternoon that you had gone"
"A very natural conclusion ON the
part of Mr.. Osborne" said Mr.. Char
teris. looking at Fred with sort OF
amused expression. II made my
adieux at Monkston, expecting to leave !;
but since / was 80 unfortunate as not to
find you there, certainly could not
have been so neglectful as to leave Cis-
borough without seeing you, SO I de-
ferred my departure to later train, and
Miss Denison prevailed on me to post
pona it till tomorrow. Now may 1 beg
for dnncs?"
Again Fred, unknowingly, and cor
tainly Internationally, had served his
rivals interest we'll Were he not stand
ing by, it was probable that Constance
might have refused this request al
though 1t WAS ACCOM- panied by an en-
treating glance from eyes that we'll
knew how 70 sntreat (; but to refuse it
were to acknowledge that something
existed between Chartaris and herself
beyound the pale of conventional inter-
course.
Ehe hesitated an instant then rose,
not able to tell whether she regretted
most the nect ssity for SO doing, or
whether she WAC most glad that Iclrcum.
stances had forced upon her this List
task of loves bitter sweetness.
Half Oh hoMr latter the dance was
over. and Chaptaris opportunity had
come. In the duSky dimness of o sum-
mer night, at the remote end of tho
balcony, with fragrance and music filling
the ar, what litter place or more sug-
gestive surroundings could be found for
IL lovers passionate pleading? And his
pleading was very passionate, for every
thing united to make the thrill Of (Which
can never be mistaken Or simulateD
earnestness in his voice. 1t seemed to
him that the summer starlight never
shone upon fairer woman than she
who sat beside him, SO near that he saw
the trembling motion of her hand us
she listened.
For she did listen, and as Charters
grew more eloquent, more urgent, he
remembered that 1.-THE woman who lis
tens generally yields"
'Does lie wish this woman to yield to
his suit ?" mused Charters. At this
moment he certainly does.
All other considerations have faded
from his thoughts, forced into the back
ground by the strength Of q passion
which, whether or not destined to be
lasting, assuredly now deserves the
name Of love.
And Constance, conscious of the trait
or within the fortress OF her heart, felt
that the struggle was too great for her,
that the temptation was beyond her
power of resistance. Even the tails
man "honor seemed to have failed.
She sat and listened like one under
spell.
"You do not deny that you care for
me, said Charteris at last, eXultantly.
land what il not denied is partly owned.
Ny beloved will you not own it in
words? Will you not tell 1no dha1 L
have won your heart, and trust me that
l will find the means to claim it, and
this ?"
He took her hand as he uttered the
last word, and she did not withdraw it
but although it remained in his clasp,
it was not with the yielding softness
with which som. hands surrender them
selves but it was instinct, rs he felt,
with nervous energy, that, like cleo
tricity, thrilled the slight fingers to the
tips.
=" / should despise myself if / told
you that, said the girl vt last. "You
have no right to ask it Of me- You
should not press me in such manner
as this. II l am weak, if l imply q
great deal by merely listening, you
ought to be content with that You
ought to 60 and only ask the rest when
you can ask it with honor And if that
time never comes, why then"
"What then ?" he asked, as she
paused abruptly.
"Then," she said, gathering up Ter
control again by an effort, "do not
fancy that | shall break nv heart. 1t
may be we'll for both of us that time
and absence should test what we feel. 1
have suspicion that it may prove
only midsummer nights dream.
"a midsummer nights dream !" he
said. All, wait and see. But for the
pain Of leaving, l should be glad to be
tested, for then you might trust me
more than you do now. Now I am con-
sclous, very conscious, that you are
holding back, that you will not even
let yourself love me but if I come back
free"
Free with honor" she interrupted.
"Do you think I could be free other.
wiser" he asked, with touch OF
wounded pride. "You Judge me too
hardly because I could not prevent my
love for you bursting all bounds of con-
troll. You fail to realize the peculiar
circumstances Of my engagement"
II have just heard you dwell on them
all but it seems to me that if it is mere
ly family arrangement de conusnance,
you are none the loss bound in honor to
fulfil it."
Pardon me-" he answered. II
grant that am in degree bound in
honor to fulfil it; but surely you can
not think that am so much bound as
if my cousins affections were involved?
I c,1ra cbe, ,,<,v< e.. &l.-,,