Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-01-14
CHAPTER XVII.

Meantime Millicent and Gerald Massa-
rcene are standing In the warm sunshine
In one corner of the tennis ground Mss
Grey, who had been playing. but has
now resigned her place and her racket to
another, Is looking nt her con p union
with an expression half wistful. ha.f mis-.
chicy"us--lNcrhaps wholly mutinous.
Time Is flying" says the youn. man
ar,lcntly. ''llavc you not come to de-
cisiun yet: II is almost the last hour
After Tomorrow there will bc M grace
left. lie returns then"
"Granii, Yes"
"You must choos. between mc and
him. Ynu know that, apd still y0u hest.
tate. When he returns it will give him
an advantage, because then he will again
have the world ON his sidc-his very
presence ,:i.cs him nn extra chance. IL
You could dccidc-if you could let me
speak before he comes"
III don't see how his presence or ab-
scncc can Influence the matter. There Is
Co ~" only one thing 10 lie considered
whether or not we can live happily when
quite poor"
at wouldn't DE quite" intcrposcs he
eagerly. There wonld bc the eight
hundred u :car."
There world he --starvntion"'
III y0a c.ioose 10 term II 70" says he
u little ham. ..lIiily, his Irish blood afame.
Sand rs yuu 81 ch00Ss, 4 Of course ,lc-
clarcS to me that You have nn,lc up your
mimi not 10 share It," lie ionks nj her
for little while with his head well
drawn up nnd his eyes full of aa ildig-
nant cntrraiy. Miss Grey, rrcc wing
this look point blank, knows that the
moment has come TO keep him ur lose
him Tor ever.
"You are so prccipitntc-so inpul.
sivc," r'ic says. with haste that Is snill-
cicnily well lrcd in 10 devoid Of the mp
pcarancc ~ hurry that really belongs To
IL. II understand the case rs well as
you do, petnlantly. ut is poverty with
ono nfnn, misery with the other. tine
has TO decide between thcm--and-one
does not like poycrtyr'
"DOes one prefer misery"
"N--O. suppose not" ThCa she
paiiscs aud locks her fingers together,
and then unlocks them. 1t IL misery
either way" she nays.
"Not u there Is love-" cnircats he
softly. "And-you will have &" make
mp your mini now"
"Yon mean that you will not wait To
receive my decision later ON asks she,
with a sudden swift glance from her
eyes.
"les, that Is what ] mcan," says
Nassarccnc.
IL is to lie now or never, then. She
realizes the situation at once. and n'lmircs
her true lOvcr little the more la that
she knows he will abide by his word,
an,l that " she now triilcs with him, he
will bc over the bOrlcr tomorrow ere
daylight shows the Land, and beyond all
rrcallin'. be- the Voice Of tho charmcr
never ~ sweet.
"ion mean, tool she says, temper
izing little.
Nothing Int that Make your choice
now. t0tlay, between me and him. To-
morrow there will be no choice left. II
you do not love me. that will matter not
nc all, Rnd ! shrll have had an escape
from One who merely used me as tcy
wherswith TO Pas the time. n you slc
love INC, II will matter ~ fnr That yor
will break all bonds aud defy all discom
fort In link your lot with mine" Ills
face IA very pale as he SAYS this. hut his
eyes nre light with resolution and his voice
Il firm. lie IA almost handsome as he
looks at her. with h. =iaIe" te'-i ~: &C.