The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-25

| had taken Morgans money, should have
made myself party to his rascality. Ii the
temptation had been offered me, | hope
should have been man enough TO resist it !;
but am glad | was not given the opportu-
nifty"
But if you had not known that the
money was fraudulently come by-and it is
ouly the accident of my acquaintance with
the General that gave you the knowledge
then, surely, there would have been no rea-
son to refuse
at may sound Quixotic in me if say
that | would refuse answered Cuulifa,
land | am not speaking of the abstract
rights of the question, but only as it af-
fectS myself If You had seen what have
seen during these last few days you would
think as do. l have always felt that there
was q great deal in me that was like Nor
gan, and that, if our circumstances had
been reversed, | might have become very
much as he was. But even
as it is, it have done no
active and malicious mischief, | have
done no good. have had no aim but to be
as idle and comfortable as | could ] have
spent all my income on myself, and when |
lost it, instead of setting to work to get
some honest employment, l only sat down
and wished that something would turn up
to relieve me. Now that ] look back upon
it, can see that | was not very far from
becoming criminal then, and if Morgan
had come to me at that time aud proposed
some shady transaction or other, that was
not too openly and brazenly fagitious, be-
lieve | should have been in great danger of
striking hands with him. And if / had once
begun, know enough of myself TO know
that would not have stopped this side of
State priSoI."
you know yourself very little to think
such a thing" returned Kitty, the color
coming slowly to her face.
You have never felt criminal impulses,
and you cannot judge Of them / have
felt for some weeks past sensation as if,
somehow, crime were not far off from me,
aud that notion about which l spoke to
you, that was being logged by detectives,
was probably connected with it"
Kitty moved her head as if about to
speak, but on secoud thought seemed to
alter her purpose. Sue kept regarding
Cunliffe with troubled look.
"Such man as am cannot afford to run
any risks with his moral character" he
went on, land have made up my mind to
strike out new path while the influence of
this experience is still fresh upon me.
have sent in my resignation TO the club, and
tomorrow | am going to look for some
thing to do And | will find something,
too, if it's only to be janitor to an apart
ment-
Il do not say you ought to do nothing, -
Kitty observed in an abstracted tone, Il
dare say that some business that is suited to
you would make you happy, no matter
whether you actually needed the money 1t
brought you or not. But that is no reason
why you should refuse money that you had
not earned if it came to you. Suppose, for
instance, that Maxwell Golding could be
compelled to restore you the money you lost
in his stocks-woudn't you feel that you
had a right to that"
II don't want anything from Maxwell
Golding or anybody else,n returned Gun
life with a smile. 81 lost my money gamb-
ing, and Golding, even if he had known that
my money was among his winnings, had a
perfect right to keep it. Besides, Kitty, it
isn't money that | most care for-though
shouldn't blame you for thinking other
wise. In fact it is a good while since | be-
gan to care most for something else; and
yet, If this affair had not occurred, | doubt
If | should have had the courage and self
respect to acknowledge it to myself, or TO
speak Of it to you"
Something III the tone of his voice seemed
to startle Kitty, and al expression of min
gied incredulity and fear came into her
face. As his eyes met hers she put out one
hand as if to ward off a blow, .
You must hear it, Kitty he said, "for
this is The time to tell you l love you.n
He stood up before her aud said again: 81
love you, Kitty am all yours, heart and
soul Don't say you cant-you have not
tried-do try to love mel to have you my
wise! -Kitty, if there is anything a man
can do to win you let me know i'll / can
not hear you say no. love you-you are
heaven and earth to me, you are the only
want and passion of my hearth Say that
spoke too soon or that you haven't thought
Of it-that you must have time. but don't
tell me that you can never love meln be-.
She leaned back in her chair and pressed
Ter hands over her eyes
"Oh, Frank Frauk!n she said
at need not be now; only let it be to
come" he went on. II told you now be-
cause this is the beginning OF new life
am going to begin To he man; only want
you TO let me feel that, if | succeed, L may
hope to have you; whatever / become
would be worthless without you Just the
hope is all | ask. Can it not be! 1t must, be!n
81 am afraid! | am afraidm she muir
INJURED, still covering her face. 81 can't
can never tell your
"What can YOU not tell men he said,
kneeling on one knee beside her, and trying
to draw away her hands "You need not
Say-you needn't decide this moment
whether you care for me. L didn't expect
it, love; how could II Only say you may
say you will tryl ! will not ask you to be
my wife until can support you, Kitty, and
that may be long while yet"
Don't touch mel" she said, in low but
vehement tone. "Ler me alone-let me
Think don't know what TO do"