The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-05-24

l am blown into the canal" he added
lightly, cor perish otherwise''--
Blu: have told you will not be
LETT here alone" she interrupted quick
~ and Indignantly. ut is your fault,
sir, in the first place, that this acct
dent has happened. If you had al.
lowed me to keep the reins We would
probably be safe at home by this
time; instead of which,"
She threw out her hands with ges-
ture that finished the sentence elo-
quently enough.
Eugene bit his lip. He blushed an
grily. but spoke with calmness.
MAY ask your reason for not
wishing to stay alone?" he asked
ironically, shat is, if there can be any
thing like reason connected with such
a whim."
II have told you that am utterly
powerless, and l am afraid"
10y ehosts.or perhaps mice! Which
Miss Hanford did not answer. She,
too, bit her lip, but it was to check
back her quickly rising tears.
IL am sorry you are so unreason.
able" he said quietly, 80 childishly
absurd. 1t places us both in very
ridiculous position.''
sand am sorry you are so u,1gen.
tlemanly, "she flashed out at him; $50
rude, so unbearably Impairment
l could expect no better! Nothing
good could come from any one who
bears your namel"
She ended in a passion of tears.
Mr.. Landt continued to look down
at her with a sort OF startled, shock.
ed expression. 1t was as if her deli
cate hand had struck him in the face
and he was powerless to return the
blow. He drew a deep breath and
walked away, after q moment, and
sat down as far from her as possible,
his face averted, his head leaning on
his hand.
Marian continued to sob convul-
s'vely. All the wrongs and sorrows
OF her fathers life came surging back
to her, All overwhelming tide; the
fiood-gates OF her heart seemed BURST
ing asunder before The pent-up Bit
terness of years. She was struggling
with all her might to regain calmness
but the very effort seemed to increase
the violence OF her emotion. AS for
Eugene-strong, hurt, wretched as
he was-he only longed, with strong
mans compassion, to sooth and
comfort his frank little enemy who
had so bitterly spoken her mind.
Eugene awoke with a SILVER; the
lamp had burned out, the fire was
almost dead, and-what was this?
Bey ond the window panes clear moon
light and a cloudless sky! Miss Han.
ford WAS still asleep in her chair, as
she had been for some time before
Eugene himself succumbed. The
wind had gone down, and now there
was nothing to prevent him taking
the road to New Church except
He lit a match and looked at his
watch. 1t was o'clock a. M. He
walked to the window and stared out
hopelessly. OF what avail was the
calm brightness of earth and sky? 1t
had come too late. What now could
turn aside this disgrace that had fall
len on an innocent young life. and for
which he perhaps had been to blame?
There was only one thing that could
be done. As he opened the door a lit.
tie way and looked into the night a
piercing wind swept by him, and the
sleeper on the chair stirred and wax
ened.
"Who is that?" was demanded
quickly. "Oh, oh! Mr.. Landt, is it
you? Where is thelight?"
lit has burned out, Miss Hanford.
We were both asleep"
"Oh!" she repeated, but now in a
tone OF relief. "And there isn't any
more OIL" She seemed to havo slept
away her anger and resentment. Her
voice sounded sweet and friendly.
But the storm is over. l am so
glad!"
"Glad?" Eugene said nothing. He
closed the door and came and kneeled
by the fire, blowing the. half.dead en-
bers into a flame, and laying on more
wood until the room was partly light
ed by the pleasant glow.
II think it would be a good idea to
watch from the window" she suggest.
ed cheerfully after while. 'Teams
are sure to pass, now. How late is it
ten O'Clock, eleven o'clock"
But when Eugene informed her, in q
constrained voice, she merely said,
lightly: "Well, it won't be long till
morning. especially if we 60 to sleep
again."
1t is perhaps needless to mention
there was no more sleep that
night for Mr.. Landt. When morn
ing dawned he was sitting looking
thoughtfully at Miss Hanford's pref
ty, dark head, which rested rather un-
comfortably on the desk beside her.
As the day grew really bright he rous.
ed her gently.
II am going now to bring wagon.
You will not mind being left alone?"
She lifted her bewildered face; then
as full consciousness came back, she
smiled and nodded.
Eyes, you can 90 now. Oh, how
strange we have been here-all night"
Eugene turned away quickly and be.
gan to put on his coat. Then he came
back and stood beside her, strangely
agitated.
Il am going to Dixon for a car.
riage," he said hurriedly, land Miss
Hartford, will bring minister with
me and a witness. It is impossible
for us to return to New Church until
we are married."
"What" said Marian, almost start
ing from her chair. "Married? You
and II"
1T must be so," he answered de-
cisively. II will never force my com.
partnership on you; you will be per-
fectly free. Listen to me"-he spoke
quite sternly-"the only way by which
you can save your reputation or re-