The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-07-04

IL CdttiAbA bE4T W ~tss y bi lH
troable."
ayes yes" Ash5urton hasten
ed to say, slowly and tesd.riy
unclasplng the warm plump
arms from around his neck,
"but | will never be able to re-
pay YOU kindness"
u want nothing but your love
and loving words, Ashburton,"
sighed poor Winifred. "You
don't know how | have hunger
ed for both"
AsLburton slipped his arm
around her waist, and with his
face bowed on hers, vowed to
love her as he loved no other
woman. At the time he may
iaye been sincere, for an hour
before his lie had looked so
desperate that no ray of hope
could penetrate the darkness.
Now, the gift of this loving, gen
erous woman had flooded his
life with sunshine and the home
he loved could be saved.
"But, Winifred, you must not
beggar yourself. 1t may be
years before | can return this
money"
81 will have the old home,
and the rents from my town
houses left" smiled Winifred,
shyly withdrawing from his EN-
circling arm; "quite sufficient
for my simple needs, cousin"
"May God forget me, if | for
get you, Winifred Deane," was
Ashburton Christie's solemn an
swcr, "for you have been that
best of all friends-a friend in
need"
And as Ashburton himself
drove Winifred back to Hawley
hope took a stronge hold on the
young girls heart, for she was
so blithe, gentle and tender that
she imagined that they would
one day share her loan together.
And for a few months Winifred
enjoyed her fools paradise.
Then, when the sharp edge be
gan to wear off Ashburton's graf
itude, the poor girl began to re-
rliZe her money was more at
tractive than herself. Ashbur-
ton grew careless at first, then
colder and colder, until the girls
heart ached with pain. They
were at Il fashionable summer
resort, and, day after day, Win
fired watched her handsome
cousin riding, driving, rowing
and flirting with lovely young
blonde, whom rumo9 said was
fabnlously wealthy. Winifred
grew restless and spent most OF
her lonely hours on the beach
watching the white capped
waves roll in with that never
ceasing murmurons sound that
seemed typical of her unrest.
One languid afternoon in the
beginning Of September, as she
sat on huge boulder, watching
the restless waves with her sad.
ly pathetic eyes, Ashburton saw
her and exclaimed, with more
warmth than usual:
81 have not seen you 70.
days"
Winifred looked up at him
He was so strong and 50 hand
some, his eyes were so bewitch
ingly bright and his smile sc
genial that she did not wonder
, all the women were SO fond o1
him. Handsome, rich and re
fined women, too-WOmen who
wore their wealth and beaut!
; with thesgrace she lacked, an(
her heart softened toward hin
as he held out his hand.
"You might spare poor me
, few moments each day, Ashbur
ton. You know lam not attrac
: tive in a fashionable crowd lik,
!. this; but [ have been a tru
friend to you," she said gently
"You have indeed" he assent
!, ed, stroking his blonde mus
2 tache, with all uneasy light il
, his blue eyes. For Ashburtol
| Christie lacked the mainsp-ini
3 of all real feeling-namelY
4 principle, for his good deed
z were oftener the resul: of im
pulse than any genuine desii
: to befri 3nd his fellows, and hi
:, rather shallow affections wer
/ not trustworthy. In tho fir;
e gush Of gratitude, for Winifre
0 Deans timely offer aud help, h
had made many mental resolve
l. to love winifred; for, with
l. mans intuition, lie had fathon
d ed the motive that prompte
the Cffer. Bnt gratitude softer
a ed into friendship, and frienf
It ship was fast drifting into tia
e feeling of indifference wit
b which he bad always regarde
n her. he looked at the lit,I
# plain face now, and wished thu
he could love her as she deset'
d ed to be loved. But one tire.
e, of Edith CouIter's blonde ha
Is was dearer to him than all tn
young girls blind devotion; y
re his voice had kindlier ring, /;
n- he laid his hand on the bowt
Y head, saying:
r. "WinifeTd, | will never forg
,e your kindness. / neglect you,
s. admit; but stu / never who'll