The Appeal., 1889-10-26
BUT LOVE IS MORE ARDENT THAN FIRE"

fort to me to know that you are so near. I
dare say you will think me very silly, but
never feel quite easy until Mr.. Lawrence
has stamped on that burning paper; nv
dress is very fluffy and
'''Have no more uneasiness,' said, truth
fully. 4, too, dislike that business and
watch your dress as carefully as if were
your maid.'
l dared not say more nor speak in too ten
der tone, for Lawrence had drawn near
and was scowling fiercely at US. I far>cied
that he was not quite himself
''The second scene in our play was a
haclzncyed one. Lawrence, the unsuccess-
ful suitor, fouvished before his lady's gaze
the will her father had made subsequent to
the only one found at his death; the one he
had just found resembling the old mans be-
quest Of great wealth to his daughter, pro-
vided she marry Sir Harry Vaughn Law-
rence).
"When she firmly and for the third time
refuses to marry him or any one but Jack
Leslie (myselt) he tears the paper in his
rage, thrusts the two strips into lighted
candle, and, waving them before her, cries:
$50 vanishes all proof that your father
weakly changed his mind! No one but you
and me knows that this will was ever made,
and as these flames flicker and spread you
see your ease, and luxury, and comfort dis
appear-disappear forever, unless you
marry meP
''Then he throws the burning ends of
the paper on the floor, and stamps on them,
crying:
"'Now, let US see what is before you'll
Comfort with me or starvation with YOUR
plebeian suitor.'
GAS the days had grown into months
had seen very plainly that Lawrence and
spoke our respective lines from our hearts,
Did Nile d'Esterre? How longed to know2
Lawrence was fascinating fellow, Twas
not; he had fairly good social position.
and I was supposed to have none; he had
q good income besides his salary, had
nothing. -
mo one In our company knew my his
tory, but will tell you the gist of it now.
Though was billed as Max Osmyn my law
full appellation was Henry Osmyn Maxwell;
my grandfather, who was very wealthy,
had announced his intention of making me
heir to most of his property, but after years
of kindness and indulgence he cut me off
without shilling because refused fatty
to marry the granddaughter of one of his
cronies, an old reprobate whom detested.
"Of course, Lawrence did not know it,
and the numberless ways in which the cad
tried to teach me my place, socially, were
very amusing. I scorned the fellow too
much to feel angered at him.
This night when Mile. d'Esterre had con-
fded her anxiety to me was even more
watchful than before. imagined that
Lawrence was unusually excited (l learned
afterward that she really had rejected him
in earnest that afternoon) and threw much
emphasis into his lines.
"He brandished the burning papers in a
wild manner and then cast them to the floor
in a reckless way. just what I feared
would happen some time now took place.
"a breath Of wind, caused, perhaps, bya
sudden movement Of Mile. d'Esterre's trail
ing robe, hicked one of the papers close to
her; the dying fame gave one last flicker,
bent forward, and seized diaphanous frill
or flounce or something on her skirt, started
into new life, and was fain to clasp my dar.
ling in its fiery embrace.
sBut love is more ardent than fire. In an
instant I darted forward and crushed out
the fame with my hands.
Lawrence, who had not seen the fire,
thought ! was improvising something to