Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-12-30


for long time, now that he knows she
knows. and that after all she can tolerate
him. Nay, it is surely more than tolera-
toni
'.You are an angelo murmurs he in
turn. OH the rapture of this whispered
conversation! The knowledge that they
are-if not in body, at least in spirit
alone tBut it was my one offense. /
pray you to believe thati Afterward I
met you. And then-then it would have
been impossibler'
Her color pales slightly as she looks
into the loving eyes bent on hers. He
has put out his hand in his earnestness
and laid it upon hers-a strong hand,
slightly Drowned. as a man S should be,
and very handsome. Somehow the
strength of it appeals to her. Is its owner
like it-firm, resolute? He has, at all
/ events, been almost ObStinately persist
ent in his courtship, clinging to hope
when there was none to be seen any
where, and steadfastly adhering to the be-
lief that ''all things come TO him who
knows how to wait" He is waiting still,
though small chance of a reward seems
to he his.
There she says, rallying with an
effort, and compelling herself to meet his
gaze, you are pardOned, if pardon is
what you want
Il want more than that says Mr..
hdSSdreeHe, WHO, HdN1HS Sdlucu WndG
he had not dared to hope for half an hour
ago, now desires more. II want''--
''Of that another day. interrupts she
playfully. ''When will you learn to be
| wise, Gerald?''
when / merry you, my sweet Min
erva.'
THAT will be never, then, l greatly
doubt me-
''Still, there is doubt, you see.''
tai 10 fn iS n
! time.'
ITO talk to you could never be waste
of time
Not if you talk sensiby."
And sure what can be more sensible
! than to tell You that / love yOu?" says
the Irishman; ''unless it would he your
saying that you will take me for your
huSband!'
THAT would mean throwing up friends
and fortune
''Just so! Then do it, - says he.
What is to be done with man like
this? Aillicent signs. He is nearer vic
tory at this moment than he knows HIM
self to be. Miss Grey, glancing invOlun-
tarily at Grant,. and then back again at
him, mentally comes to the conclusion
! that any hope of happiness for her lies in
/ an immediate surrender of all ties that
! bind her to the former. But auntie, and
| Uncle Timothy, and the world in gen
! eral?
Dear Geraldl I wish you would not
speak to me like this she says softly.
'1You must know how useless it is. -
| Il never knew l had q nice name until
| | heard you say it, y says the irrepressible
| Gerald, taking no notice of the substance
| of her speech cit sounds like music.
| I'm awfully glad my mother christened
! me Gerald. -
| ''Why? Do you think could not pro-
nOunce any other name musica 'ly?" asks
she, laughing in spite of herself.
''That's right. L like to hear you laugh"
says he. '''They say in my country that
| when a woman smiles the battle is won.
| And sometimes l thinl1''--
''I will not listen to you," declares
Miss Grey, beating her foot impatiently
upon the carpet. sit is not kind-it is
not right. You forget I am engaged to
Capt. Boyle.
''Bahl He doesn't count at all, !" says
Massareene. 'You can't marry such
fellow as that"
''What have you to say against him?''
asks she eagerly Oh! if only some in
surmountable obstacle could be shown.
''Why, nothingr" says Massareene.
''Only he is such abe checks himself
Just in time-''such an uncomfortable
sort of fellow he concludes rather
lamely.
''Ten me, . says Miss Grey, in a very
low tone, ''you are q member of his club?
And have heard-that is, they say
he-gambles good deal Is this true?h
Mr.. Massareene grows crimson.
ooh! by Jove, you know! You can't
expect me to answer questions about
another man, and that man my rival"
he says. IL didn't expect You would
do that, you know"
''YOu won't tell me, then?' says she.
Il know nothing of his gambling. l
know nothing at all to his discredit, :" says
Massareene, slowly, his eyes on the
ground.
''Then you would let me marry him
to be made miserable-rather than sacri-
fee a certain sense of honor?'' asks she
sOrrowfully.
'4You shouldn't tempt me like this.''
exclaims he, with sudden touch of pas
sion 1.-The very knowledge that he is
your accepted lover-at least, your future
husband''-he makes his correction be-
cause of little deprecatory gesture on
her part-'and that I-even apart from
that facilitate him, cOmpe1S me to 81
lence. And-and even suppose he does
gamble bit heavily now and then, why
he may give that up when-when he is
married. says Massareene, stumbling
over the hateful sentence, and trying to
be as just to his rival as nature Will
permit him.
Il see,'' says Millicent She is silent
for quite two minutes-a long time when
one is waiting anXiously for the next
word. Il have heard she says, now
very seriously, ''that he plays for such
high stakes that he is often at his wits
end to know how to meet his debts of
honor-so-called. Hearing this has led
me to the belief that he is marrying me
more as means of gaining money to carry
on his play than from any higher mo-
tive
'sThere you wrong him. says Massa-
reene eagerly. He is no defaulter,
whatever else he may be- He lost a
tremendous sum to Black, of the Blues,
about two months ago; but he paid up
far sooner than Black ever expected.
And he has given an I o U to Burnaby
to pay him next month, and''- He
stops short. Lots of fellows play pretty
high before they settle down. he says,
a great generosity compelling him to say
an exculpatory word for the man who is,
perhaps, the only living thing he detests.
Il quite understand returns Mill
cent slowly. lit is very good of you; but
only what l expected. There is, how
ever, one thing that puzzles me-where
my cousin got the money to pay that ire
mendous sum TO Col, Black"
''You probably know more OF his pri-
vate concerns than do,' says Massareene
carelessly. He always appears to me to
have plenty of money. Enough of him,
however. There is something that con-
Germs me that ! would tell you. You
know my uncle Lord Bally1nore? Well,
last night he said he would allow me
$500 year in addition to my present
income which is five, you know, if-if
you would have me. He admres you
very much
''And hates Grant, good deal more!
know all about that old story, and do
not blame Lord Ballymore for his dislike
of my excellent cousin
''You don't think you could do it on
the eight hundred?' asks the young man
wistfully
Miss Grey's ears are well trained, and
now she hears step rproaching-oh!
so softly!
conc never thinks neutrality-suspicious. is
no time, - she says, in a clear, distinct
tone. Tea, Grant,? Thanks. No;
nothing else, thank you; unless, indeed,
it be one of those little waters that auntie
seems so NEARLY determined to keep all
m herself ;;