Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-29

and perhaps years ago might have though
it would be something more; but since the
/ have grown up and grown wiser, and evel
if had loved you in the way you speak oi
would not have married you, because
am sure it would be bad for us both. W
have both that terrible curse in our blood
and ii there was not another man in tn
world would not marry you"
~ don't believe you would have said s
a month ago." Ronald Mervyn said, look
ing darkly at her. 'This Gulston has com
between us, that's what it is, and you can
not deny it."
"You are not behaving like gentleman
Ronald" the girl said quietly ''You hav
no right to say such things"
II have right to say anything, he burs
out s'You have fooled me and spoilt m,
life, but you shall regret it. You thinl
after all these years am to be thrown b,
like an old glove. No, by Heaven, yol
may throw me over, but swear you shal
never marry this sailor or any one else
whatever do to prevent it. You say
have the curse of the Carnes in my blood
You are right, and you shall have cause t.
regret it"
He leapt from the window, which Mar
garet had thrown open short time before
for the fire had overheated the room, rar
down to the stables, leapt on his horse, and
rode of at furious pace. Neither he mol
Margaret had noticed that moment before
man passed along the walk close under
the window. 1t was Lieutenant Gulston
He paused for moment as he heard hi:
name uttered in angry tones, opened the
hall door without ceremony, and hurried
toward that of the drawing room. Reginald
Carne was standing close to it, and it flashed
across Gulston's mind that he had been
listening. He turned his head at the sail.
or's quick step. "Don't 60 in there just al
present, Gulston, 1 fancy Margaret is hav.
ing quarrel with her cousin. They are
quiet now, we had best leave them alone
"He was using very strong language u
the sailor said, hotly. '1 caught word OF
two as passed the windows"
'It's family failing. I fancy he has
gone now. will 60 in and see. think it
were best for you to walk off for few min
utes, and then come back again. People
may quarrel with their relatives, you know,
but they don't often care for other people to
be behind the scenes"
"No; quite right" Gulston answered; ''the
fact is, for the moment I was fairly fright
ened by the violence of his tone, and really
feared that he was going to do something
violent. 1t was foolish, of course, and I
really beg your pardon. Yes, what you say
is quite right. fyou will allow me will
have the horse put in the trap again. got
out at the gate and walked across the gar
den, telling the man to take the horse
straight round to the stables; but / think I
had better 60 and come again another day.
After such scene as she has gone through,
Miss Carne will not care about having a
stranger here"
"No, don't think that would be best, "
Reginald Carne said. ''She would wonder
why you did not come, and would, likely
enough, hear from her maid that you had
been and gone away again; and might guess
you had heard something of the talking in
there. No, I think you had better do as I
sald-go away, and come again in few
minutes"
The lieutenant accordingly went out and
walked about the shrubbery for a short
time, and then returned. Miss Carne did
not appear at dinner, but sent down a mes
sage to say that she had so bad headache
that she found she would not be able to ap-
pear that evening.
Reginald Carne did not play the part of
host so we'll as usual. At times he was
gloomy and distracted, and then he reused
himself and talked rapidly. Lieutenant
Gulston thought that he was seriously dis
composed at the quarrel between his sister
and his cousin, and he determined at any
rate not to take the present occasion to carry
out the intention he had formed of telling
Reginald Carne that he was in love with
his sister and hoped that he would have no
objection to his telling her so, as he had
good income beside his pay as first lieuten-
ant. When the men had been sitting silently
for some time after wine was put on the
table, he said:
81 think. Carne, will not stop here to-
night. Your sister is evidently quite upset
with this affair, and no wonder. I shall
feel myself horribly de trop, and would
rather come again some other time, if you
will let me. II you will let your man put
horse in the trap I shall catch the 10
o'clock train comfortably"
'Perhaps that would be best, Gulston. I
am not very lively companion at the best
of times, and family quarrels are unpleas-
ant enough for stranger"
A iew minutes later Lieutenant Gplston
was or his way to the station. He had
much to think about on his way home. In
one respect he had every reason to be we'll
satisfied with what he had heard, as it had
left no doubt whatever in his mind that
Margaret Carne had refused the offer of her
cousin, and that the latter had believed that
he had been refused because she loved him,
said SO; still she could not have denied it,
turned upon him.
Then he was sorry that such quarrel had
taken place, as it would probably lead to a
breach between the two families He knew
Margaret was very fond OF her aunt and the
girls. Then the violence with which Ron
aid Mervyn had spoken had caused him q
deal of uneasiness; was it possible that
sane man would have gone on like that?
was still working? This was an unpleasant
thought, but that which followed was still
more anxious.
Certainly, from the tone of his voice, he
had believed that Ronald Mervyn was on
the point of using violence to Margaret, and
if the man was really not altogether right
in his head there was no saying what he
might do; as for himself, he laughed at the
threats that had been uttered against him.
Mad or sane, he had not the slightest fear
of Ronald Mervyn. But il, as was likely
enough, this mad-brained fellow tried to fix
a quarrel upon him in some public way, it
might be horribly unpleasant, so unpleasant
that he did not care to think of it. He con-
soled himself by hoping that when Mervyn's
first burst of passion had calmed down he
might look at the matter in more reason
able light, and see that at any rate he could
not bring aboat public quarrel without
Margaret's name being in some way drawn
into it; that her cousin could not wish,
however angry he might be with her.
1t was an unpleasant business. IF Mar
garet accepted him he would take her away
from all these associations. 1t was marvel
Gus that she was so bright and cheerful,
knowing this horrible story about the Span
ish woman, and that there was a taint in the