The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-23

'ftttu! one bowed ncf neau upon her
hands; the great relief of tears was not
denied her. Swiftly her thoughts went
back to that last time he had held her
to his heart-tbat night, but few
weeks gone, and yet which seemed so
far away in the past--when he babe her
goodbye at the door of her aunt
house in Boston. Life with this girl
had thus far been quiet, happy, une-
ventful, without great shocks or calam-
tiles; its largest event had been the
love that Henry Crawford brought her.
1t was to her. life, hope, every thing;
she could fiot give it up!
80, my darling" she thought, 81
will not believe you dead! You must
come back; YOU will come back. -
As she sat there in silence, thinking
of him. she forgot for the time the very
existence of the man who sat opposite
her. 1t was out of no kindness to her
that he had refrained from telling her
outright that her lover was dead. He
had been governed by the fear that
such an announcement, coming from
him, would increase Helen's dislike of
himself, and increase the obstacles to
success with her. The exhibition of
her intense affection for Crawford,
which she tried not to conceal struck
thorns of anger to+his heart, and it was
with difficulty that he suppressed the
feeling. He determined to make an
other effort to win her, and tO.make it
then. She was one of the objects for
which his terrible crimes had been
cOmmltted-the lesser object of the
two in his eyes-yet he cOurted her
with the eagerness with which thor
oughly bad man will court a good
woman.
He had been talking while before
the sound of his voice penetrated the
abstraction of her thoughts. Gradu-
ally she became aware that he was re-
new;ng his proffer of love. From her
tender. devoted thought of Henry
Crawford, she was suddenly brought
ack to earth by hearing Louis Hunter
TUX of affection and marriage. For a
lew minutes she sat silent, speeches.
with indignation. She heard him say
lat fellow who could join the crowd
of vagabonds that Lopez had with
him, could not be much better than
they were. He had not much doubt
that he had been shot with Crittenden's
party; in any event, she would never
see him again. So now that her
thoughtless attachment for this adj
venturer had come to naught, would
she not consider the offer of the
speaker again? He could tell her what
he did not tell her befOre-what must
be a secret for while longer-that he
had become suddenly wealthy while in
Etba. After they were married he
would tell her all about it; at present
it was enough to assure her that he
owned fifty thousand dollars. So now
would she not marry him? She and
her mother needed a protector. Captain
Willis being away three-fourths of the
time; and he had already got his con-
f,ther real pleasure to find him mar
tied TO his daughter when he next re-
turned home.
Shocked. angry. trembling with
emotion, Helen rose from her seat.
"Mr. Hunter" she said, with quiet
1istinctness that assured him that he
was hearing his final sentence, "you
have insulted me as well as the man |
love Never presume to speak in this
way to me again; yon can please me
best by never addressing me again, on
any subject"
She went directly into her chamber
and closed the door. Hunter still sat
where she left him, when Mrs Willis
returned.
"Where is Helen?" she asked
He tossed his head angrily toward
der door. The mother at once suspect
sl the truth.
Il did not think, Mr. Hunter" she
;lid, THAT after what just said 10
you, you would intrude your attentions
On her again"
"Well, madam" he said, assuming
cheerfulness that he did not feel,
latter what your daughter has just
said to me, there's not the slightest
danger that shall ever repeat my Oh
fer. A man is not likely to make a
fool of himself three times with one
woman. But, tell you, as her moth
er, that Helen has thrown away such a
chance of fortune as she will not soon
get again"
Mrs. Willis looked with unconcealed
disgust upon Hunter. Her mind adj
verified to the stories she had heard of
his gaming.
You knew that my daughters
heart was engaged; it was not the part
of a gentleman to try to win it. AS for
wealth, the principles I have taught
her would forbid her sharing your ILL
gotten gains, even if she were wholly
flee"
An angry retort was on his tongue;
but prudence babe him repress it.
Mrs. Willis sat up stiffly, evidently
waiting for Hunter to take his leave.
But he had very different intentions.
He assumed pleasant smile and defer
entail manner and tone when he next
spoke.
Il should hope" he said, ''that no
unpleasantness may remain from what
has just occurred. hope so from a
selfish reason of my own, among
others. was hopeful that might be