Thomas County cat., 1889-11-07
But LOVE Is MORE ARDENT THAN FIRE"

fort to me to know that you are so near.
dare say you will think me very silly. but I
nsver feel quite easy until Mr.. Lawrence
has stamped on that burning paper; my
dress is very fluffy and
'"Have no more uneasiness, said, truth
fully. Il. too, dislike that business and I
v.r,fstts your dress as carefully as if were
Nyour maid
Itared not say more nor speak in too ten
tder tone, for Lawrence had drawn near
{: and Suas scowling fercely at US. l fancied
THAT ne was not quite himself.
1'The second scene in our play was
hactncyed one. Lawrence, the unsuccess-
fnl suitor, fiourished before his lady's gaze
rehe will her father had made subsequent to
ithe Only one found at his death: the one he
Inad gust found resembling the old mans be-
xouesss of great wealth to his daughter, pro-
vsSied she marry Sir Harry Vaughn Naw-
rence).
1When 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 r:ghted
candle, and, waving them before her, cries:
$50 vanshes all proof that your father
weakly changed his mind! No one but you
and me knows that this will was ever made,
and rs these flames flicker and spread you
see your ease. and luxury, and comfort dis
-appear-disappear forever, unless you
marry me'
Then he throws the burning ends Of
The paper on the floor, and stamps on them,
crying:
"sNow, let US see what is before you !
Comfort with me or. starvation with your
ple6eian suitor.'
s'As the days had grown into months
had seen very plainly that Lawrence and
spoke our respective lines from our hearts.
l,,d Mile dEsterre, How Ionged to knowl
Lawrence was q fascinating fellow, Twas
not; he had fairly good social position,
and was supposed to have none; he had
q guod income besides his salary, had
nothing.
mo one in our company knew my his
tory, but viii tell you the gist Of it now.
Though was billed as Max Osmyn my law
fas zpnellation was Henry Osmyn Maxwell ;
yuy grandfather, who was very wealthy,
had announced his intention Of making me
Ihcir - most of his property, but after years
OF kindness and indulgence he cut me of
without shilling because / refused fatty
% marry tas granddaughter Of one Of his
scrouics, an old reprobate whom detested
''Of course, Lawrence did not know it,
aud the numberless ways in which the cad
tired 10 teach me my place, socially, were
very amusing. 1 scorned the fellow toe
l1,cch TO feel angered 1T him.
This night when Nile d'Esterre had con
fidcd her anxiety to me / was even more
Wa:chfui than before. / imagined tha,
Lawrence was unusually excited Il learned
z,fterwsrd that she really had rejected hin
IN earnest that afternoon) and threw muct
emphasis INTO his lines.
sSe braadished the burning papers in (,
wild manner and then cast them to the flool
An reckless way. Just what / feares
would happen some time now took place.
a breath of wind, caused. perhaps, by
Sudden movement of Nile. i Esterre's trall
ing robe, fiickcd enc of the papers close Il
her, the dying fame gave one last flicker
bent forward, and seized a diapharous fri
1oc louuce or something on her skirt, starte,
Sn.o new life, and was fain to clasp my dar
Ling in its fiery embrace.
aBut love is more ardent than FIRE. In a,
instant darted forward and crushed on
the fame with my hands.
SLaw, nee, who had not seen the fire
1hsusti was iDproyisine something