The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-07-13

Christian name uttered by Amy's lips had
caused him thrill of delight; now it only reused
disgust
"You do not seem so very pleased to see me
after our long separation" she continued, with
a hard little laugh.
"Oh, you're quito mistaken ~ reioined the
Curate with nervous haste 'I'm very pleased
very pleased indeed"
Amy drew up chair for him and asked him
to be seated.
"Now," she began, when she herself had
taken seat much nearer to him than he at all
appreciated, chow long do you think l have
been in Marlborough Wilfrid!"
81 do not know at all, " he answered. "Your
note this morning was the first intimation that
had of your presence here. l concluded from
that that you had only just come"
ooh, have been here for more than week"
she replied. "And during that time l have
heard such a lot about you, Wilfridm
"Indeed !" he said, darting an anxious glance
at her. "Well, 1 trust that you have heard
nothing to my disadvantage ?"
81 have heard" she reioned, with incisive
slowness, while she fixed her haggard eyes full
upon him, that you are-engaged to be mar
ried ~
"You have heard the TRUTH" he returned, try
| ing to speak with easy Indifference and failing
signally. "Have your congratulations ?"
She sprang from her seat and stood before
him with clenched hands, flashing eyes, and
heaving breast.
"My congratulations !" she cried. ''You sit
there and quietly ask me-me-whether you
have my congratulations ~
OF course she was acting. This righteous in
dignation could not be real, for he was bound to
the woman by no ties whatever, either moral or
legal as she must be very well aware. Still her
words showed the line of action which she in
tended to adopt, and made the unhappy Curate
turn several shades paler than before.
I'll do not see how my-my projected mar
riage affects you !" he stammered.
| "Don't you?" she retorted fercely. "It af-
| fects me very much indeed, and l have sum-
moned you hither to-day to request you to break
off your engagement with Miss Hardnge at
once!'
The audacity of this demand goaded him into
giving fairly emphatic refusal.
"You ask what is utterly unreasonable and
impossible" he said. ~ cannot and will not
| do it.'
"Will you not ?" she calculated threateningly.
~ think have that about me which will induce
you to reconsider your determination. How, l
ask you, would you like your lady-love to see
| these? ?"
AS she spoke she drew bundle of letters
from the bosom of her dress. But something
else, which she had not intended to produce,
came out with them. This was a strip of blue
paper, which fell close by the Curates feet
She made dash forward at it, but the Rever-
end Wilfrid was beforehand with her in picking
itup. glance st it showed him that it was
/ a1,o Hr.Y ID
he recognized with start, Charlie Deverill,s
signature at the foot of it. The suspicion which
his meeting with Deverll on the doorstep had
aroused returned, and he saw who was at the
bottom of this attempt to sever him from his
betrothed.
~ see you are not acting on your own ac-
COUNT he said, as he handed her the cheque.
"The reason for your demand is now explained
to me-"
She seemed trihe mortified at the discovery
which her clumsiness had occasioned, but soon
recovered her composure and said: "It matters
not on whose account am acting: if you refuse
to break off your engagement shall go and
show these letters to your betrothed." There
was vicious spite in her tones which added to
the alarm of the Reverend Wilfrid.
"But you do not see, he urged quickly, ''that
the breaking off of my engagement is the worst
that can happen? Can you suppose, then, that
l shall be so foolish as to do voluntarily what ii
is by no means certain you will be able to bring
about at all ?''
She laughed scornfully. every well, she said
"if that argument convinces you, pray be guided
by it! 1t does not matter to me. l merely
offer you the chance of terminating your en-
gagement without exposure and disgrace
for your own sake. Should you refuse it, it Ii
your lookout!'
This reply still further dismayed the Reverend
Wilfrd. He was of timid disposition In
deed, so much did he shrink from the prospect
of Isabel seeing those letters that, instead OF
boldly persisting in his refusal, he tried tc
temporize.
"Will you not give me time" he said uncer
tainly, sin which to consider my reply? ?r
"Non' she retorted with emphasis. 81 must
have your answer here and now If it is an ac
ceptance of my demand, shall then require
you to write letter to Miss Hardinge, termi
mating your engagement, on the spot. If it is
refusal-why, then we may consider our in
terview at an end, and l shall go and show your
lady-loye those letters to-day Which is it tc
be?n
From the uncompromising tone which Miss
Amy Shook adopted, it was evident that she
meant to force the game, but she calculated toe
much on the Reverend Wilfrid's timidity Fol
when, after a short hesitation, he gave her tc
understand that he finally refused her demand
she appeared astonished.
HYOu know the consequences 9p she nv