Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-31
"CIRIS.'
n u. n 1o11M
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avery night and protect your aunt's property
with revolver in my hand II she'll engage
on her side, to leave me quarter OF 1t In her
will. shouldn't be in tho least surprised II
she had stored away good deal of money In
that box"
"Perhaps she has" answered Chris, laugh
ing; but I'm afraid she wouldn't leave any
Of It to you even II you did take upon your
self to mount guard over it"
"Well she can leave it to you if she likes;
that would be much the same thing, wouldn't
It? Will she bequeath her whole fortune to
you, do you suppose"
There was perhaps Just q shade too much
of eagerness in his tone. "Really, l don't
know" answered Chris, rather coldly, "and
really don't caro-. Do youS"
"Why, Of course I do" returned Val, who
could not quite conceal the irritation which
was naturally provoked by such silly speech.
eft would be ridiculous to pretend that
am absolutely Indifferent to money. Nobody
is although some people may fancy that it
sounds well to pretend they are"
IT assure you 1t Is quite the same thing to
me whether what say sounds well to you or
not" Chris declared. "I don't want Aunt
Rebecca's money, and even II get it, it won't
follow as q matter Of course that it will come
into your possession. You seem to forget
that"
cam I engaged to you, Chris, or am I notT
You will admit that I am at least entitled to
know what my position ISL"
"When you first asked me to marry you"
answered Chris, you said that the engage
ment was TO be binding upon you, but not
upon me-"
"r believe I did say something of the sort ;
bat certain events have taken place since that
time, you know"
"Then," cried Chris, with flashing eyes,
tiny cousin James was right, and you are
really base enough to threaten mel Well, I
am glad that we understand one another. You
may say exactly what you please, Mr.. Rich
ardson; you may tell everybody tho truth
about our meeting In Paris, or you may tell
what Is net the truth, but what most people, I
dare say, will believe. Only you won't be able
to tell anybody that We are engaged to be
married after this
There was long pause, followed, as was to
be expected, by = surrender on Walls part
| He said:
"You are rather unkind and rather unjust,
think. neither threatened you nor thought
| Of threatening you; but certainly under
| stood your cousin to consent to an engage
ment between as which should be as binding
upon both sides as engagements ever are. OF
| course you are at liberty to throw me over II
| you pl ease, and whether you do 80 or not
shall hold my tongue. No one will ever hear
from me Of your having been In Paris. Yon
knew worry well that told you loved you,
and asked you to marry me before had
| heard q word about your aunt and her money.
| am not going to say that care nothing for
| her mohey, because that would be both un.
truthful and absurd"
Chris was appeased and q little ashamed.
"I an sorry spoke as did. Val" said she.
with sigh; "but 1 can't help wishing some-
times that we were not engaged. If only you
were my brother or my cousin shouldn't a
bit mind your wanting me to be rich, and
should ask nothing better than to give you
tho half Of my money when ! get 1t; but as II
is, ] don't like to think Of your counting upon
me, beOause don't feel az II could ever
marry you"
"I must take my Chance" answered thu
young man. "ff you decide against me when
the time comes shall not complain, you MAY
be sure. Although I might perhaps think
that IL you intended TO refuse me all along II
would have been simpler and moro consider
ate to do itat first"
Chris felt the full force of this ap.
peal to her generosity. There would, nc
doubt, be something rather shabby aoou!!
ultimately retecting man whom she had
only accepted because o cautious lawyer had
warned her that things might be made very
uncomfortable for her II she didn't and his
promise to abstain from using the power
which he possessed was of course an add.
uonal claim upon her.
"I viii II can," she said at length; "but
/ II i cant you UubL Try 70 IOEBlN0 me- val
After all, you wouldn't wish to have wife
who didn't love your"
It is probable that MI. Richardson could
have found it in his heart to put up with thai
disadvantage, provided that certain compen
sations were offered to him but he only
answered. 81 don't want to worry you, Chris
As say, I'll take my chance and bide my
time. Always supposins, that is, that don
have to bolt out Of tho country before tht
} time comes. Unless the luck turns 1 shall
pretty soon reach the end Of my tether."
"Why do you 60 on betting, Val2" asked
! Chris, sorrowfully.
because can't help it, my dear. Their
are countries, as you may have heard
which have negotiated enormous loans, anC
which keep on starting others in order to pa,
the interest upon the earlier ones. It's cas-!
enough TO demonstrate that such policy i
suicidal; but the answer Is that Reputation
| would be more suicidal still. Sooner or late
, I've got to settle like other people, and tn
! only way In which can find the money is t.
back winners. So I must go on trying u
| spot winners"
II wish could help you," sighed Chris
meditatively. "Do you want great deal o
money, Val?"
at depends upon what you call q grea
deal. A couple Of hundred would be useful
five hundred would be more useful still
thousand would about set me on my legs"
Chris made gesture OF despair. "Ah
then it's ne use thinking about Ill" she OF
, claimed. Haven't you tried to get any EN-
e ploymentP"
He shrugged his shoulders. "oh, Nv
I made inquiries, but lucrative engagement
4 are not to be had for the asking. dare sa
shall pull through; and If don't pu
i through-weli, 1t won't much matter to any
body except myself, will ttT"
There was just enough Of truth in this las
Il -. .I,.F 1I,-l. lob I.
heart that she could care for that handsom
young reprobate little more than she did.
CHAPTER XIV.
= Chris let fan great many tears upon tn