The diamond drill., 1890-05-10
AARON BLAIR'S ATONENENT.
CHAPTER VIII.


don't see why you need call yourself
selfish and ungrateful and all the rest
OF H. Your father must always have
expected you 10 marry-he ~ould
have liked you 10 marry that fellow
Wedlake, would hep
."0h. yes, yes--I Notwithstanding
herself away from him. ''Bu. that
would not have been YOU"
"Of course not. But what diner
ence does that make 10 himP'
II don't know" faltered the girl.
''But he told me once, Owen, that. III
ever things so came about that / mar
rled you, he would never be able TO
see me any more"
- hat nonsenser' cried the young
man hotly; but in spite ofthe vigorous
disclaimer. he flushed little. being
only too con scious that he did not look
forward with any pleasure TO the idea
OF a relationship with Aaron Blair.
''He did not think II nonsenseln de-
clared Lily sadly, and then burst into
tea 5 again. hiding her face in her
hands. 'sOh, Owen. feel that ] am
selfish and cruel in all ways-I do in
deed! III marry you ] shall break
my fathers heart--he has never been
angry with me In my lifei And Lady
Elizabeth will quarrel with you; your
friends will not like me. and i shall
make you poor. know ought never
10 be your wife"
Owen kissed and 500 he'd her, ca
rcssing the golden head that lay so
readily on her breast. He had coaxed
her tears away. had almost made her
smile again. when she sprang out OF
his arms with little cry and he
turned around to find himself face To
face with Aaron Blair.
He did not advance, but stood
still where he had first stopped. just
within the door. while his tanned face
turned almost white. and his breath
came quickly from his broad chest; IL
seemed that he could not break the
silence. Lily still chung TO her lovers
hand had drawn his arm about
her again and she stood shrinking
timidly within It's clasp, away from
her father.
.'Mr. Blair said Owen, quickly and
earnestly, ''before you complain OF my
presence here, let me speak. II had
not met Lily rs | did just now.
should have gone down TO Upper
Datching to-day 10 ask her again 10 be
my wife. don't pretend that any
thing has changed since asked before.
Lady Elizabeth still OBJ. .ects. and, so
far as / know, always will; but
would rather give up dozen fortunes
than give up Lily. We never shall
give each other up, loving each other
as we do!n
He stopped; but still the man whom
he addressed did not speak - he
seemed tongue-tied He laid his hand
heavily upon his breast and kept IL
there, looking at. them still. Owen
hurried on
II shall 60 20 Lady Elizabeth today
aad tell her the truth. II she keeps
her threat and disinherlts me. she
must. ! shall be poor, OF course; but
Lily will not mind that--she says SOP"
"Does she say SOP Does she accept
your sacriiiccp Is she content 10
know your prospects In life will be
spoilt by herp" Lily turned dealhly
pale, and dropped her lovers hand.
recolling from him. ''Ts she willing
that you should quarrel with your best
friend-your second mothcr-for her
sake-willing TO know that you will
be a poor man through her? Is that
what you sayP Is IL what she says?"
"Oh, fa,her--oh fathers" Lily
moancd.
She uttered "A gnsping cry, trembled,
and stretched out her hands TO her
lover imploringly, She looked ready
TO faint. Owen caught her.
What are you DOING he said
fercely. ''Do you want 10 kill her?
Don't you see you are breaking her
hearth You pretend 10 love her. and
yet you can stab her like this! Haven't I
you eyesP Can't you see that she
loves me. and that II we had been kept
apart much longer she would have
diedp Rather than put aside your
dislike TO me you would see her pine
and die before your eyes, IL scemsl /
don't understand that kind OF love.
-
TIC etoppeu. Atlun blllr lhce
was hidden In his hands, and he
groaned. Raising his head for a mo-
ment, he showed face so lined. so
hagguid, so drawn and rigid. that he
seemed 10 have suddenly become n
very old man.
II must do IL" he sald-''I must do
it's
"Must do whatP" asked Owen
sharply.