Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1890-05-03
'Don't 90, Mr.. Severn: let me tell You

Don go, sIr. severn: let me Iell you
Of an interview / havesiust had
She had started tosher feet. again and
stood IN the attitude she had assumed
little before, with her ,arms resting On
the chimney top. Dusk was coming On
and the room was Ia aspenumbra, save
for the freight These leaping flames
illuminated the face above them Such
a face. Arthur Severn felt dizzy for 4
III oment. He had never seen cher look
like that She had never flashed that
smile, that cyebeam, upon him. She had
never addressed him in that friendly,
jesting tone She wasssuddenly' all life,
all softness, all charm. She seemed to
wish to atone for her isullenness, her
arrogance What atwill o the.wisp she
was, Changeful as a witch
can interview1' said the young man
guardedly lie would not let himself 90
He kept tight rein on himself.
A'With Mr.. Revery; yes-fancy! l
have all at once comc'to the conclusion
that wish to be married, if am married
at all for myself. The heiress, Miss
Brockton. Will in short time have prac-
ticallv ceased to exist and there will re-
mann only Geraldine Brockton, with a
small income Well, told Mr. Revery
this. And would you believe it? He
did not propose to Geraldine Bruckton,
though moment before he had offered
his hand and heart to Miss Brockton, the
heiress,'
She was LAUGHING, now Her eyes con
tinued to flash upon him with that
strange, lambent persistence 1t was al
most like a challenge WHAT could she
mean2 Again Severn seemed to turn
dizzy He kept his outward composurc
By tremendous effort.
elf what you say is true, Miss Brock
ton, you will regret it. perhaps
Regret giving nearly al my fortune
to charitable Institutions All, you Judge
as the world Judges. do you2 | had
| thought differently of, you Mr. Severn.
| Why should | wish to be SO rnh2' she
| cried, with a sort of ferrcness. "Other
| women may be able to stand the test. |
could not 1t was making me hard, sus-
| picious II was making me doubt the
! whole world It was Sitting me. /
shall have enough left for all the decor
!, cies and comforts of life. And | am
free, Yes, am free now. Before /
was slave-a slave to ohattcrers, to for
| tune hunters, to every form Of human
hypocrisy. Other people may feel them
selves exalted by suck position. felt
myself dsgraded!'
She stopped. She almost seemed to
pant. The blood rushed to Severns
BRAIN He took a step forward. What
vas he about to do-what to say2 What
ever it might have been the PORTER was
drawn aside and Mrs. Gwynne came in.
The words remained unuttered on his
lips.
But Miss Brockton spoke. A strange
spirit appeared to possessher, urging her
on. goading her to abruptfdisclosures.
"Ah. Aunt Martha I wonder if you'll
be surprised, too, at my news | have
made an announcement which has stricken
two men dumb with astonishment al
ready And yet it does not seem so
strange, does it, Mr. Severn seems
scarcely to believe that have given away
aearlv all my fortune
ssWhat nonsense :" said Mrs Gynne
Severn had vanished
',You do say such extraordinary things
II times, declared Mrs. Gwynne. "Peo
pie will really believe, at length, that
sou are not quite right. Geraldine.
'sAunt Martial" Geraldine stood up
light before her You don't believe
ne, either L is true-trne. That was
WY | went 10 town to see the lawyer
,n,l-
Mrs. Gaynne had fallen into chair
.,What Then all l have.to say, Ger
,I,liua IS that yon are insane absolutely
insane VINO ever heard Of a girl giving
away Tier fortune before:'
.Per.laps not, but
.;N ~. vi r,rrat IN; :. -