The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-02-15

! light fell full on her upturned face ani
on her ruffied auburn hair.
! Jack" she said, TREMENDOUSLY.
| You are wet with snow. You art
| half frozen, child" 1 exclaimed, end
| taking her unresisting hand, led Ler te
the easy chair in front of the fire.
| She leaned back YEARLY.
I knelt down, unfastened her cloak
! pulled off the wet gloves and chafed the
| cold little hands in mine. Presently
with sigh she raised her eyes, while
faint tint Of color returned to her war
! face.
1t is for your sake, Jack" she said
/ but in tones so low and sweet the words
were scarcely audible.
What, dear: What have you done
! for my sake?" 1 asked, still kneeline
there and chatting soothingly the small
| fragile hands.
| All! this was the Edna l had once
! known, whom only to know had been to
| love. She was her own sweet self again.
| But-what did it mean:
| Il will tell YOU / came here now to
| tell you; for l knew you would keep yoal
| promise. Jack. 1 was quite sure you
would keep your promise. l went away
| on Tuesday. l am on my road back to
the Grange now, but walked here from
| the station 10 See-tO speak Win YOU
You have been away?"
Yes. Did YOU not know? But per-
haps you have not seen-Miss Hargreave
since Monday night?" she asked, CLEAN
Of gladness illuminating all her face.
Il did not know you had gone. l have
been very much engaged" l answered,
vaguely.
She drew one hand away, and, STOPPING,
picked up crumpled letter from the
! floor. That is my writing" she said, as
she smoothed it ont. How strange that
you should have been reading that-taat
-that-cruel letter now, tonight"
why so?"
-Because-oh, don't get up, Jack, l
love to have you kneellng there. 1t is
like the happy days of long ago. You
don't hate me, jack see it in your
eyes-although | behaved so badly to
you?"
Nothing could make me hate you, Ed
ma. But tell me, what is it you have been
doing for my sake?"
All, presently, but not this very mo-
ment. / want to make confession to
YOU first. II have always loved you
loved you better than my life. 1t was
your own father who made me write that
letter renouncing you. That was III your
prosperous days. But now-now all is
quite changed. We are both poor-both
dependent. We are equals. Tell me, tell
me that you love me still"
She leaned forward, looking into my
eyes. What she read there l can only
guess.
You do jack" she whispered, thus
forcing me 10 answer her.
God pity and forgive me-yes."
1t seemed to me in those few moments
that all moral sense must have forsaken
me.
My God" cried, starting away from
her minute later, Il am a villain"
~You-my Jack-a villain!" She
smiled, then rose and stood before me
mo, no, no. You are the dearest fellow
in the world. You tlirted with me Just a
little. Yes: Well, that is all over now
She will not mind a great deal, for
l think. dear, she was flirting, too. All,
she c. mot care for you as do, Jack. 1t
was because / wished to see YOU happy
that | made en- excuse and asked for two
days holiday and went to Leicester
shire. l wanted to be sure. in case YOU
really loved her, that she was worthy of
you; and Jack-believe me-she is not"
Hush, hush | cried, beside myself.
Il tell YOU / am villain-a base, dis
honorable man. / can't bear that YOU
should look at me with your sweet, true
eyes. | broke the promise that l made
yon. / have sold myself, body and soul
to mammomn
You have been hurried into some
thing" she asked, gently. Tell me,
Jack. Perhaps can help you. A woman S
vita loving woman's wit"
Hurried? II will cast the blame on
no one. \ man should be master of him
/ how Il
to pass on and TO vanity. Edna. ] am
TO lie married to George Hargreave to-
morrow"
] dared not look at her while speaking
the last few words, but when | had ended
knowing that she had not moved, |
raised my eyes and saw that her face grew
very white; presently she swayed, and
would, l feared, have fallen. Inv olun-
tarily put out my arm to save her, but
she recolled
Don't touch me, please she MUIR
INJURED, family. II shall be better
presently"
She caught hold of the mantel shelf
with one hand as though to steady her
eyes, and then once more looked up at me.
Oh, the tenderness and pity of that look.
must go now, she said sadly
Stay" l exclaimed; you said she is
not worthy. What did You mean"
She put on her hat and veil. Il ordered
carriage to take me to Langdale
GraAge, Will you please inquire if it is
ready"
Her apparent calmness astounded me-
VIII you answer my question trst?"
Il prefer to withdraw my words"
Good heavens. And / am TO marry
woman whom you-y0u-have called I'M
worthy. BY all you hold most sacred
by your love for me and mine for Won, =" |
cried III my passionate selishnesS, Il adj
jure You to tell me all You know"
She had moved toward the door while l
was speaking, and, laying her hand upon
the handle, opened it little way Then
looking at me with imploring eyes and a
face that told too plainly the torture she
endured;
Think what you will of me, q" she said.
Deem me most vile for saying what |
did. But, Jack oh, Jack, believe it was
untIue,"
She was gone before 1 could reply.
| fastened down the stairs after her,
and across the hall, and was just in time
to see her into the carria ye that was wait
ing. Then l held out my hand, but she
either did not or would not notice it.
Good by, said she simply.
turned and re- eni cred the house. In
DONG so L ran against DIR. Gascoi2ne
Anything wrong, Dudley" he asked, as
l stood for moment staring at him.
What the deuce Is that to you?" ex-
claimed, roughly. Il beg your pardon.
Doctor, I've got put out bit-thats all
Goodnight.
Half mad with conflicting emotions, I
rushed up to my room. and walked the floor
the whole of the iivelong night.
TO BE CONTINUED
(0lOEpli>tic Honor