The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-12-21

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very heroic, but then it was also decid-
edly indiscreet. It might have done on
the stage, but hardly here. had not
dollar, as she well knew; and yet this
inscrutable young female could not
only make love to me off hand, but could
talk Of her fortune whistled down tho
wind as If it were not ten cents in
stamps.
'sBut there is no danger of that, 4" she
added, carelessIy, '.for my amt could
not be angry with me week. She
would forget her disappointment--we
should both be equally dear to her.
Here was balm in Gilead; for the an
Gent Griffin, besides the Grove estate,
was repnted Every warm I looked
thoughtfully into the fire, and the words
fell upon my shocked modesty and sore
wonderment like soothing balsam. Rail-
road shares bank shares-corners in
Erie brown front ON the avenue--all
passed in rapid panorama between my
eyes and the glowing Goals. There was
a half relenting in my voice as / said,
Are you very sure Of that?r
Very sure. But what of that? He
whom | lovep-and the girl fixed her
eyes full upon mine with never blink
nor tremor-sshe whom / love would
value it all as trash. .
The deuce he would Then l little
knew myself. But the information just
given was sufficient, and began to see
daylight. | actually believe for the last
ten minutes had forgotten the very ex-
istence Of Bette Blythe. had not even
remembered the little shock to my pride
at finding out her duplicity--had lost
even my ire at Tom Jones perfidy. I
was doing little sum in mental arith-
metic. in which the White Mouse was
the exponent Of an unknown power of
farm. manor house and woodland
But / could not restrain my desire to
speak at least part of the truth. She
was leaning now upon the mantel, her
pale forehead resting upon her right
hand and her left hanging carelessly by
her side. took that left hand in my
own, not without twinge of conscience.
''You and have long been friends" I
said. I'VE are sympathetic, perhaps,
but we hardly know each other web
enough yet to speak surely of certain
things"
She withdrew her hand very gently.
why ret9' she asked.
Because it may be--that is'--fit was
horribly embarrassing to explain fare
you very sure that You love-a--t that you
know your own nindg'
'sAs sure as that / liver She spoke
earnestly and absently, but looked
straight into the fire and not at me.
"And you do--you think--that is you
haye-in your own mind you have reason
to trust that"
Had not certainty beyond trust
beyond reason she broke int had
been false to my sex to speak tonight to
you
Wonderful power of Lowell Wonderful
confdencesof passionl
But where in the deuce had ever given
her one reason to believe cared for herr
Once more the triple jury held hasty
session over me; once more was tn
umphantly acquitted.
ANNA" said--very gently now
perhaps your aunt would not forgive.
Would you be willing to sacrifice every
thing, to endure poverty even, for the
sake of your loves" The girl only looked
at me for answer, but that strange smile
fiickered once more around her lips.
ssAnd suppose you do another more than
justice suppose your. loss of fortune
should change feelings you now be-
lieve"---
''Neveriy she said. my love is toe
secure for that"
..sAnd would it override all obstacles7
Would it forgive recent rivalry and the
love that is even now scarcely driven
from the heart you would make your
OWN
Anna Bolton, the White Mouse, turned
short upon me. Something in my words
TRANSPORTED her. She was very Ply
thoness, and her eyes flashed fire as she
drew her slender height up before me.
ssSilence, sir" she cried. Perhaps
am rightly punished for forgetting was
still a maiden who should not speak.
When You spoke of money, you merely
! injured me. To intimate the possibility
of rival is insult! After all have said
to you, after all you know, it is bitter
insult, which / win not listen to-
And the young person swept ont of
the room. utterly ignoring the hand
stretched out to detain her.
looked stupidity into the fire.
And even as gazed the face that rose
before me was not Annals, but Bette
Blythe's.