The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1890-12-20

strange tnolocou0o through the onrk'
Whipped mp IL her desirS for . useful
and worthy career. she had always
shown herself suprsmely ind16eroni
both 10 her own severe. Utana-like
young beauty and to any emotion Il
might arouse In the men with whom she
came In contact. For this man her
usual indifference had become Accen-
tuated into latent and irritating sense
Of agonism. All the summer. though
he had never shown any pursuit Of her
that could DO construed into deliberate
courtship. she had been conscious Of u
silent attention on his part. always
centered on herself. She had resented
Il tacitly. at times with an underlined
nervousness which filled her with anger
against herself. She was fred with a
constant wish to tell him how very
poor was tho opinion she had Of him.
Now. as no stood regarding her with
folded arms. these Indefinite feelings
rolled up within her with complex
force that broke ut last In articulate
words. II only he would not stare so
how thankful she would be!
Il don't know quite what you mean"
she rejoined. tersely and coldly. upon
his last speech. mo one could make
this predicament itself anything but
unwelcome. 1t Is not n question Of
personal taste or distaste."
He laughed little. shortly.
'.Ah! you are begging the question.
Hiss Redwood"
She flushed haugbtily.
Il never do that. II you must know
will know.--the truth. l have no re-
spect for your views of lifc--no. And
I Judge man by his life." announced
this uncompromising young medical
stud0nt.
"You are scvcrev'
Il don't think I am unjustly So"
Her large eyes flashed upon him in the
deepening darkness with indignant
Iearlessness. Il simply have no re-
spect for men who live In luxurious
Incidence on this toiling. writhing
earth. where countless millions work
aud suffer! Still less for men who cul-
,iyate tho reputation Of Don Jnans and
Lovolaccs."
A silence fell between them. Ham
n,ond could no longer distinguish
clearly the features of her face. The
rain had cooled tho air. and with the
advent Of night certain chilliness had
crept into the bare. high-perched tower
room. Now and again soughing
gust OF wind circled the massive stone
walls about them and died away in q
murmur of trees. At the foot of the
tower Viryinia's mastiff barked shortly
and insistently.
Poor Don!" murmured the girl.
softly.
She had seemingly almost forgotten
the man across the room. But she
started n little. impcrceptibly, when
he spoke again. His face was quite
shrouded from her now. and she could
but Just discern tho outlines of his
figure; but she was conscious of tone
in his voice that had never been there
before.
However scant your own respect
may be for man whom you think Of
as glorying in the final two epithets
you have used. can prove to you that
such man is capable OF greater re-
spect for good woman. on his side.
than you seem willing to credit. I had
not intended saying anything to you
now. But before we were liberated
from this mouse-trap tomorrow 1t was
my determination to offer you my
name and hnnd--to ask you to be my
Wife"
.And would have refused both gift
and request" answered the girl. slowly
and distinctly. II refuse now. l am
not so afraid of what the world may
say. My life lines are to lie so far
from the scandalous gossips of so-called
society that can afford to he very in
different to any unjust blight that may
be cast upon my name by reason Of
this miserable accident. As man of
honor you might offer tc marry me
snch are the artificial codes of the thing
we call social life. But /. as u woman
Of honor, can marry no man In what
ever unfortunate position may have
been placed who does not love me and
whom / do not love in return" Her
voice trembled.
"And who tells you that ! do not
love youp" asked Hammond. in CON-
pressed accents. She felt him draw
step nearer In the darkness. That I
should speak now Is what never
thought, never desired. But since one
word has been uttered the entire truth
may rs we'll follow. / love you. /
have loved you exclusively, devotedly.
Observation-Disclosures the first day saw
you. You have avoided me. heaped
contempt upon me. have but loved
you the more. You are the one love Of
my life. have wanted no other
woman for my wife. want you.
You may treat me as you will now.
The day will come when you will
when you must-love me. 1 tell you
that--here-thi moment. And there
will come time when you will re-
member my words. am man who
Is not afraid Of the truth. When that
door crashed to. and realised the posi-
ton In which you were unavoidably
placed. I said to myself that this might
be my opportunity-that you might
now be shown what was In my heart.
and might consent to marry me. Was
this wronsP Will you judge me AS
harshly for this rs for NIL my other sup
positions mislemcanorsp Love such
US mine for you makes its own law.
Do you not realise thatp / may have
tasted too many of the bitter-swect
fruits of life. but have never been u
base man nor dissipated one. And
now want to be better one than
have been; to lead more useful, a
Il