Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-20
both ungentlemanly and unkind."


both ungentlemanly and unkind."
She was silent for a moment, a hush
seemed to hover over her, whether from
anger or excess of emotion he could not
tell
Il agree with you," she said con-
cisely.
ot very encouraging remark, and
b, lit it, but was determined to have
done with suspense.
II wish to recall what said" he went
on hurriedly. "I1l say you have the
most beautiful hair in the world; for
you have, Berry. I'll say you're an
angel, and I'll say and do anything you
desire for the rest of my natural life if
you'll only forgive me, and-be my
wife"
81 am not an angel" she answered.
"And if you are worthy to be the hus-
band of an angel you are too good for
me-"
She spoke in a cold, hard, unnatural
tone of voice, but Fred was too much
excited to notice it.
"f you will only love me, dear, I'll
try to be worthy of you," he said gently
Her lips were growing unsteady, and
she set her teeth hard together.
Don't make the attempt" she said at
last. "It would be impossible for me to
learn to love you" And she swept into
the house.
Fred began to walk the terrace hur-
riedly.
81 don't understand these women" he
said, as thousands of men have said be-
fore him and thousands more will say
after him.
A few moments later Nora came run
ming out.
"Whats the matter, Fred?" she asked.
"Here you are looking like thunder
cloud, and Berry is in her room crying
as though her heart would break, and l
can't find out what afflicts her."
Berry crying?" echoed Fred in aston
ishment.
Eyes, indeed. Have you been quar-
reling?"
Fred was unable to speak from amaze
ment, and Nora began to suspect the
truth.
81 don't see how it is with you two,"
she continued. 81 know you love each
other, and yet you never agree upon any
subject"
Leaving Fred to ponder on her words
she went into the hotel to try and COM
fort Berry, and she succeeded so well
that before many minutes had elapsed
the two girls came out together. Berry
was anxious to show Fred how indiffer-
ent she was, and the starlight told no
tales about the evidences of tears
"Come, Fred" said Nora, "don't sit
musing by yourself; it's awfully dull
this evening""
So she gradually drew them into con-
versation, and then withdrew to the op-
posite end of the terrace, making an ex-
cuse to listen to some singing in the ad-
jacent rooms; and Fred, without losing
a moment of time, began the conversa-
ton where it left off before.
Berry" he said softly, "cannot you
see how wretched l am? Do forgive
mev he entreated.
"Hush!" she exclaimed, under her
breath. Mora will hear what you are
saying'-her heart all in a futter.
whatever you may think of what j
have done and said," he continued, drop
ping his voice little for her sake, Il
love you dearly-dearly. And"-here
little strategy crept init almost drives
me wild to know you dislike me so
much"
"I-I didn't say disliked you'll" And
she seemed so troubled. Fred drew
nearer and passed his hand caressingly
over her flowing hair.
'But know you do!'-still clinging
to artifce. since it's use resulted favor
ably-'1 know by your manner. You
call me Mr.. Lewis, instead of Fred and
you torment me without the slightest
compunction. You swept your hair in
my eyes yesterday and almost blinded
them. They pain me yet sometimes"
This last was an awful story and only
told for effect, but he managed to look
so miserable that, woman like, she be-
heved every word.
"Tm sorry gave you so much pain,
Mr.-Fred," she said, in a contrite little
whisper.
His heart gave a bound. He leaned
closer, very much in earnest now.
''Take pity on me, DEAR" he said, ex-
tending his hand.
She still hesitated, half afraid. Nora
came quickly forward, and seizing
Berry's little hand she placed it in Fred's
eager palm, and then left them together.
"She heard us" gasped Berry, droop-
ing her head until her face was hidden
| bv the bright falling hair.
Fred parted it and smoothed it back
gently with his disengaged hand, twin
ing it tenderly around his fingers and
drawing her head to his breast.
''No matter, my darling" he said.
1--WE won't care if you only love me,
and you must give me the right to call
you mine, all mine, before the world
very soon!'-New York World.
A Peoples Temple.