The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-05

~Ao AiSAi' DuI my properly Will soon, DV
my own desire, be SO disposed of that |
shall have only a moderate income.
Even should / marry, my will is SO made
that nothing have, in case of my death,
would go to my husband. So you see,
such considerations may act as deter
rents"
"Miss Brockton, you = you cannot
think, it is not possible that you would
believe me"-Revery was turning, in
rapid succession, from red to white,
from white to red. The girl pitied his
discontinue.
"Not at all, Mr.. Revery. l suspect
you of no interested motives. But l do
not care for you-in the way you mean"
Five minutes afterwards she was sit
ting by the fire alone, a scornful smile
on her lips that presently faded away
and into sigh. Some one came In at
the door as she sat there, but turned
again, retreating. At the sound Ger
aldine glanced around.
Don't go, Mr.. Severn; let me tell you
of an interview have just had"
She had started to her 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 in a penumbra, save
for the freight. These leaping flames
Illuminated the face above them. Such
q face! Arthur Severn felt dizzy for a
moment He had never seen her look
like that. She had never flashed tina.
smile, that eyebeam, upon him. She had
never addressed him in that friendly.
TESTING tone. She was suddenly all life,
all softness, all charm. She seemed to
wish to atone for her sullenness, her
arrogance. What a will-o'-the-wisp she
was! Changeful as witch.
San interview" said the young man
guardedly. He would not let himself
go. He kept tight rein on himself.
"With Mr.. Revery; yes-fancyl have
| all at once come to the conclusion that I
wish to be married, if am married at
all, for myself. The heiress, Miss Brock
ton, will in short time have practically
ceased to exist and there will remain
only Geraldine Brockton, with small
income. Well, 1 told Mr.. Revery this.
And would you believe it. He did not
propose to Geraldine Brockton, though a
moment before he had offered his hand
and heart to Miss Brockten, the heiress!"
She was laughing now. Her eyes con-
tinued to flash upon him with that
strange lambert persistence. 1t was al
most like challenge. What could she
mean? Again Severn seemed to turn
dizzy. He kept his outward composure
by tremendous effort.
eff what you say is true, Miss Brock
ton, you will regret it, perhaps"
"Regret giving nearly all my fortune
to charitable institutions? All, you judge
as the world judges, do you? had
thought differently of you, Mr.. Severn.
Why should wish to be SO rich?" she
| cried, with sort of fierceness. "Other
women may be able to stand the test. I
could not. 1t was making me hard, sus-
picious. 1t was making me doubt the
whole world. 1t was sitting me. shall
have enough left for all the decencies
and comforts of life. And am freei
Yes, I am free now. Before l was a
| slave-a slave to hatterers, to fortune
hunters, to every form of human hypoc-
risy. Other people may feel themselves
exalted by such a position. felt my
self degraded!'
She stopped. She almost seemed to
pant. The blood rushed to Severn's
brain. He took step forward. What
was he about to do-what to say? What
ever it might have been, the portiere was
drawn aside and Mrs. Gwynne came in.
The words remained unuttered on his
lips.
But Miss Brockton spoke. A strange
spirit appeared to possess her, urging
her on, goading her to abrupt disclos-
ures.
"Ah, Aunt Martial wonder if you'll
be surprised, too, at my news. l have
made an announcement which has
stricken two men dumb with astonish-
ment already. And yet it does not seem
30 strange, does it? Mr. Severn seems
scarcely to believe that ! have given
away nearly all my fortune"
"What nonsensel' said Mrs. Gwynne.
Severn had vanished.
"You do say such extraordinary things
at times, declared Mrs. Gwynne. "Pe6-
pie will really believe, at length, that
you are not quite right, Geraldine"
"Aunt Marthaw Geraldine stood up
right before her. "You don't believe
me, either? tits true--true-l That was
why went to town to see the lawyer
and"-
Mrs. Gwynne had fallen into chair.
"Whati Then all I have to say, Ger
aldine, is chat you are insane! absolutely
insane! Who ever heard Of girl giving
away her fortune beforeT'
perhaps not, but
"You will regret thisr'
Geraldine gave a strange, slightly Bit
ter smile.
~ hope noti''
Jerry! jerry"
1t was her younger brothers voice and
it startled her from a fitful sleep. She
started up confusedly. The boy called
again. His room was just across the
hall. An acrid odor of smoke touched
her nostrils. Throwing on her wrapper
and weak kneed with fear she threw her.
self against the door. The hall was
dark. She opened the door of the boys
room-a dense cloud rose toward her
and smote her in the face.
She cried out aloud-once. twice-for
help and then uttered the boys name.
But there was no answer.
The fire. which had smoldered at first,
now broke out fiercely.
Eddy! Eddyw cried the girl and
threw herself into the room. She could
see nothing. She was blinded-she could
not breathe. She stumbled over pros.
trate body.
"Eddy!' she stammered again.
Then she felt herself wrenched away
by a strong arm, and some one had
seized the boys inanimate form and
dragged it out of the room and her
with it.
The next clear thing of which she,was
conscious was Of tongue of flame run
ming up her pretty dressing gown and Of
being suddenly enveloped in Arthur
Severn's coat, while this covering and
his hands and arms stifled the just born
blaze. They stood in the hall and the
cloak-and the arms-were still around
her and she was trembling in their clasp.
Lights flashed out at the other end of the
hall and people came rushing along it,
and Mrs. Gwynne appeared, white and
breathless.
"Merciful heavenr'
1t was only a little fire, after all, start
ed from the boys bed-curtain having
taken the blaze of candle which he had
left near it as he dropped asleep. 1t was