The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-02-21

young man, softly, his rapl gaze
fixed on her lovely, flushing face,
"you are not in your proper place.
You were not created for a drudg-'s
life, you delicate little flower, but
to be cared for and loved. | would
transplant you to my heart and
wear you forever"
"Mr. Randolph ~ faltered Chris
sic.
"No; say Godfrey" cried the
young man, carried away by the
force of his love and emotion.
"Chrissie, | have loved you since |
first saw you, when you came here
from the country, poor, friend
less orphan, and so meekly took
up the tedious duties. | have
fought against that love, but in
vain. | must win you, my darling.
cannot live without you. Will
you come to me-my little vile 2"
A flood of bushes dyed the girl S
fair face, and the golden head
dropped lower.
"IOu cannot mean it, she mur-
INJURED. Il am poor and simple,
and not fit to be your wife," with a
delicious little tremor of the last
words. 81 thank you, Mr.-God-
frey-but-n
"No, no; if there is any dispari-
ty it is on my side" SAID the young
banker, fervently. "If you love
me, Chrissie-- All | hear step.
Think it over, darling, and give me
my answer when rel urn
He left the apartment and CHRIS.
sic began to prepare for her task.
but there was a lell-tale blush on
her face when Mrs. Merton came
in. The lady's keen eyes read her
secret at once.
Has that young man been talk
ing nonsense to you ~ she said
sharply, yet with a kindly glance.
You must not listen to him, Chris
sic; he would coax away your
heart and then throw 1t aside like
an old glove
"He has asked me TO marry him."
"You !"
The landlady fell back, and Look
ed incredulously al the girls flush
ed face.
Well, certainly she did not look
like a servant, and Mr.. Randolph
was but like other men in some re-
specis.
"Bnt, Chrissie, it wouldn't do
she said, positively. "You are not
Of his class, and YOU would both
be miserable. He is infatuated
because of your pretty face but
don't you know that his future
fortune depends upon the favor OF
old Mr.. Wendell, and that a match
has been planned between him
and Eleanor Wendell? In a few
years, if all goes we'll, Mr.. Ran
dolph will be rich man, but il he
marries you he will lose every
thing-lriendS, position, money,
all. And he will come 10 blame
you for il all-oh, | know 1.-THE
old story"
She left The room, and poor Chris
sic sat down TO think over her cruel
words.
"She meantit all, and she has
seen much of he world, and IL
am afraid myself" she reflected. 81
know Godfrey depends much upon
Mr.. Wendell, but Eleanor, his
daughter-I did not know that.
Oh, if | should do anything to in
iure hIn, | who love him so dear
lyp
Mechanically she turned to the
desk beside her and took up a
scrap of paper mat lay there.
1t was The fragment of a letter
that Godfrey had forgotten to de-
stroy, and Chrlssie, looking at II
with her mind upon him, caught
these words:
"Godfrey, old boy, don't be rash
"A poor wife would be an encum
brance now. Your fortunes are at
critical point - please your
friends and insure your own hap
plness by marrying the heiress.
You know how soon you would
tire Of"
That was all, but Chrissie had
read enough. 1t was all true
even his friends warned him.
She would not blight his fortunes
but, oh how she loved himl
eff he was only poor and hum
BILE like me-" she thought. "No-
no, ii cannot be, but | dare not see
him. / will 60 away at once"
That seemed TO be the only
course 10 pursue; the poor girl
was nearly distracted with conflict
ing emotions, but she had decided
she would do her duty.
Il will go awav at once" she
thought. "Mrs. Merton will saw it
Is best, for, oh could not stay here
and oppose HIM. But l will write
10 him.
She sat down and wrote a few
lines on a sheet Of paper, which
she folded and sealed, placing it
wherr Godfrey would see it when
he came in.
"Mr Randolph: Il am going
where | shall never see you again.
] cannot marry you; it would not
be best. You will be glad some
day, and forgive me il l wound
your feelings. Goodbye.
CHRIssIE.1
That was the message the young
man found on hls return.