Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-01-02
CHATTER XII.


Hurt No. Oh no.
Her voice is a mere sigh In the charm
ing face uplfted 90 his what is it he sees
Such swift, sweet, shy glance as she gives
him; such tender light there is in the
lovely eyes; such a faint, happy trembling
Of the perfect lps " hat does it all
say9
With feeling Of misery as yet unknown
TO him the young man slowly loosens his
arm around her and lets her go. Puts her
from him, as il were, that innocent little
temptrcss
She knows nothing, however, of tho
thoughts that sting and torment him. She
has recovered herself quickly, and with
girls first instinct seeks TO hide tho tender
ness that had for an instant flashed into be-
ing, startling her almost as keenly as it had
shocked him. She filings it all from her by
n supreme effort. She is laughing. The
tender smile has died; lie might almost in
deed believe tia: that strange sweet light
had never shone within her eyes.
Now that you have rescued mo from
watery grave, says she gravely, ~ sup
pose | am bound in common gratitude TO
forgive you. But you were cross. Como
and sit down here, Denis, and tell me all
about the people ! am going 10 meet to-
mn WV rms - gNNi hA'AA~As
Except that her eyes d. not meet his rs
freely as of cid, he could bring himself to
think that at revelation of a minute since
was but part OF cruel dream. But he
had seen; he cannot forget He knows!
And with the wild mad JOY the knowledge
brings him there is also a sense OF despair
and of d shonor. one thought haunts him.
He should have told her.
"What is your mother like?" asks the
Duchess, giving him a little push with her
hand 10 wake him up, as she says. He
has flung himself ON the grass at her feet.
'She is tall, fair, handsome. ~
'Not like you them" with some dis
appointment.
''No " says Denis, uneble to refrain from
short laugh at this naive rejoinder.
'Eo you think, " anxiously, that shall
get en- with her:'
Spare yourself speculation on that
score" says he quickly. Every one gets
on with my mother; and you are sure 10
love her, becaus, she will love YOU She is
graciousness itself She is beloved of all.
she is TIE sweetest woman in the world"
says her son, not with enthusiasm but
with n sett,e1 conviction that is clearly the
growth of many years, and Is not possible
to shake.
Glow you love herr says the Duchess, :
looking with approval at him. "Jus5 the
same way that l love dad. Wei, go Oh,
tell me about the others y
Better wait till you see Them
''No. should like a portrait or two be-
forehand. They help one. What of that
cousin that stays with you so much. Kath-
urine, is it not?'
Katharine, certainly. With K,
mind"
"Does that mean that she is an austere
person. l. Katharine with a c more pill
uble2 l can't take in such frivolous de-
scriptions. Tell me more OF her. She in.
terests me in some strange way. S me
way that is not pleasant, think. Well,
what is she ike"
".She is Eng ish. The most English per-
son in Englani-or out of it, I'm positive"
Il don't mean that, though knew sac
would be of the precise and ir gid order.
What l mean is is she pretty?'
"She is daughter Of the gods, divineiy
tall, and mo,t'-confoundedly fair" saws
Delaney, with molrnlul glance OF adult
ration at the dark, brilliant loving eyes and
chestnut locks Of tae girl beside him. 'She
Is perfect at all points. You could not find
a NV in her, and You could not ruihe her or
take her aback to save your life Sic al
ways knows exactly what TO say, and as a
RUE size says it, whether you like it or not;
and she's a very good girl, you know"
says lie, pull = himself up somewhat
shortly, as # a little ashamed of the treat
ment OF the case in preston.
"Does size live at Neltry,"
"N-o. Not exactly. She has heaps Of
money, and can therefore 30 where she
pleases; but generally it pleases her to go
wherever my mother chances 10 b.; and,
at al events, she makes our place her head
quarters"
"Whyfn asks the Duchess, suddenly.
She is looking him fairly in the eyes, a little
increased brihiancy in her own. Is there
something in his manner hating, uncertain,
reluc ant, that conveys TO her u vague sus-
picion of the truth
why" she says again, leaning forward
rs though 70 read his face, an he, as IL
unable TO mee5 at this crisis, the gaze of
those earnest. honest eyes, turns over on
his face and begins To pull up absently the
blade, OF rs, before him
"Whyi" repeats she with genlo persist
ence; yet there is something in her tones
that warns him she will e answered
"Eecausa, for one thing she is my
mothers niece and because -unsteadily-
"scme day am going o marry her.''
DEAD silence Deaney gOe' on mechanl-
cally plucking up tic grasses, while tho
Duchess SITS with her SIN Ill brown hands
tightly folded in her lap, gazing flxedly at
the beech lodge opposite. sac does not
see it, however There Is little mist be-
fore her oyes-a sickeiing feeling at her
heart--a wild craving to lie alone; but
above and beyond all sense OF shame.
Only few minutes since she had learned
the great secret Of Ter life-tho sweetcst
secret the world could ever tell her, as then
she drcnmed; and now already-it Is a
source of disgrace 20 her, an ignominy, an
everything reproach. Cne grain OF com
fort she has, and TO this she clings with a
desperate strength He does not know
He cannot, and be never shall
lie is talking nov, and in dull sort OF
way sho is aware that lis voice is very UNI
like the joyous one that has become TO her
80 fatally dear.
at began when we were boy and girl
together" he is saying in rather monot-
onous way, like cro repeating an nbhorred
lesson. "It-I don't know how il besan'