Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-03-06

ucoit ~ III THO piouiiSc VI uct manu- tWo
years ago, and whom she could not
hope to see for many long months yet.
the tears rose up and quenched the
angry blaze in her violet eyes. and she
told herself. over and over, that come
what would she must have patience to
bear her drcary life until Robert WV
ian should return TO brighten it.
She smiled bravely rs she said it,
but-poor Phyllis!-she knew nothing
of the dark destiny which Edgar Mer-
ton had marked out for her!
Almost daily thereafter he called at
Mr.. Woodfern's shop TO order flowers
for every fashionable occasion. and
almost invariably it would be Phyllis
Payne who was summoned to wait up
on him.
How she shrank from the prettily
turned compliments and the admlring
chances which he artfuly contrived Ia
mingle with his compliments on thu
flowers she selected.
AT last, one day, when no one clss
was near the cud of the counter al
which they stood. Mr. Merton yenturoI
upon holder stroke.
Miss Paync-my dear little Phyllis"
he began. abruptly. dropping his voice
to an uudertone aud liking his hand.
some black eyes upon her face with
look so boldly impassioned that she
drew back from him pale and terribly
startled, 'yon must have Zen long
ago that love you. OF course it is
simply for the purpose of seeing you
that | come in here SO often. / fell in
love with YOU that ight you brought
the flowers TO my rooms. Accept my
love. PhiI!is. aud the position | am
ready to offer you. aud no lady in the
city shall he glander than you. am
rich -
"And tho position You speak Of of
'ering me. Mr.. Merton?" questioned
PHYLLIS. the frightened pallor of her
face changing to vivid scarlet as she
looked straight into his with her clear.
pure, dark-blue eyes. "Am | TO un-
derstand that it is an honorable onc?-
such rs you would offer to n lady in
your own social sphere. Or"
She paused her pure lips refusing to
frame the other question that rose TO
them.
The man flinched and shifted his
glance uueasily bcneat h the clear gaze
of those true, innocent eyes. and ut her
last words dark-red flush suddenly
shot up to his very temples.
II don't understand why any one
should think it dishonorable." he re-
turned, with a half-shamrd. half-inso-
lent voice, and with averted eyes. AL
most any girl as poor and beautiful as
you are Phyllis. would be glad"
Stop sir,'' she broke in imperious.
ly, her low voice intense with scorn,
her blue eyes fairly scorching him
with the lightning fires of her indigna.
ton. Il scorn and despise both your
cowxrdly offer and-yourSelf. From
this moment. let it be understood we
are absolute strangers. You are not
TO speak to me again upon any pre-.
tense whatever. l trust that is plain
enough. sir"
Phyllis, take care" he rctorted,
warningly. his suppressed voice half
choked with anger and chagrin. do
rot make me your enemy. 1t is in my
power TO make your life harder than
you think. You had better retract
those reckless words"
She had moved away from him. and
her only response TO his warming
speech was u glance of such whitening
contempt that, without another word.
he turned on his heel and left the
store.
A little smile. half-sad. half-exnltant,
crossed the girls pale lips AS she
watched him go, bnt her heart ached
with duh, porlentious pain. for ali
that.
Il am not rid OF him vet" she
thought. uneasily. 'Hc will do me
some harm unless l get away from
hefe-go somewhere beyond his reach.
Yes. must resign my place here,
and look for work elsewhere. But.
oh. it may be so hard-so hard to lind
it,
And 40 it proved. great deal hard
er than she had feared. DAYS and
weeks passed by in the weary search,
and poor Phyllis began to feel an aw-
ful terror of tine future that stared her
in the face. for she was almost penni-
loss. and the prospect of work seemed
as far oil rs ever.
One dark, dismal evening she was
returning to her room. after another
long and bitterly disappointing quest.
when she heard rapid footsteps behind
Der, anu the next moment Il manu- N&
laid firmly on her arm. and Phyllis
looked up to meet the handsome. cruel
black eyes of Edgar Merton smiling
down upon her,
"Ah! you might have known we
should meet again, my darling Phyllis"
he exclaimed. mockingly. No. You
need not look SO scornful. nor try to
Jerk your arm free, for neither will do
YOU any good whatever. You are in
my power, just as you have been ever
since you left old Woodferns shop.
Yes. I'm answer to the astonished.
Mortified look she gave him-"now
you can understand. perhaps, why you
have found it impossible to obtain
work anywhere. Ii is an uumanly thing
to say. no doubt. with n touch OF
shame sounding in his voice-''but
Phyllis. loved you. and wanted you
wholly in my power, so that you would
be- forced to choose between my pro-
lection and-my Godr--with an in-
voluntary shudder at the thought
starvation. Phyllis, YOU will not,
cannot refuse my love to meet such o