The Opelousas courier., 1891-11-14
s'oh," said Miss Grenville.

better to say.
"Oh, no doubt" said Miss Grenville,
perhaps for the same reason.
But when they arrived at the terminus
of the road they found that it was not all
right. The Stage was there, out every
svailable seat but one had been taken.
It vase growing late and Miss Granville
was in despair. -,
"You might 60 and let your maid
come in the morning" suggested Mar
den heroically.r
The maid was interviewed on this suhs
ject, but was fearful and obstinate. Then
the young mar made another suggestion.
The maid might take the available place
and he would drive Miss Granville over.
He was sure he could get a horse. He
would have to do it on account Of his
business, anyway. Miss Granville de
Tended her position, but finally surren-
dered. The maid took the place in the
stage, and Marden went in search of a
horse.
Half an hour later, as the sun was go
ing down behind the hills, a cadeVerous
looking horse. with almost a suspicious
dislike to anything like haste, drew a
single buggy out of Readsboro and along
the pretty road toward Madawga and
Wilmington. They passed the out
skirts of the village, and the road began
to grow prettier and more closely
hemmed in with trees. The cadeverous
looking horse moved on with an uncer-
| fo;p ioo 4bat moe q orooc iatuooo a ~
a trot. and a walk. The result was a
sort of hop. Miss Grenville made some
attempts at conversation, but her com
panion rewarded her with silence. She
made several uncomplimentary remarks
about the horse which were witty enough
for IN ordinary occasion, but Marden did
not smile-he did not seem to be paying
attention; so finally she subsidized into
her side of the carriage aud said no more.
Presently Marden spoke.
"Grace," he said, ''do you know why
| am up here2"
Miss Granville looked up innocently.
"Of course" she said. "You told me
you had to come on business"
(Which was not true, as you know.
l came because l followed you from Bos-
ton"
Crank, how dare you!" said Miss
Granville Indignantly.
Marden went on quietly:
"And while | was standing out there
in the baggage car"
~ thought you were going to fall out
of the door," continued Miss Grenville
suddenly. Marden looked at her and
then went on again quietly:
''You did not see me. You were sur
prised that l was on the train when l
spoke to you"
"Oht" said Miss Grenville.
"When l was standing in the baggage
car made up my mind that you would
have to talk to me. | an more sure of
it now. 1 have been trying to see you
for two months and you have been able
to keep me from it. I know | am a
brute and that if you wanted to throw
me over and not tell me why l ought
to stand it; but I can't and I'm through
trying"
Miss Granville laughed uneasily. A
bough from one of the trees that skirted
the road hung over within reach and
she snatched a couple of its leaves as
they passed.
81 wonder what kind Of a tree that
isl" she said. Marden took the green
Dough from her hand and threw it into
the road.
"Grace, he said, "why did you throw
me over?"
Miss Granville looked around as if
for some avenue of escape, but none pre-
sented itself and she leaned back again
in the carriage.
"Perhaps," she said at length, "per-
haps it is better to talk it over. Though
[hurriedly] you know it can never make
any difference now"
"Of course" admitted Marden, 81
never dared to hope that"
cit is very hard to TELL" continued
Miss Grenville.
"Did you yer care for me2" asked
Marden.
Miss Granville looked at him with
wondering eyes.
sDo you think that I wanted to do
it2n she said.
Marden's face frightened wonderful
". "Do you mean that somebody forced
you to give me upa" he asked.
"Nobody, only / had to. One cant
marry anybody when that person isn't
what they thought he was" said little
Miss Granville, getting confused in her
generalization, but with a very convinc-
ing air. Marden made no answer, and
his companion continued: "You know
l always said that l could never marry
anybody who was not perfectly gentle
manly and"
"Do you mean that | am not a gentle
MANI" said Marden.
"Why, no, of course not. That vas
why why | liked you"
stOhtn
"And | always thought you were the
most perfect man in that respect"
"Thank you! | am very grateful;
but will you tell me when it was that
to be what you thought mem
"And ! always thought you were the
most generous and unseIish man [ ever
knew, and / I'M certain that ! never had
any reason to change that idea"
"Well2n
"And you know there was never any,
body else that ! cared for"
aWellG"
"You were always so handsome and so
brave and-and-yes, I will say it-and
10 loving
ssWell2" O
$50 you must see that | could not