The Forrest City times., 1891-04-24
A MAIDEN FAIR.
BY CHARLES arBBoN.
CHAPTER x.-CONTINUED.

straight rainbows, dart across 1t through white streams, and the eyes are filled with wonder.
 ''This is the first time have seen the Northern Lights, Miss Murray" said Car gill as he advanced to meet her; "and they are certainly admirable"
 "Ay, they are fine," she answered grave ly, checking the inclination she felt to show her dislike for his conventional expression of admiration; i've who have seen them be- fore believe they are something more than admrable-we cannot put our wonder into words.'
 That is exactly how feel" he answer. ed, evidently quite unconscious of the re- buke conveyed in her simple words. But remarkable as these phenomena are, will you believe it. there is something which oc- cupies my mind so much at present that I am unable to give them proper attentionT'
 '.Indeedr'
 Tt is true. May tell you what 1t is, Miss Murray?'
 May speak to you first, Mir. Cargillr'
 Even his dull self-conceit was taken aback by this curious way of replying to his ques- tion. He fancied he had spoken in the tones of a charmer-he did believe himself an in. vincible lady-winner-and she spoiled all his fine preparations by request which ho could not refuse. He had a great objection to be crossed even in trifles. ] Yet she had spoken very quietly; and the wonder overhead-now appearing as lumi- nous white streams simply-shone on her calm, sad face, making it so beautiful that for the first time he became vaguely con- scious that there was something in the world finer and nobler than himself.
 He made the grand bow which dancing master had taught him, and which he had learned to perform with less grace than an awkward elephant might have shown.
 She smiled in a sad, half-hearted way; {; still she smiled, and his good opinion of himself was restored That bow had con- Quered her.
 "I was just going to ask you, Mir. Cargill, what did Mir Ross look like when you gave him that dram from your flaskp Did he look as If he had been drinking"'
 This was extremely disagreeable in sev- eral ways, but particularly because 1t took his mind entirely away from the arrange ment of the pretty phrases in which he was to express the thought which was upper most in it. His answer was so prompt that to her quick wit 1t seemed to have been studied.
 ''I really did not think so, or you may be sure would have been the last person in the world to add to the poor fellows affiic- tion-to say nothing of the fact that consid- eration for our safety would have prevented me doing so."
 Did you speak to him?'
 "For a few minutes, yes"
 And he answered you sensbly enough?"
 'I must say that so far as my recollection goes, he did. No ono was more surprised than when the real state of the case was brought so unpleasantly before us. But of course had no suspicion that he could be guilty of such-such stupidity"
 He hEa hesitated over the word he should use; for he desired to show a friendly dispo- sition towards Ross.
 'Thank you, MT. Cargill. It was . pity you gave him that dram"
 She turned away, looking anxiously for the return of Campbell with the doctor. Cargilrs heavy paw rested on her arm.
 Are you forgetting, Miss Murray. that asked to be allowed to speak to you?"
 ''No."
 'Then permit me to do so now" Che had resumed his grand air and the fabby smile which he thought so winning). You know the question l want to ask; your father wishes you to say yes; and need not say that desire you to say yes" She turned upon him those clear bright eyes and that fair troubled face. Il will speak honestly, Mir Cargill, and it will save you and me heap of vexation, maybe. 1 know what you mean, and tell you once for all that as long as live my answer will be the same to you as it Is now you can never have yes from me" But your father would like it." "Ay. but he would never wish me to dc what do not like and do not think would be right"
 The man was not wooer: he had not the feelings of one. So instead of persuading instead of feeling that he must give every
 thing to win the one object he desired, he felt his pride wounded, he drew up his biz frame and used reproach. Tt cannot be that after what has happen | ed you still think of this man, Ross! Yol | yourself said that man who could disgrac, himself as he has done would not be worti l think about
 She felt her cheeks tingling, and she look | cd down as she spoke In a low voice. You have no business with what may think, My Cargill." Then she looked up and her eyes bright | ened again as she cried: Here's the doc 1 tor"
 It was curious how the pride-puffed forn | of Cargill appeared to collapse at that an nouncement, and he slunk back few paces Campbell came forward with a grey-hair ed, muscular-looking gentleman, who's 1 fresh, healthy face gave evidence that h. | lived much out of doors. On the way to tn steamer Campbell had told Dr. Pratt tn | circumstances of the case. and he was read to see the patient at once. Annie wen l down to the cabin with him, and, after som hesitation, Cargill followed, but stopped a | the foot of the stair. Ross was lying on the seat where he ha fallen when he made his attempt to leave He was again in state of stupor. Captail
 Duncan was moving restlessly about; Jocl Burns was standing by. stolid and indiffer | ent
 Annie watched the doctors face eagerl
 whilst he was examining the patient; an
 waited, breathless, for his verdict. The doctor treated the case in brisk, o6
 hand way as one of mere drunkenness, an 1 Annie's heart ached with shame. He Is strong healthy fellow" he said
 "and there is nothing the matter with hI
 except that he has had . drop too much. Pu
 him into berth and let him sleep It of l He'll be all right when hc wakcns." | Then the doctor, too. was against her: h
 also found that common explanation for tn
 condition of Ross. Annie felt that the la.
 hope of convincing her father that ther
 was mistake was gone. According to tn
 doctor there had been no fit" no sudde
 attack of fillness-only that vulgar crime C
 drunkenness.
 But she had faith, and she did not despai l even now.