The Forrest City times., 1892-05-20
.rxo Ken,rd vou vou,d matr the xarr,.

70 ut cdcTAnCcN
 Hear me out, Kensrd- l will aocep, your proffered love on one eondition-'
 You have only to name if, Vida"
 'It is that you do not speak Of it at pres ent We can be friends. and if in time you find your heart unchanged. will be your wife"
 Love Is impatient and never waits- he answered.
 Love mus; be patient now"
 Vida" he said. drawing nearer to her. 'let there be no halting measures with us /; nay with you"
 Mir. Moore said nsyg'
 ''lt would sever him snd me, but no, harm you. Vida"
 "Kenard, l must say no. How could face my loving guardian. my truest friend?' 'sIs there no other wayg' he asked. Vida, l know you love me and cannot rest with such an answer. Why should we not bs united secretiyg''
 "No. Kenard. mo-"
 '.Ii is not so difficult I have friend liv. ing not twenty miles from here who would perform the ceremony at my bidding. We Coulu rue Vut Ouc luoIHiliks anu COulc UdCk man and wife. You must not say mo- But she held back. 1t was part of her programme to do so, and when he clasped her in his arms, and the last words of ap peal fell from his lips she whispered: Tomorrow I will answer you.r
 "Why not now?' he urged.
 ''It Is not long to wait" she replied, "and 1t must be tomorrow"
 
 Had love not blinded him, he must have read her then, but he saw nothing before him but a pure-minded. loving. beautiful woman, restrained by maidenly modesty from yielding to him at once.
 And in the answer Tomorrow he read promise, and was at length satisfied They fingered long among the rushes, and it was Vida who suggested that time had flown swiftly, and that the iuncheon-hour had arrived.
 For my sake" she urged, let us go." Then he took the oars again and pulled to the shore.
 Ere they reached Gordonfells the lunch eon-gong was sounding.
 T told you" she said with an arch glance, at him. Il fear if we are not more prudent any confession on our part win be super fuous.''
 At the hall-door they met Phoebe. who curtsied. and said she was coming to see if they were in the grounds as luncheon was ready.
 She took yida's hat and light shawl, and with visible trepidation turned and went upstairs.
 What is the matter with that girlT' said Kenard; "she does not look well.
 ''Ph9be is a strange being" replied Vida, land rather given to troubling herself abou. other peoples affairs. She may have been watching us"
 Tn that case, you had better speak to Ruth"
 No; think we will leave her alone-for the present"
 Their heightened absence excited no com ment except a few words from Mir. Moore, who said he liked punctuality, and they sat down, keeping their secret well.
 The afternoon they spent with Ruth, and at an early hour Vida went up to dress Phoebe was in her room. now most un- usual thing, and busy with something on the toilet-table.
 Vida took chair without speaking. and waited for her to go, but she moved slowly about, and made no offer to leave.
 Phoebe" said Vida sharply. T shall not want you today"
 ''Very well. miss"
 Still she did not go, but stood like one ir- resolute. Vida's face flushed with anger. Have you grown stupid?" she asked.
 No, miss" said Phe5e, facing about I'm as sensible as I usually am, but I've something to say, and don't know how to say it."
 She was trembling, but under her nervous ness there lay the courage to go through with what she had in hand. Vida stared at her with growing coldness upon her heart.
 Its Mir. Kenard I wish to speak about, ? said Phoebe. Hes in love with you, miss. "
 How dare you speak to me of such a thing?' demanded Vida, springing to her feet with the look of an infuriated tigress.
 T dare, miss" returned Phoebe, each mo- ment growing bolder, because l am in the right. Everybody is blind but me, and can't see him led away by you"
 And you-you-low-bred wretch" said Vida, white hot with passion, you dare to speak thus to me?'
 "Yes, miss, because l can't see Mir Ken ard led to ruin" said Phe5e firmly, "and although l don't wish to utter any threats beg to say that if you don't spare MT. Ken ard that l will go to Mir. Moore with what know; and think you had better heed me, do indeed, miss"
 Vida looked at her and saw the resolution in the simple girls eyes. It made her quail and she was none the less afraid of her be cause she could only guess at the extent ol the information she possessed.
 Phoebe, she said, with violent effort "have 1 ever been your enemy"
 Not as knows of, miss" was the reply
 "Why then, are you miney"
 Pm not your enemy, miss, and if ma, be so bold, I'd say that you've not an eneml in the world like yourself. I'm sure it's no for me to wish to harm you"
 ''I believe you are good girl, said Vida ''but have not been so kind to you as ought to have been. have silk dress her that is no good to me"
 "Thanky, miss" said Phoebe, but don want it. Miss Ruth gives me plenty"
 But there are so many uses you can pu it to-"
 ''No, miss, I'll not take it." said Phoebe and with another curtsy left the room.
 Vida remained standing, looking after her The danger fully revealed to her was ap palling, if not quite unexpected. What did this girl know? Was she in tn, whole of the dread secret or only in part O | it, or had she only guessed that somethin! was wrong? Vida could only surmise, and dare no ask. But the fact remained that here wa. l peril from source she had not dreamt of, peril that threatened her liberty and almos | her life.
 And she must pocket her ambition to b'