Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-12

all If she thinks I am playing fast and
loose?"
"There is no fear," said Miriam, half
bitterly
"You will not throw me over in the end?"
pleaded Sir James, earnestly.
mo, no do not be afraid; but just now
I-do not wish to be married, and so have
trusted in you. I have come to you to
help me. ="
"Mv darling, if you will tell me what to
say l will saw it whatever it costs me. ="
Say you are going on leave to Norway;
anywhere"
''And 1 thought you would 60 with me
when 1 went on leave" said Sir James,
ruefully. Don't ask me to go on leave;
let me at least stay near you.
"But we must have some excuse"
~ still think it would be the best plan
for me to go openly to your mother and tell
her that as you wish our marriage to be
delayed another month, that of course your
wishes are law to me. She could not insist
on it taking place sooner if l said that"
81 don't know"
"But, my dear, how could she? If I said
that we had made up our minds not to be
married for two months it would be impos-
sible tor Mrs. Clyde or anyone eles to force
US to be married against our wills.
"Mv mother is SO determined"
Sir James gave little laugh.
"Well, we will be determined, too. You
wish our marriage to be put off for another
month, and 1 will tell Mrs Clyde SO, and
that is the end of it."
Miriam sighed uneasily. She knew very
well there would not be can end of it,
without great ve1ation of spirit and deter
mined opposition on the part of Mrs. Clyde.
But she saw also that if she had James on
her side her mother could not absolutely
force on tie marriage, and so she yielded to
his wish
81 will tell her to-day" he said, quietly;
"of course the time is for you to decide, and
whatever time you fix 1 shall say then our
marriage has to be"
THANK you;" but as she spoke Miriam
felt pang of shame in her heart.
81 should never have promised to marry
him." she thought, with contrition, for she
knew very we'll why she had consented to
do SO. To try to forget the past-to blot it
out-and now again it stood before her face
to face!
81 have brought you . necklace, DEAR"
presently said Sir James, and he drew a
Jewel case from his pocket and presented it
to Miriam. 81 hope you will like it," he
added, as he pressed the spring.
1t was beautiful necklace, and the
shame in Miriam's heart grew stronger as
sne glanced at tne SHINING gems
"Oh. Sir James, you should not buy 50
many things for ME, she said; 'you have
given me so much"
'T have given you much more than MANY
necklaces" he answered, smiling; ''some-
thing not to be bought
81 am not worth it all. "
"You are worth everything to me-
Miriam; my life would be nothing to me
without YOU"
.'Oh! don't say that; 1t is wrong to say
that"
s'Is it, dear2 Do you know don't think
SO? think mans love for good woman
pulls him up, and-and makes him all the
better. You must help me.
"Help you to do what?" asked Miriam.
"Well, you women understand lot more
about other peoples wants than men do;
and when we are married, dear, think we
might do a heap of good, for we have 80
much, and many have so little"
eyes, indeed" said Miriam, with another
pang of shame.
And as in the same quiet, honest fashion,
Sir James went talking on, Miriam's con-
science reproached her more and more. And
presently, when he proposed to go to the
Commandments house and tell Mrs CLYDE
that they had settled to change the we'd
ding-day, she could not help thinking how
kindly and generous was his heart
Mrs. Clyde held out her hand very gra-
ciously.
''what pity you have missed Miriam;
she is out, she said, smiling.
"But have not missed her." answered
Sir James; 81 have just parted with her
and, Mrs. Clyde, 1 want to tell you some
thing. We think, Miriam and I, that we
would rather be married little later than
the time you fixed on when was here last.
We think"
''Sir James, may I ask tthis change has
arisen from your interview with Miriam
to-day?" interrupted Mrs Clyde, gravely.
ave discussed it together" answered
Sir James, Loyalty, "and we both think
that two months from this date will be bet
ter than one"
Mrs Clyde slightly shrugged her sh ould-
ers, and her brow clouded
81 fear the change will be impossible"
she said. Il have unfortunately invited
General Conrav and his wife-my other
daughter you know-to be present at the
ceremony at the earlier date, which UNDER