Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-18

TO take me to them. I'm awrully gian
hate Indian Beach,
The tide WIS down by sunset, and Alan
Craig and Hope Arnadale were walking
on the hard smooth sand.
Il am going away for week." said
Alan.
80 your cousin told u.s."
Give me my answer before 20"
THAT wouldn't be polite, Mr.. Craig"
she laughed. "You would have moth
ing to look forward toto bring you
back"
~ don't understand you" he said al
most roughly. docs it amuse you to
torture meyn
"Alnn." she said in her soft voice,
"think how shorta time we have known
each other-not two months"
Don't you think you understand me
YETI
She smiled in the gathering darkness.
1t was so absurd--the bare notion that
she did not comprehend every in and
out of that frank masculine nature.
lyon know that you do" he said.
"You understand me thoroughly, though
you have only known me two months.
Now, then, do understand your No,
Hope Armadale, and never shall. No
better in two centuries than in two
months. But what is more to the point,
love you love you without under
standing yea. love you SO blindly and
wildly that nothing could learn re-
garding you could alter my love. 50
there is nothing to wait for. viii you
marry me3
"Give me the week of your absence"
she said, almost gently. LET me think,
Alan; let me be sure"
you mean leave you free to expert
ment on Victor Forsyth while am gone.
You were on the point of engaging your
self to me last evening when our talk
was interrupted by Miss Eliot remind
ing you that it was time to leave. In
the three minutes that was away about
the carriage you were introduced to
Forsyth You waltzed with him, and
the whole tenor OF your feeling changed"
"If you believe that and still ask me
to care for You, should despise you"
II believe | am mad. | say things
which only mailman would say. You
are right to despise me. am glad you
were frank. Pray go on, and say that
woman can't love man for whom she
feels contempt, But no; you need not
say it. | win spare you the disagreeable
task. Goodby, Miss Armadale. l ac-
cept your rejection. | will try to be
man enough to endure my disappoint-
ment.'
Alan She paused, standing in
the shelter Of the sand dune. She put
one hand to cover her eyes; the other
she held toward the angry man who was
turning from her "How unreasonable
how violent you arel Do you expect
me not to take a second for reflection"
81 do not mean to be unreasonable,
Hope. But love you till have no rea-
son left" he said, Iuusing.
Take my hand. Let us be friends
for Il week more"
And after thatg"
BE held her hand and leaned beside
her against the sand wall OF the niche
within which they stood.
"Will nothing content you?"
"Nothing-but one kiss, Hope Ar1na-
dale, from your sweet lips. Give me
that and can wait for eternity. Let
me have that TO remember, and will
go away and stay till you recall me-till
you say | may come"
She did not shrink from him or mock
him. He wound an arm about her fair
1.-the form just as he might for waltz.
He stopped, and with his disengaged
hand he held her head firmly, and so
mouth to mouth they kissed each other
with long silent kiss.
81 am content" said Craig with fash
ing eyes, 81 ssli no moreno promise,
no plodge-till you are ready to give it.
am yours. 1t shall be for you to say
when you will be mine"
She pressed his hand ever so slightly.
Let us go home now" she said with
a vague alarm in her voice.
Craig left her at the door. There was
company in the paIlor and he was in no
mood for careless talk. He strobe along
the wet, dark beach and already began
to reflect upon the nature of the bond
which he had so eagerly ratified.
That night Lucille Eliot went to her
guests room after the latter was in bed,
"Hope," she said, 'you are going too
far with Alan Craig Recollect, feel a
responsibility in the matter"
Since men are fools, what can one
dor
Zone can DO honorable, Hope"
Dear Lucille, don't preach to me.
Nothing makes me sowiclied as being
preached b, Craig, thank Heaven. goes
off tomorrow-to stay till call him
back. mover could have spared him
but for his friend Forsyth's arrival
Now l must see what l can do with
him." ~
Miss Eliot sighed bitter little sigh
Forsyth had made brief call that even
ing while Craig and Miss ArInadale wera
down ON the beach, and had accented nm
invitation to join horseback party for
visit to an Indian enoampmont several
miles from the beach uext day.
Miss Eliot had found this new ar.
quantance unusually agreeable. But |
she could not expect to hold the atten.
ton of any agreeable man whom IL |
amused Miss Armadale to firt With |
Craig himself was such fiirt That t tlo
Eiots had regarded him and HoDa no
equally matched pnt 1ptoI,. A.,