The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1892-07-09

Il believe about two miles"
al should like to know its exact situa-
ton"
why didn't you go with papa, them?
Cant you imagine"
She had been absently pickering her
handkerchief into folds in her lap. Now
she looked up.
why do you wish to know where we
are gOing"
because I've taken great fancy to
to Mr.. Slurk, and can't bear to think
of losing sight of him."
| had expected her to laugh and per-
haps blush; instead of that an express
sion of something like terror swept over
her face, and she laid her finger on her
lip.
Don't talk of him." she whispered.
Her emotion had so astonished me that
/ could only stare in silence. Here was
another mystery-or stay! could 1t be
that Sunk was at the bottom of all those
strange signs and enigmas that l had
been puzzlihg myself over from the first:
was prepared to believe whatever
amount of evil concerning the fellow
might be required. But what could he
have done, or have in his power to do.
that could so affect Miss BirchmOre:
Had he held her life or fortune at the
mercy of word, she could hardly have
betrayed more dismay at my testing
satire.
Its nothing" she said. recovering
oft lyllv |
like him much, and you-and ! wasn't
to hear his name just then"
Heaven knows it is very different
name should have spoken
"No. no, no. You have amused your
self with me today, and tomorrow you
must find some one else to amuse you,
that's ALL"
Amused myself, Miss Birchmore?"
"Well, Mr.. Gainsborough, I'm sorry
if / failed to entertain you. I'm sure |
tried hard. But it's so difficult to enter
tain an Englishman!"
Upon my word, believe you've been
laughing at me from the beginning!
But however ridiculous may be, Miss
l can have thoughts and
feelings that are not ridiculous"-
''Oh, please-please don't be angry.
And I'm sure l never thought You ridic-
anything but that"
The tone, the look which accompanied
these last words made me forget caution
and self possession for a moment. Miss
Birchmore-oh, Kate! l cannot lose
,;,,L+ &c ,-o,, copDot loco won't no yO,,
care-is it nothing to you if we never
meet after today? Kate, l love you!'
Had the confession come too soon?
Was she offended? She shrank away
from me with a glance searching, yet
pathetically appealing.
''Do not forget yourself, sir. You are
an honorable English gentleman. What
have you said?"
II love you-yes, love you"
"He loves me-" she repeated slowly
and caught her breath with kind of
sob. Her eyes fixed themselves on me
with an inward look, as of intense rev.
erie. at must not be! it must not be-
but he does love me"' Her hands fell in
her lap; there were tears now in her
eyes. but smile quivered over her lips.
"Why do you say it must not be, Kate?
1t is! 1t shall be-"
took her hand, which she scarcely
attempted to withdraw. | felt that i
had won her and would hold her against
all corners.
Just then knock came to the door;
she snatched her hand away and rose to
her feet. Mr.. Slurk entered.
1.-The band is going to play in the
court" he said in German. Il have
kept chairs and table for the lady and
gentleman beneath the trees"
He made low Obeisance as he spoke,
but his malignant glance never swerved
from Kate, and she, half turning toward
him, seemed impelled by a power
stronger than her own will to meet it,
though slightly shivering the while with
pure aversion. For my own part /
longed with all my heart to kick the
varlet into the hall or throw him out of
the window. But prudence warned Inc
to bide masime. If obtained the foot
ing to which l aspired in Mr.. Birch
more's family would settle summarily
with Mr.. Slurk; meanwhile | should
hest consult NV interests Inv condncfinc,