The old Abe eagle., 1892-06-02

IttllnR OF halI COntetnptuOus pity that
stole over her as he spoke.
Were she a man. she Thought. she
would never confess at forty TO the in
competence Of twenty-five. That Kin
naird did so but absolved her again. Also,
she reflected. she had headache yester-
day, and therefore it was very lucky
this conversation had not been startei
then. or she would have been much
more provoked than she was now.
IL shall not stop you" she said in
half mischievous tone. "Go on-I won't
be angry. You will perhaps admit that
if there is anything ranking it is as well
for You to abuse me and have it over,
even after all these years. whose obitu-
aries you have written"
my dear, my darling" he said. his
strong hand clasping her so quickly that
involuntarily her arm struggled like
birds wing to wrest itself away 1T is
well for me to tell the only woman ever
loved that | love her still and do not
mean to let her go again"
Arthur
Margaret, | love you more than
ever"
1T is impossible"
81 love you"
"You cannot, cannot be in earnest"
she stammered why, you have never
told me-"
"Never-until now," he laughed. 81
learned something when | lost you the
first time-my darling"
This" said Mrs. Hugonin, partially
recovering herself, lis folly, Arthur,
and it is most unfair.
Unfair" he said, "to want you fol
my wife? No, you mean unfair to take
you off your guard. will not quibble
with your words" he said, smiling
May the hour and the scene suggest to
you all that they will. May they bring
you back tot was twenty that you
were-when it all happened. Margaret,
when you were twenty-six went away
from the city of all my hopes, but before
turned my back on it did as many a
refugee had done before mel sealed up
my treasures and hid them, and my
store is where left it. That is why
want you to marry me. All that had
looked forward to telling you-when
you were twenty-all that had to say
to you. the secret hoard that had been
| piling up for our married life, is intact,
and now want you to share it with
me-" He paused moment and then
went on: My dear, have simply had
to wait, that is all. But, please heaven,
we will begin again
Poor Mrs. Hugonins breath came and
went, an unwilling messenger of pas
sion, or, it might be, of sentiment. per
haps | was in the wrong" she said.
Bat why did not you think more Of
yourself"
81 am thinking of myself now," said
Kinnard.
Suddenly, as Mrs. Hugonin hung dis.
tracted and in doubt, the cliff before
them rang faint and sibylline with an
echo. 1t was the town clock Of the vii
lage striking over beyond the trees; they
could not hear it, but sent from ledge tc
ledge i'll the still night air it struck sill
very and remote on the granite facade
AS it sounded they both started, he al
its elm suggestions, she at its material
reminder.
Good gracious!" she exclaimed, I'll
is / o'clock"
at is, said Kinnaird.
And we must positively go back Il
the hotel at once. We are a scandal
Arthur-and you know it, for saw yor
start too" She began to smile. "D,
you see nothing III the auguryT' Bht
asked.
The augHry?
I'VE are two old fools" she said
Think of my boy in his bed, Arthur
Think of my thirty years; be quiet, i
you please. choose to he thirty fo
formality's sake. 1t is only the nigh
and the moonlight When II oclocl
strikes we recollcct that we ought to b.
respectfully at home. 1t is only an echo
All, my dear old friend, We have ha'
our past and it is over.
Yours has been unhappy, and | am
oh, so very sorry! But you are con
tented now, and. what is more, you ar
kind and strong; it IL better as it is
Take me back 10 the hotel, and we shal
beware of echoes in the future"
"l thought You said you had grow
old. said Kinnaird. at is only yout
that refuses the echo"
And he took her in his arms and llisse
her.-Philadelphia Times.