Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-04-01

you up, | thought always of you first.
That was why | gave you up-which
you naturally considered weakness"
1t did not escape Mrs. Hugonin that
dormant weakness of her own was
| reviving under the continued stress of
| this absurd Conversations weakness
| for sentiment But it was checked by
| her veXation with her friend for break
ing their tacit understanding-and by
the feeling of half contemptuous pity
that stole over her as he spoke.
Were she a man. she thought. she
would never confess at 40 to the iu-
competence of %. That kinnaird did
SO bat absolved her again. Also, she
reflected, she had had headache
yesterday, and, therefore, it was very
| lucky this conversation had not been
started yesterday or she would have
been much more provoked than she
| was now.
Il shall not stop you" she said, in a
half mischieVous tone. $50 ou--I
won't be angry. You viii perhaps adj
nit that if there is anything ranking
1t IS as we'll for YOU to abuse me and
have it over, even after all these years,
whose obituaries you have written"
my dear, my darling" he said, his
strong hand ciasping hers so quickly
that involuntariIy 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 60
again"
Arthur"
Margaret, love you more than
ever"
1T is impossible!"
4 love YOU"
You can not, can not be in earnest, +"
she stammered. "Why, you have
never told me-"
"Never-until now," he laughed" l
learned something when | lost you the
first time-my darling"
This" said Mrs. Hugonin, partially
recovering herself, dis folly, Arthur.
And it is most Unfair"
"Cnfair" he said, "to want YOU for
my wife? No,you mean unfair to take
you off your guard. | will not quib-
BILE 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 - where it all happened
Margaret, when you were tWenty-siX
| went away from the city of all my
hopes, but before | turned my back on
1t did as many refugee had done
before mel sealed up my treasures,
hid them, and my store is where I left
it. That is why | want you to marry
me. All that had looked forward to
ali 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. Hugonin's breath came
and went, an unwilling messenger of
passion-or, it might be, of sentiment
''Perhaps | was in the wrong" she said
But why did not you think more of
YOURSELF"
Il am thinking of myself now" said
Kinnaird.
Suddenly, las 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
village striking over beyond the trees;
they could not hear it, but sent from
ledge to ledge in the still night air it
struck silvery and remote on the
granite facade. As it sounded they
both started, he at its elfin suggestions,
she at its material reminder.
Good gracious!" she exclaimed, 1T
iG O'clOclr'"
at is" said Kinnaird.
And we must positively 90 back to
the hotel at once. We are a scandal,
Arthur-and you know it, for I saw you
start, too" She began to smile. "Do
you see nothing in the augury?" she
asked.
The augury?"
I'VE are two old FOOLS" she said.
Think of my boy in his bed, Arthur.
Think of my 80 years-be quiet, if you
please. | choose to be 80 for formal
ity's sake. 1t is only the night and
the moonlight. When II O'Clock strikes
we recOllect that we ought to be re-
specially at home. 1t is only an echo.
All, my dear old friend, we have had
our past and it is over"
Yours has been unhappy, and I am
oh, so very sorry! But you are con-
tented now and. what is more, you are
kind and strOng-it is better as it is.
shall beware Of echoes in the future"
Il thought you said you had grown
Old" said Kinnaird. 1T is only youth
that refuses the echo"
And be took her in his arms and