The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-01-19
much more provoked

would have been much more provoked
than she was now.
II shall not stop you," she said in hall
mischievous tone. go OIL won't be
angry. You will perhaps admit that II
there is anything ranking 1t is as well for
you TO abuse me and have it over, even nj.
ter all these years, whose obituaries you
have written"
"My dear, my darling" he said, his
strong hand clasping hers so quickly that,
involuntarily her arm struggled like a
birds wing to wrest itself away, sit 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"
at is impossiblel'
II 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 darlingr'
"This," said Mrs. Hugonin, partially re.
covering herself, sis folly, Arthur. And it
is most unfair"
"Unfair," he said, ito want You for my
wifef No, you mean unfair to take you of
your guard. will not bubble with youi
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 hap
pened. 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 q refugee had done before M,
I sealed up my treasures and hid them
and my store is where left it. That 1:
why want you to marry me. All that
had looked forward to telling you-wher
you were twenty--all that had to say L
you, the secret hoard that had been pill
ing up for our married life, Is intact, ani
now want you to share it with me-" II,
paused a moment and then went on: any
dear, have simply had to wait, that i,
all. But. please heaven. we will begin
again"
Poor Mrs. Hugonin's breath came and
went, an unwilling messenger Of passion
or, 1t might be, Of sentiment. "Perhaps
was in the wrong" she said. But why
did not you think more of yourself"
II am thinking of myself now" sale
Kinnaird.
Suddenly, as Mrs. Hugonin hung dis
tracted and in doubt, the cliff before them
rang faint and sibylline with an echo. II
was the town clock of the village striking
over beyond the trees; they could not heai
it, but sent from ledge to ledge in the still
night air it struck silvery and remote OF
the granite facade. AS it sounded they
both started, he at it's ellin suggestions, sht
at its material reminder.
GOOD graciousw she exclaimed, at is Il
o'clockp
at is" said Kinnaird.
"And we must positively go back to tn,
hotel at once. We are n scandal, Arthur
and you know 1t, for saw you start, too ;
She began to smile "Do you see nothing
in the auguryP" she asked.
1.-THE augury?"
1--WE are two old fools" she said. "Thinl
of my boy in his bed, Arthur. "Fhink o.
my thirty years-be quiet, If you please
| choose to be thirty for formality's sake
1t is only the night and the moonlight
When II O'Clock strikes we recollect thai
we ought to be respectfully at home. 1t /,
only an echo. All, my dear old friend, W,
have had our past and it is over. Your
has been unhappy and l am oh, 30 very
sorryl But you are contented now and
what is more, you are kind and strong--i
is better as it Is. Take me back to thu
hotel-and we shall beware of echoes ii
future"
IL thought you said you had grown old,
said Kinnaird. ut is only youth that re
fuses the echo"
And he took her in his arms and kissed
er.-Philadelphia Times.