The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-08-06
CHAPTER yII-Cont,nuad.

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CHAPTER vII-Continuad.
I'VE will not dispute the point. be-
lieve you love me In your way, Dot a
very unselfieh Or dish ested way,
You found me- there iii S'conSef. The
place MA. duh and. lonely t. ..3u. For
some uIeyp lained reason you enjoyed
my society. Sou thought it an excellent
| Opportunity TO try your arts of fascna-
ZION On girl who, SO far as you knew,
would place implicit trust il y0Ir hon
esty of purpesa. F,dase let me finish.
! am steakihg truth, nothing more. The
tastne amused you and gratifiei your
vanity at the same time. You knew
that she mi ht learn to like you. There
was no reason why she might not give
her heart and her future happiness in
your keeping. You realized this, vet
you staid on, sill knowing you had NJ
intention of marrying her. And when
you had t;rei of the divers on, you In
suited her with declaration OF love
and no proposal of marriage. You
allowed a serdid motive IL cheat SoHr
heart Of fts noflest Instincts. You
On, w-cndsr | cen say so much, There
are times When 1 positively despise you,
Md others when-I believe | am los
ing my self-respect. ! wish you had
never gone to S'conset
She started from her chair and walked
to the opposite window. Her hands
trenbled nervously, though her words
had not been uttered with passion, but
with slow, deliberate emphasis that
gave them accusing force.
I,ia
Only once he had tried to interrupt her,
then she had silenced him with a mo-
ton. Even after she ha paused he
did not speak for some seconds.
You are hard upon me, he said, at
last. i acted contemptibly, but won t
you try to think there was some little
excuse? / don't know why am such a
worthless fellow. Perhaps because no
anything or not. | have not been SO
fortunate as you. You have been loved
and praised all your life. | have ha |
acknowledgment and condemnation on
all sides. Perhaps | deserved so much,
but it disheartens a man to be forever
running him down.
Her face softened as she answered in
4 gentler tone: They are wrong to dis
courage and condemn you. No one
knows their possibilities for good or
evil until they have been tried. There
are redeeming traits even in the worst,
and you are not one of the worst. Your
chance is before You. l want to forget
all that has happened. For your sake,
and for mine, | wish to feel-" She
hesitated and her face grew crimson
Not SO much from his glance as from
the drift of her own thoughts.
Why won't you understands she
cried, in helpless embarrassment, after
a silence that was almost felt why
can't you comprehend that | want you
TO have what belongs to you?"
Il don't want it, answered Brian,
with logged resistance. The thought
of that money is always between US"
You don't want it because YOU can't
have it without an incumbrance, l sup
pose"
IL the incumbrance means you, Mar
garet, there is nothing | desire SO much
as the incumbrance-"
Then take it, please, Brian. The IN
cumbrance finds you so slow of compre-
tension"
Brian was slow no longer. Nargaret's
meaning flashed upon him, and with IA
joyful face and glad cry he started to-
ward her.
But she stopped him rather precipi-
lately with the words:
Don't be foolish, Brian, please.
want you to understand that this is
merely a business arrangement. We
shan't be very affectonate, but neither
need we quarrel.
Then you wish simply to satisfy your
sense of Obligation, he said, rather rue
fully. You don't care for me the least
bit, Margaret"
If caring for you means giving you my
heart, | can only say | haven't it 10 give.
think you need not complain. Mar
riage will not make great difference in
our love. We shall always be good
friends, | hope. Are you satisfied"
Il am happy TO get you on any terms, "
he respon led. For no other man can
ever claim you. And maybe some day
you will learn to love me, if only a
little.
Don't detude yourself with any such
idea. That is all, l believe. Please
leave me now.
How cold and Indifferent YOU are,
he said, turning to obey her request.
You make it very hard for me.
Her eyes dropped beneath the intcn-
sity of his gaze, but she ma ie no re-
mark, and the next second he had left
her to her own thoughts.
In a somewhat jubilant but rather pc
culiar frame of mind he sought Miss
Hilton, and conided to her sympathetic
ear his late so d fortune.
Two hours later, as Margaret sat
alone in one corner of the veranda,
Brian stole up behind her chair, and
dropped in her lap ring of old-fashioned
design and exquisite workmanship.
Here is something | prize Very high
~, he said. 1T belonged to my mother.
| should like to see it on your finger.
Pearls for the pearl of pearls
His sudden appearance and unex-
pected action made her blush warmly.
Put it on for me- she replied, rather
nervously. and holding her hand toward
him. Il am not sure that | know the
proper finger
a sad confession" he re;o,ned, ex-
periencing Keen thrill of pleasure as
his hand touched hers. Why, it fits
nicely and makes quite show"
1t is very beautiful, added Margaret.
examining the magnificent pearls with
critical interest. How can l thank you
for it,"
She raised her eyes to his, but dropped
them Immediately. Something in his
glance sent the warm blood to her face.
i think | must show il to Miss Hilton {"
she said, starting up and leaving him
without another word.
CHAPTER TX.
DOMESTIC ENCOUNTER
The news Of Margaret's engagement
travelled rapidly, for $ was one of