The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-05-23

dition, and she had agreed to it.
She had promised to be his wife; but
he did not dare to urge bis claims too
imperatively lest the beautiful C, eature
should break her bonds and he should
lose her altogether.
He was an accomplished t~actician
and he perceived it would be best to
ignore the little incident altogether.
He even pretenled not to notice her
agitation.
He paused at one of the windows
and appeared to have no interest for
anything further than arrow of hyacinth
glasses which held odorous spikes of
tie growing bloom.
You have wonderful fine specimens
here, Bessie, and the hyacinth is rather
a favorite with me. lam sorry | have
50 little time to admire them at pres
ent," he remarked, without q glance in
her direction.
He meant to allow her plenty of
time to gain her wonted composure.
No one could have seemed more
| gentle and considerable.
He bent over the flowers for a few
minutes, inhaling their perfume, and
now and then brushing an atom Of
dust from their glossy lance like leaves.
Then suddenly he glanced at his watch.
Il must be going, Bessie" said he.
1T was an errand that brought me at
this early hour-I should like you to
select the material and color for the
hangings of our drawing-room. The
samples have been sent for your in
spection. Can you come over to the
house-say about luncheon time?'
Certainly, if you wish it," Bessie
replied, coldly.
"Of course I wish it. 1 wish to please
my bride in everything. And if there
are any alterations you would like in
the new furnishing OF the house, 1 beg
you mention the matter, " said darcy.
He advanced as il to embrace her,
then stepped back as if fearing q re-
pulse, and then, with o wistful express
sion, turned toward the door.
It was all exquisite acting, and the
girl knew it. She could picture the
sneer of the sinister lips, the evil gilt
ter of his black eyss, when he had
withdrawn from her sight.
The d'Arc> mansion, which its
owner was newly furnishing for his I'M
loving and unwilling bride, was scarce
ly o than a block distant from Bes-
sizes home.
The two families had been on init
mate terms for many years, and Bessie
did not mind going over to the house
alone, especially as d'Arcy's house
keeper was a dear old lady who had
always been fond OF her.
1t happened through some misunder-
standing in the appointed time, that
Bessie reached the house before her
coming vas anticipated. 1t happened,
too, that some sudden business affair
had summoned darcy away, and that
he had locked the drawing room and
had taken tho key with him.
Bessie was ushered into the library
by the busy, busting house-keeper,
and there left to herself.
You sit right down in Bov's big
chair. There's a lot Of new magazines
on the desk to help you pass away the
time. And Bev won't be gone more'n
half On hour. anyway" the excellent
old lady admonished her, and then
hurried away.
The girl seated herself as directed,
and reached for asocictyjournal which
topped the pile Of the months just
issued periodicals.
But the extended hand was abruptly
| drawn back without touching it,
At that instant she caught a sudden
| glimpse of her deceased fathers sigma
ture, affixed to a paper on the desk.
With an impetuous, and yet involun,
| tary movement, she snatched thepaper
and glanced over it.
It was q bond for five thousand dol,
lars.
But it was pa:d-canceled!
1t was among a quantity of old, vel
lowed, documents, which darcy had
evidently been on the point of destroy
ing when he was summoned away.
A strange, prophetic feeling beset the
girl. Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes
glowed like stars; her heart beat with
almost ~suffocating throbs.
One by one she examined the papers
-some old memoranda and bills o.
sale. But the remaining few were
all notes Or bonds for varying sums
and with her fathers signature affixed
Every Z was marked paid-wa'
Cancelled long ago, and was now abso