Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-11-07
CHAPTER XLVI.
a -@Ns 49, Il
PREPARING FOR POSSIBILITIES.

been repuCnant to YOU" Kavanagh re-
piled. For that reason l have subdued
the natural impulse of my heart and con-
trolled the expression of my dearest hopes
even to the extent, fear, of seeming re
served and cold. If Gordon were dead and
had died faithful to you, should feel that
his memory was still bar which respect
for widowed love forbade me to pass. But
the proofs of his preference for a worthless
woman, of his heartless treachery toward
you, must long ago have eNtinguished every
spark of affection you felt for him or am
utterly mistaken in your character. No: /
would rather have you refuse to be my wife
for another cause, much as that other cause
would strain the bonds of dear friend
ship"
That other cause-I do not understand
you quite now"
Il will speak plainly, though l betray
my own weakness. l am jealous of Taras
| have been jealous of him since you came
here, and this feeling has grown, not with
out reason, until it is too great to be con-
cealed. 1t urges me on to this last point
can be silent no longer-hide my passion
no more. l must speak and end the tor
ment in which live. The vitriol that was
thrown into his eyes is nothing to the cor
roding venom that scars my very soul and
blinds my reason when I see him take YOUR
hand"-
"Oh, Mr. kavanagh!''
NO, nO-you must hear me out now that
speak, for it may be the last time. You
are all in all to Taras You are with him
every hour of the day He loves you-you
must know that"
If I knew that, l should not, could
not, stay with him"
Tell me that again. he said eagerly,
"for if you do not know that it is because
you do not love him
He does not love me. If 1 thought it
necessary to defend myself. could tell you
why"
Il do not ask for explanation. 1t is
enough for ME that you say it is so, and
thank God for it. Forgive me if l have
offended you. You must forgive me, know
ing how deep my passion is by the mad
lengths to which it has led me. Look in
my face-see how my hand tremblcs oh,
if you knew, as one day l hope you shall
know, what l have done to make YOU
mine He paused, rs if perceiving that
his passion had brought him to the edge of
an abyss.
You brighten me. Let us GO You hurt
my hand" Judith said in pain
1t is past. See, am rational being
again now. There, you are free to leave me
if you will, but for PHYS sake give me an
answer now. l swear to abide by Your de
cision, and if sou bid me go will go, and
You shall never see my face again. You
have told me you cannot marry, but not
why"
Il do not know. 1t may be only senti-
Tent that makes it seem impossible-a
feeling that l ought not to marry"
If it be only sentiment, reason will in
time prevail. Take time to consider my
offer 1t is too grave question to be de
cided in one moment. Until now the idea
of being my wife has not presented itself
to your imagination"
Indeed it has never entered NV
thoughts. l have regarded you always as
n friend-a most generous and loyal friend
but not-nOt'-
Not as Il lover. No, my manner is
against me. Filtration is odious to me.
Love seems o me too great thing to be
frittered away. \ man should have one
passion and no more, Il grand passion to
which all ends are subjected, and such a
love l offer you. Think of me during the
coming week not as Il friend only, but as a
lover, and next Sunday let me know nv
fate. | ask you now only to promise me
that"
Il promise" said Judith family
with all my soul 1 thank you Rest
assured that l shall not attempt to alter
your decision. 1t shall be final. If you
tell me that you cannot be my wife, l shall
throw up everything on the morrow and
leave England forever. Come let US go
back mere friends as we came Your
father still there-see.'
Judith made no answer. She may have
been thinking, as doubtless kavanagh in
tended she should think, of what would
befall her father if she refused to marry.
l thought it advisable to tell Mr. Pelham
of the discovery 1 had made, or at least
part of it, and that, l confess not the least
important part in my estimation. An OPP
portunity occurred that evening
Mr.. Pelham had brought his sister home
from church, and being induced to stay to
supper with lis we were left together while
the precise Miss Janet was changing her
churclgo dress up stairs
Il am delighted to see you looking SO
we'll, said he, smiling, as he seated him
self opposite to me and drew Off his gloves.
You look 10 Years younger than when
saw you last Tuesday"
Il feel 10 years younger | replied. In
deed had not felt so happy and hopeful
since the day l returned to London Il
have been in the country today, and-and
have something to tell you"
1t must be good news to have had such
an effect upon you"
1t is good news. oh, better than any !
have dared to hope for!'' ! said, thinking
Only of Judith's positive assurance that
Taras did not love her. I have found out
kavanagh'S motive-a motive which OK
plains every act of villainy he has commit
ted
That is very satisfactory discovery.
At any rate, it is to me; for, rs You may
recolect, intimated that some special
purpose must have induced him to take
Colonel Bells affairs in hand
HE had a special purpose lie is in love
with Mr.. Bells daughter, Judith. who was
engaged to George Gordon, and today he
has made her an offer of marriage, threat
ening to throw up everything and leave
England at once if she refuses
You don't say So" exclaimed Mr. Pei
ham, regarding me in establishment, not
unmingled with perplexity. Thepoor man
must have been quite at Il loss to under
stand the connection between my present
elated condition and the revelation of poor
Judith's distress.
Has Miss Bell consented to marry Mr.
kavanach?"
NO, she is to give him decisive answer
next Sunday"
Next Sunday-hum.' He held his head
on one side and looked down on the ground
exactly like bird ut an empty husk, and
then pcrking up he asked, with a little
hesitation. Have you anything else tc
add:"
mo; that is all have to tell you"
He regarded the husk again, seriously
this time, and twiddling his thumbs OBJ
served:
We'll, really, do not see any great cause
for eNultation over this affair, for if Miss
Bell consents your friend, Mr.. Gordon, may
lose his sweetheart and if she refuses he
may as certainly lose considerable part Of
his fortune"
Il was not thinking of that l confessed,
sobered at once by this plain statement of
the position. But George Gordon will be
back before they could be married.
That depends on variety of circum-
stances over which we have no control. In
the first place we must not count too sure