Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-11-23

make himself quite at his ease. But
Kulu responded that no word or hint
OF the real state OF affairs had ever
passed his lips, from the hour when he
FIRST discovered Mr.. Benning until now.
must do the dog the justice OF saying
that he seemed to me to be perfectly
sincere and honest in all he was say
ing. Very naturally | should have
been glad to witness the conclusion Of
the quarrel, but was in a great hurry
to improve your fathers absence, and
here | am accordingly"
well, you can go back as quick as
you came" declared Alma, with an an
ger under which was visible u certain
uneasiness. 81 will have nothing to do
with you! l want no speech with you
whateverl"
"Then the proposed talk will be a
little one-sided for have quite num-
Der OF things to say to you, Miss Bull
let, and am here to say them. won't
leave this place until | have unbur-
dened myself, or until I have made an
awful row with your Mr.. Benning, My
| decided impression is that you had bet
| ter hear me"
The manner of Keeri, no less than
his declarations, impressed Alma
strongly. She saw that he was in one
Of those sullen and ugly moods which
can be inspired only by bitter jeal-
ousy. Her decision was promptly
taken.
IF you can possibly have anything to
say to me, after what have already said
to you," she murmured, In voice Of
scorn and with look Of defiance, "why,
say 1t, and quickly"
Keeri took his pipe from his mouth,
and his air became the attentive air of
business.
when you sent me adrift the other
day." he began, "had you ever seen
this Mr.. Benning?"
The girls features contracted and
she blushed to scarlet. This question
ing was visibly and deeply revolving to
her. But she controlled her emotions
and answered with an outward show Of
calmness.
mo, had never seen him. rejected
you because did not love you; because
you were half-breed; because you are
poor; because you have no home to
take me to; because your wife must in
evitably be drudge and q nobody, and
because I have other and higher views
for myself-all good and substantial
reasons, If am not immensely mis-
taken.
The Kanaka's countenance bright
ened in the same ratio that one would
have expected it to darken. He evil
IDENTIFY saw in all this series of declara-
tions only one essential point, namely,
that it was not because of the stranger
under Bullets roof that he had been
rejected.
There is no reason why you should
abide by your former decision, Alma,
he declared, his voice softening, and a
look of mingled love and admiration
pleading in his eyes. Il have not for
moment accepted it. l love you to-
day better than ever. You are the
prettiest and best girl in all these ISL
ands. AS to the drawbacks you have
heretofore refrained from mentioning,
I have not been unmindful Of them, and
have sought and found remedy for
such of them as are important. With
my love, l can now offer you home all
ready to move into, and snug little
fortune bequeathed to me by an
aunt. l refer to the Creeka place,
which is now mine. AS to my COM
plexion, that does not prevent me from
having both brains and heart. With
my changed circumstances | shall be
able to move in the best society of the
capital, and in that way | shall acquire
polish and all the marks of a gentle
man. So that | shall become, If not 80
good husband as you deserve, at the
least as good a husband as the island
can afford. Let me hope, therefore, in
conclusion, that you will change your
mind in my favor and marry me-"
This was all said so respectfully and
so effectively that Alma could not
listen with entire stoniness of heart.
She knew well the value of the inherit
ance which had reached her sutton,
and had sufficient appreciation of the
man himself. But an immense gulf
now existed between his ideas and her
own, and she did not hesitate an in
slant to place herself in direct opposi-
tion to him.
"You have reached your good for
tune too late for it to have any weight
in this matter" she declared, in hard
voice and with an icy manner. 81 con-
graduate you, of course, as a friend,
upon your improved condition in life,
but it can never change my late decis-
ion. 1t is impossible that should ever
marry YOU"
"And why impossible?" asked Keeri
quickly.
do not ask me"
"But l will ask you, and 1 have a
right to an answer. Why is it impos-
sible for you to marry me? Mr. Bullet
has never seemed very friendly to me,
but he will not now refuse"
"Oh, he Willie does, as / do"
The declaration served as prompt
fuel to the flames already raging in
Keeri's soul.
But why should your father object
to me?" he demanded, in a hoarse, con-
centrated voice. "And why do you re-
fuse me?"
"Since you force me to tell" replied
Alma, looking him coldly and squarely
in the eyes, 1T is because | love an
other"
The shock of this assertion was so
terrific that Keeri, old smoker as he
was, dropped his pipe for the first time
in his life through mental cause.
"And who is the man you love?" he
breathed, in hoarse whisper, as he
leaped to his feet and stood trembling
before her in jealous and despairing
rage. is he Mr.. Benningw