The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-07
CHAPTER xLvI.
PREPARING FOR POSSIBILITIES.

been repugnant to you" Kavanagh TO
piled. For that reason j 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. II Gordon were dead and
had died faithful to yor, should feel that
his memory was still a bar which respect
for widowed love forbade me TO pass. But
the proofs of his preference for worthless
woman. of his heartless treachery toward
you, must long ago have extinguished 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 a dear friend.
ship"
"That other cause-I do not understand
you quite now"
II will speak plainly. though betray
my own weakness. / 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-bide my passion
no more. 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 / see him take your
hand'--
"Oh, Mr.. Kavanaghr'
"No, no-you must hear me out now that
speak. for 1t 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 knew that, should not, could
not, stay with him."
"Tell me that again." he said eagerly,
"for if you do not know that 1t is because
you do not love him."
"He does not love me. II / thought IL
necessary to defend myself, I could tell you
why"
enough for me that you say 1t is SO, and /
thank God for it. Forgive me IL 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 trembles. Oh,
If you knew, as one day / hope you shall
know, what / have done to make you
mine''-- He paused, as IL perceiving that
his passion had brought him to the edge of
an abyss
"You frighten me- Let us go. You hurt
my hand" Judith said in pain.
1T is past. See am a rational being
again now. There, you are free to leave me
If you will, but for PHYS sake give me an
answer now. / swear to abide by your de-
cision, and If you bid me go ! will 90, and
you shall never see my face again. You
have told me you cannot marry. but not
why"
II do not know. It may be only senti-
ment that makes IL seem impossible-a
feeling that 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-
cded in one moment. Until now the idea
of being my wife has not presented itself
to your imagination"
Indeed it has never entered my
thoughts. / have regarded you always as
friend-a most generous and loyal friend
but not-not'--
''Not as a lover. No, my manner Is
against me. Filtration Is odious to me.
Love seems to me too great thing to be
frittered away. A man should have one
passion and no more, a grand passion to
which all ends are subjected, and such
love offer you. Think Of me during the
coming week not as friend only, but as a
lover, and next Sunday let me know my
fate. / ask you now only to promise me
that"
~ promise" said Judith family.
with all my soul thank you. Rest
assured that / shall not attempt to alter
your decision. 1t shall be final. If you
tell me that you cannot be my wife, 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.
thought it advisable to tell Mr.. Pelham
of the discovery had made, or at least
part of it, and that, Lconfess. not the least
important part in my estimation. An op-
portunity occurred that evening.
Mr.. Pelham had brought his sister home
from church, and being induced to stay to
supper with us we were left together while
the precise Miss Janet was changing her
churchgoing 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"
II feel 10 years younger" replied. In
deed had not felt so happy and hopeful
since the day l returned to London. II
have been In the country today, and-and l
have something TO tell you"
ut must be good news to have had such
an effect upon you"
ut is good news. Oh, better than any
have dared to hope fori' 1 said, thinking
only or Judrrhs positive assurance ina.
Taras did not love her. II have found out
Kavanagh's motive-.-a motive which ex.
plains every act OF villainy he has commit
ted"
"That II a very satisfactory discovery.
At any rate, IL is TO me; for, as you may
recolect, l intimated that some special
purpose must have induced him to take
Colonel Bells affairs in hand"
"He had special purpose. He is in love
with Mr.. Bells daughter, Judith, who was
engaged to George Gordon, and today ht
has made her an offer of marriage, threat
ening TO throw up everything and leave