The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-24

'H you believe that and still ask ms
to care for you, should despise you.
.atI believe / am mad. say things
which only madman would say. You
are right to despise me. I am glad you
were frank. Pray go on, and say that q
woman can't love man for whom she
feels contempt. But no; you need no1
say il. Twill spare you the disagreeable
task. Goodby, Miss Armadale. I ac'
cept your rejection. l will try to be
man enough to endure my disappoint
ment."
"Alan"- She paused, standing in
The shelter of the sand dune. She put
one hand to cover her eyes; the other
she held toward the angry man who was
turning from her. GLOW unreasonable
how violent You are! Do you expect
me not to take second for redection?
ssI do not mean to be unreasonable,
Hope. But love you till ] have no rear
son left, he said, pausing.
.sTake my hand. Let us be friends
for week more"
AuQ d4Vo1 1u1bs
He held her hand and leaned beside
her against the sand wall of the niche
within which they stood.
esWill nothing content your
.sNothing-but one kiss, Hope Armar
dale, from your sweet lips. Give me
that and can wait for eternity. Let
me have that to remember, and I will
go away and stay till you recall me-dn
you say may come.
She did not shrink from him or mock
him. Ee wound an arm about her fair
1.-the form just as he might for a waltz.
He stopped, and with his disengaged
hand he held her head firmly, and so
mouth to mouth they kissed each other
with long silent Kiss.
81 am content" said Craig with fash
ing eyes. ssI ask no more-no promise,
no pledge-til you are ready to give it.
I am yours. It shall be for you to say
when you viii be mine"
She pressed his hand ever 80 slightly.
ssLet us go home now" she said with
vague alarm in her voice.
Craig left her at the door. There was
company in the parlor and be was in no
mood for careless talk. He strobe along
the wet, dark beach and already began
to reflect upon the nature Of the bond
which he had 80 eagerly ratified.
That night Lucille Eliot went to her
guests room after the latter was in bed.
Slope, y she said, ''you are going too
iar with Alan Craig. Recollect, feel a
responsibility in the matter. .
ssSince men are fools. what can one
doy"
Zone can be honorable, Hope"
seDear Lucille, don't preach to me.
Nothing makes me so wicked as being
preached to. Craig, thank Heaven, goes
off tomorrow-to stay till call him
back. never could have spared him
but for his friend Forsyth's arrival.
Now must see whataI can do with
him"
Miss Eliot sighed bitter little sigh.
Forsyth had made brief cali that even
ing while Craig and Miss Armadale were
down on the beach, and had accepted Sn
nvitation to join a horseback party for
visit to an Indian encampment several
miles from the beach next day.
Miss Eliot had found this new &c
quaintance unusually agreeable. But
she could not expect to hold the atten.
ton of any agreeable man whom it
amused Miss Armadale to f1irt with.
Craig himself was such a firt that the
Eliots had regarded him and Hope as
equally matched. But lately the serious
ness Of the affair had begun to annoy
them in way rather incomprehensible
to persons to whom Miss Armadale was
mere acquaintance of the season.
The day of the visit to the encamp-
ment was one of those strange days that
come at the end Of summer at the sea-
shore and still-with small copper
sun in gray sky.
Miss Armadale had two escorts on the
ride out-a couple Of college boys-with
whom she rode recklessly far in advance
Of the rest.
Forsyth rode beside Miss Eliot. He
had treated Miss Armada1e with re-
serve, having found reasons for so do
ing. His mind was on her, but he almost
ignored her when chance threw them to-
gether.
Lucille and he talked as they rode
with implacable common sense. Forsyth
had never talked such radical common
sense with a woman before. He quite
liked it, except for the distracting
thought of Miss Armadale's beautiful
form in the short green habit, flying
flying along the sandy wood road under
the thin, sad trees-as trees are near the
seashore.
At the encampment they bought bas-
kets and mats, which they fastened
about their waists, and so went riding
homeward.
.'What are you talking about?" Miss
.o:~o1 49, e