The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-09

or years before.
Presently he said with an effort:
Elise
Yes"
Dont you think rIo very oid?'
"Oid? why, no; what makes You tank
so?'
Nor selfish. either?"
"soloshq Uncle Aubrey" shc said ten
derry. you're as far from seinsn as one
could ---."
Have ever made you feel that was
tired OF you. little girl?'
"Nevet." she replied, her face beam
ing with gratitude Don't talk so: ]
didn't mean It, indeed | didn't"
Then do sou think / would tire Of you
II YOU were my wifeY'
Her clear laughter rang through the
room. Why. you dear old fraudw she
cried payfully: II verify believe you're
thinking about getting married" She was
al interest In a moment Laying her
hand on his shoulder coaxingiy. she said
Now tell me all about It. you'll feel
better If you tell somebody. ] can keep
secret beautifully. Is she pretty?'''
Yes"
BLONDE or brunette?"
Brunette"
How old Is she?"
about seventeen"
And do you really love herr
VERY dearly"
Her eyes literally danced with glee
How DELIGHTFULLY."- sentimental she
laughed 80 you're caught after all, ay?
That establishes my argument at dinner
to-day. You know / said / believed
every man fell In love some time during
his life. Better late than never. But
aren't you going TO tell me her nameY
Elise" he replied cycling her sharply
to catch the effect.
Indeed? Elise? Singular, isn't 1t? I'm
sure / shall be answering whenever you
call her"
quite likely" he admitted mechanical
~
But her full name-Elise what?'
elise Elmer" came the pointed reply.
The girl looked provoked. Her lip curl
ed into a reproachful pout and she hung
her head as one reminded Of ones igno-
rance. you're positively cruel" she
said, in a tone of censure. Here / was
all Interested in a pretty romance, and
you enjoying your ridiculous joke at my
expense. How could you treat me sou
II only wish Ct were a joke" he said
seriously, taking her hand. "Yon must
understand mel love you-will you be
my wfe?'
A look Of helpless confusion crossed
her face. She shrank slightly at first,
then recovered herself, and said: do
not think me ungrateful. You have al
WAYS been so good to me. But / never
dreamed you cared for me this way.
do hope you are mistaken -"
AT my age? I'm no child to be in
duIeing in day-dreams. You are now old
enough and wise enough to choose for
yourself. You must. you shall-your
beauty maddens me --.
He threw his arms around her almost
flercely and held her lightly while
pleading with her.
Let me GO" she cried, half daZed with
fright 81 cannot kiss you now; it is
wrong; everything is different. Oh-let--
me so -"
Twice the dignifed critic completely
forgot himself. and kissed the quivering
lips despite the girls protests. Then he
relaxed his hold with a kind of dull.
teasing sensation like that of a child
after cooling the heat of his anger in
a flood of tears, and stood with hang
dog expression as though disappointed
with himself. The girls face was strange
" pale She looked him through and
through. Her features were full of pitt
fui contempt. IL couldn't have believed
It! And Of you, tool" she said, with cut
ting reproach.
"Forgive me-" he pleaded; overlook
my weakness; II was all -" She
silenced him with a gesture. Hush!
Speak not OF weakness that is no eX-
cuse for man to offer" Then she
straightened herself to her full height.
and added: Never speak of love TO me
again! i can never care that for you,
swapping her fingers sharply. Her face
flushed crimson, and with that chilling
haughtlness which springs from wo-
mans injured pride she LEFT the room
abruptly, and hurried to her chamber.
That same defiant hauteur of her
mother I'll sWear!' unused Mr.. Brunne
as ne threw one leg over the arm of his
morocco-covered smoking chair and
lighted his cigar wiz a languid air. A
heavy frown settle on his forehead.
"D-n the luck! two failures in as many
generations" he soliloquized. Perhaps
she'll come around later, though and
he smiled a smile OF confidence, as he
gazed out Of the window in half-conscious
| reverle at the great red moon slowly APP
preaching the horizon.
CHAPTER ".
Young Hamilton was too well bred TO
| display the slightest degree Of surprise
| at the formelity between his host and
| the iatter's ward when dinner was an
nounced at g. Their dignity towards each
other was painfully scrupulous, and he
| did not fail 10 observe that Elises great
| brown eyes avoided somewhat pointedly
those of her guardian. He and the girl
4
| in the old World. however, and by re-
calling a number of mutually amusing
experiences he created enough humor TO
| keep the hour from dragging heavily. He
| was sure he had never seen her so tan
| taizingly beautiful before, while she her
| self did not fail to note that he could
not keep his eyes off of her. He did not
know that her heart fiuttered now and
| then when she caught his eyes fixed upon
| her with kind OF appealing look as ten
der as it was unntentional. Brunne OBJ
served IL, while occasionally dropping
some remarks about the latest furore in
| musical circles. the merits of Crawford S
| most recent story, and the like.
When a woman suddenly discovers that
| the man against whose fascination she
has been struggling for weeks loves her
| in secret, she can usually manage to
bring the matter 10 a focus without COM
| promise on her part. Within less than
half an hour after Mr.. Brunne had gone
| TO the club Elise unconsciously over-came
| the young hterateurs pride. what was
| said and done need hardly be detailed
| here. Sufficient to say they reached an
understa nding mutually satisfactory, and
| at y o'clock, when Aubry Brunne threw
| himself into his spacious smoking chair
| 10 cogitate he did not dream that his
| pretty ward whose delicious hauteur
| completely unstrung him had not retired
| at her usual hour.
How he looked at her across the table
| with his heart in his throat mused the
| critic as he shook the ashes from the
end of his Havana. ELISE ii never take
| TO so tender. hearted man as that