Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-03-09
CHAPTER KIN.

4t'f4 b! WAX reason nave SlttluCtl
tsr Natural impulse Of my heart and con-
trn.ir,! 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 IL You, should feel that
Ai- memory was still a bar which respect
for widowed love forbade Inc to pass. But
the proofs Of his preference for a worthless
woman, 81 lis hcartless treachery toward
yuu. must lougago have eXtinguished every
SPARK If affection you felt FOR him or am
utterly mistaken in your character. No;
would rather have you refuse 10 be my wife
Tor another cause, much rs that other cause
would strain the bonds Of dear friend
ship"
That other cause-I DO not understand
you quite now"
Il VII speak plainly, though / betray
my ussn 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-hide 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. 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"
III knew that, should not. l could
| not stay with him"
Tell me that again." be said eagerly,
'for II you do not know that 1t is because
you do not love him."
"Iie does not love me- II thought II
necessary to defend myself. could tell you
why"
Il do not ask for explanation. It Il
enough for me that you say 1t is SO. and
thank God for it. Forgive me il I have
offended you. You must forgive me, know.
ing how deep my passion Is by tho mad
lengths to which it has led me. Look in
my face-see how my hand trembles. Oh
II 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 oil
an abyss.
"You frighten me. Let us 60. You hurt
NY uulLA oftlu LII Udlu.
1T is past. See, am q rational being
again now. There. you are free to leave me
If you will. but for PHYS sake give me an
answer now. I swear to abide by your de
cision, and If you bid me go will 60. and
you shall never see my face again. You
have told me you cannot marry. but moi
why"
~ do not know. It may be only senti
ment that makes It seem impossible
feeling that ought not to marry"
| III it he only sentiment, reason will II
time prevail. Take time to consider my
offer. 1t is too grave question to be de
cided in one moment. Until now the ides
Of being my wife has not presented itselt
to your imagination"
Indeed it has never entered my
thoughts. have regarded you always a,
a friend-a most generous and loyal FRIEND
but not-not''-
Not as q lover. No, my manner Il
against me. Filtration is odious to me
Love seems to me too great a thing to b,
frittered away. A man should have on,
passion and no more. q grand passion Il
which all ends are subjected, and such I
love offer you. Think of me during tn,
coming week not as friend only. but as
lover, and next Sunday let me know m,
fate. ask you now only to promise mi
that"
II promise" said Judith family.
with all my soul / thank you- Res
assured that shall not attempt to alte
your decision. It shall be final. II 70,
tell me that you cannot be my wife, shall
throw up everything ON the morrow ant
leave England forever. Come, let us e
back mere friends as we came. You
father still there-see."
Judith made no answer. She may hav
been thinking, as doubtless Kavanagh in
tended she should think. of what woul,
befall her father II she refused to marry.
Thought it advisable to tell Mr.. Pelham
of the discovery had made, or at leas
part Of 1t. and that. I confess, not the leas
important part in my estimation. An or
portunity occurred that evening.
Mr.. Pelham had brought his sister hom
from church, and being induced to stay {
supper with US we were left together Will
the precise Miss Janet was changing he
churchgoing dress up stairs.
II am delighted to see you looking ,
we'll" said he. smiling. as he seated hin
self opposite to me and drew of his gloves
"You look 10 years younger than when
saw you last Tuesday"
II feel 10 years younger" replied. II
deed had not felt SO happy and hopefu
since the day returned to London.
have been in the country today. and-and
have something to tell you"
ut must be good news to have had sue
an effect upon you"
ut u good newA Oh. better than any
have dared to hope fori' I said. thinkin
only Of Judith's positive assurance tina
Taras did not love her. II have found on
Kavanagh's motive-a motive which ex
plains every act Of villainy he has commit
ted"
THAT is q very satisfactory discovery
At any rate. 1t Is to me; for, as you ma,
recollect, intimated that some specia
purpose must have induced him TO tax
Colonel Bells affairs inland"
He had special purpose He IL In Low
with Mr.. Bells daughter, Judith, who wa
engaged to George Gordon, and today b
has made her an offer of marriage, threat
ening to throw up everything and leav
England at once If she refuses"
"You don't say sof' exclaimed Mr.. Pei
ham, regarding me In establishment, no
unmingled with perplexity. Thepoor ma
must have been quite at loss to under
stand the connection between my presen
elated condition and the revelation Of DOC
Judith's distress.
HAS Miss Bell consented to marry M,
Kavanagh"
mo, she is to give him decisive answe
next Sunday"
Next Sunday-hum!" He held his hea,
on one side and looked down on the groun,
exactly like bird at an empty husk. an,
then perking c2 he asked. with q httl
hesitation, Have you anything else {.
addi"
mo; that is all have to tell you"
He regarded the husk again, seriousl,
this time. and twiddling his thumbs oh
served:
well. really, do not see any great caus
for exultation over this affair. for II Mis-
Bell consents your friend, Mr.. Gordon, ma,
lose his sweetheart. and If she refuses b
may as certainly lose a considerable part o
his fortune"
II was not thinking Of that, !" confessed
sobered at once by this plain statement o
the position. but George Gordon will b
back before they could be married"
That depends on variety of circum
stances over which we have no control II
the first place. we must not count too sure
ly upon Mr.. Gordon's escape. We have t,
trust to the honesty of Mr.. Lazarus, tn
good faith of Peter Shemyl, the dishonest,
Of a long line Of officials. and at any poin
we may be deceived. Then, again, thre
weeks is a long time, and q clever rasca
may do much before it expires. II Mis-
Bell consents, he will naturally hurry OF
the marriage. With a special license, the,
might be married in few days. II Mis-
Bell was engaged to Mr.. Gordon only tire,
or four months back. she would probabl,
wish to avoid publicity and be glad to gel
it over as quickly as possible. The mo
ment they are married It is pretty Ger
tain that KavanaRh will accept the term.
offered by the Potteries company ant