The Press., 1894-06-07
CHAPTER XXIII.
"1LovE YOU. RALPH. J

1T LOVE YOU. RALPH. y
 Joyce, sonorous]y slumbering upon his barrel, was aroused and the horses brought from their temporary stables ill the village. The first portion of the homeward ride was performed in si lence The reaction from the intense mental and physical strain which Monckton had undergone for so many hours left him depressed and little morose. Imogene, on the contrary, was busy with sweet thoughts. She pos .sessed knowledge the want of whicE made him unhappy-she knew she loved him, while he. with the blindness which affects the cleverest men whe1p women are concerned. particularly if they are in love, never suspected the truth. He believed that he had won her respect. He would almost have preferred her hatred. That would at least have been something positive, something to put him on his mettle and sting his pride awake. But respect! You may go to the funeral of man you respect and talk stocks or politics i'll the carriage, lift your hat at the grave and return home with the sense of disagreeable duty performed. You respect good, wor- thy, uninteresting people: virtuous bores and fine old gentlemen who have lost all their hearing and part of their wits because you do not know what else to do with them. But such is not our feel ing for the one whose feet make sacred ground where they pass, and whose name is delicious music. With ideas like these running in his brain, it is not astonishing that Ralph Monckton held his head down, silent and disinclined to speak. But Inogene, rid ing beside him, smiled mysteriously from time to tune and gazed at him with eyes whose sweet confession was hidden by the darkness. At length, how ever, her happiness overdowed at her lips.
 Ralph she said. "are you not proud?"
 "Proud!'' he repeated, coming out of his reverie with start. Proud of what?'' "
 "Of being a hero," she replied, for | you are hero, you know, Ralph"
 "You are either exaggerating or laughing at me, he said, shrugging his shoulders-a French trick of which she meant to cure him when-well, when he understood! And how dull he was not to understand ''If the former, suppose must thank you. If the lat ter, no doubt I have given you reason enough" .
 There were tears in her eyes. II think you have done grand, noble. beautiful thing, Ralph. And, oh, Ralph, what should I have done if you had not come back to me from that hor- rible mine!''
 ''Take care, Imogene! You are mak- ing me hope.'
 They had halted before the gate to her dwelling. Help me down, Ralph. y
 For moment, as he lifted her from the saddle, he held her in his embrace. She did not free herself; on the con- trary, she put her arms about his neck and drew his lips down to meet her own. 1T love you, Ralph" she murmured. "Oh, my dear! could you not seer"
 Ralph Monckton and his affianced wife were walking in the garden of the mansion of which she was soon to be the mistress. In the features and man. ner of both happiness was clearly ex- pressed, though in different way. With him it was proud confidence, blended with tender protectiveness. With he1 it was sweet humility and that gentle yielding up of personality which is, aft CT all, woman's real strength. She hung upon his arm as if she feared he might melt away and be lost to her. She watched his lips as he spoke, sometimes thinking of his words, and as ofter thinking how handsome he was. Ali such times she laid her cheek upon his coat sleeve-wheIe. women get such charming tricks can't imagine. And once or twice as he talked she took his hand and brushed her lips across it, ar act of delicious homage which caused him-perhaps it was meant to do so- to draw her close to him and kiss her.
 It was at such moment that a third person suddenly appeared before them in the path. It was Matthew North pale and wan, as one recovering from { long illness, but with calm eye and com posed manner, and neatly attired, as il for a journey.
 ''Mr. Joyce told me should find you here," he said. "I have come to bid you adieu.'
 You are going to leave us, Mat thew?" asked the girl.
 "Yes," he replied; have an offer as assistant engineer at Alleghany."
 "Can you not make up your mind tc stay here, North?'' said Monckton We have both made mistakes and have misunderstood each other. need thu assistance of man like you, North Can we not work together ill tuture?'
 No" responded the miner. witt something of his old imperious manner "The men here no longer look upon mt with respect, and though I have beer all wrong in my dealings with you, ant freely admit it, yet cannot submit t' sink into the position of an underling. must lead; cannot follow. Here ther' is nothing more for me to do. 1 forese' that your rule will be wise, just ant firm. must go where men are suffer
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