Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-03-29
She looked Mt me full in the face, her

oclleve me responsible for his change
OF mind toward you and guilty of hav-
ing captured his estate. know that
you believe me avaricious, liar plot
ter! However, | am none of these
things"
"Ah! then, you are not his heiress?"
asked, with bitter irony
"Yes am his heiress! But | did
nothing that the most scrupulous del
icacy could object to! often begged
your uncle to send for you, and | only
ceased when the doctor assured me
that my constant demands worried the
patient Your uncle was my benefac-
tor. lie saved me from misery and
could not do anything which would
prove me ungrateful. When he was
attacked with the strange within OF
preferring me to you, | was obliged to
submit AS he was then too i'll to be
opposed"
"But you inherit the estatel' re-
peated, with the same melancholy
irony.
81 inherit it-well?'
CHc RdZeu uAeuly NJ me.
IF you were in my place, what would
you think?' exclaimed.
Just what you will think" and she
drew small packet from her pocket
and handed 1t to me, saying: "Forgive
the old man and destroy this proof OF
his delirium."
was too much astonished to speak.
My hands trembled. Confusedly ! re.
allied how wrong had been in blam.
ing her.
What do you meanP" finally STAN.
mered.
THAT is the will. | give 1t to you,
and you remain the heir of your unhap-
Ply uncle"
was SO overcome by her answer
that Twas obliged to lean against the
wall for support-so ashamed that |
could not look her in the face-her
whom | had SO basely accused
After few minutes | collected my
self and begged in a supplicating voice.
Forgive me! Take back this packet!
would rather die than accept the es-
tate on such conditions"
And II" she exclaimed, vehemently
and disdainfully. DO you think that
! will touch it9 Do you think would
defile myself by stealingP'
| 81 have misunderstood you," | ex-
claimed ~ have acted like brute I
am miserable fool"
| ut does not matter now We shall
probably never see each other again"
She spoke gently in an absent manner.
Her beautiful eyes had a faraway look,
and now knew that she was really
pure, innocent, stainless
| "Ahl" / murmured. "Of what use Is
the money to me? To receive 1t thus
from your hands is the hardest Of pun
ishments. will not have It'll To re-
ceive it from you, who refused me SO
coldly; from you, who despise me with
such humiliating gentleness! l should
consider myself dsgraced for life"
what do you say? Disgraced be-
cause return to you what belongs to
you? Because l refuse to profit by the
unreasonable within of an invalid?" 0
She retreated q few steps, and her ad.
mlrable beauty filled my heart with
alteration. "Ah! why should you not
accept my lover cried "Why would
you let me have no part in your life?"
81 was poor girl, treated with kind
ness and trusted. should have be-
trayed that kindness and trust in listen
ing to you"
"Would you have listened to me then
If you had been rich?" exclaimed.
She cast down her eyes and remained
minute undecided. Then lifting her
long eyelashes she said simply:
II think sol"
My excitement increased, words
failed me, and could only stammer:
But now-you can -"
She motioned me to be silent. After
few minutes of deep thought she said:
To-day think that have the right
to listen to you. My refusal or accept
ance depends now only upon my own
inclination"
approached and implored her:
Accept my life or refuse itr'
II will not refuse" she answered
gently. And suddenly smiling sweetly
she said, with subtle feminine irony:
~ would never have refused it, for If
you fell quickly in love with me |, too.
was not slow in loving you"
caught Laure's hands and kissed
them humbly, but she gently drew
them away, and begged me to remem-
Der the presence of the dead, which, to
tell the truth, | had almost forgotten.
Thus captured my inheritance. -
Romance