The record-union., 1895-05-11

"Ahv she said. sDon't! That is un-
generous. l have opposed you, have
annoyed you, l have laughed at you.
| But it was just because liked you. l
! know you are more of a man than these
silly women who worship you can ever
realize. | know you have that IN you
which will make you something more
than woman's autocrat. AND IL is De-
cause know this that L am here. Iry 10
understand this. Try to understand that
l wish you WELL"
Slowly, very slowly, Paul Marvin
turned, the sullen recklessness with
which his handsome features were de-
based stirred and broken with a strug-
| CLING wonder.
You wish me well % he said slowly.
"Your'
What have L done as yet" she said,
ito prove the contrary? What l am GO
ing to do is this. The money"-the
strong, dignified voice faltered q little
must De repaid. That is the first neces-
slty. am rich woman. If you VIII
allow me, shall be glad toto lend you
any sum that may be necessary. And L
shall ask one thing of you in return"
lie did not speak, but his eyes asked
the question aud she answered them.
| II shall ask YOU" she said, ito resign
this living. Don't think" she went on
quickly, that what has happened seems
| TO me to create any such necessity. II
| may be that it is SO, but do not think OF
| that. l ask 1t for your own sake. Inc
atmosphere by which you are surrounded
| here Is poison to you. Go away! 90 TO
some rougher work-to work among
men. Go whore the truths which are be-
coming truisms to you, which are the
small change with which you play the
game of life, will become real to you. Go
ana crush out your vanity, your hunger
for power, your love of admiration, and
let the man behind have fair play"
! She stopped abruptly. Perhaps her
own sensitive ear caught note thrOb-
bing through her strong, vibrating tones
lnaudible TO the man who heard her,
| half dazed and stupefied. 1t was she who
turned away now, resting one hand on
| the mantelpiece and staring down into
the fire.
With a stiff, mechanical movement,
Paul Marvin stretched out one hand to a
| chair and sank into it.
Il don't understand" he muttered,
| II can't understand. You don't
| mean-'
81 mean to help you," she said, in
low voice, 'it-you will let me-"
There was long silence. The fire in
the CRATE crackled and spluttered mer-
rily. AT last Paul Marvin rose, heavily
and umblingly to his feet.
II don't know" he said. hoarsely,
| w Hee L Cdu say W you. L U6T0' uOLQlDG.
l ou are giving me a chance to which |
| have no shadow of right. It's mistake,
l fear. L am not-what you think me-
shall not make-much use of it. But /
shall tryp'
She moved abruptly and came toward
him, holding out her hand and looking
full into his face.
Our bargains made, then" she said.
I'VE will shake hands on it, and will
60"
| But Paul Marvin did not move.
she said.
1T is not fit for you to touch,'' he an
sWered. You are good woman"
NO." she said, "but 1 want to shake
tne hand that is to belong to a good
man."
1t was slow, reluctant touch with
which he met her strong. soft grasp; but
1t changed inSensibly until the grip in
which he held her fingers was saying
what the mans tongue, halting for once.
could not utter. The handclasp loosened
and she was gone.
The Rev. Paul Marvin's resignation of
his living was nine days. wonder to all
the parish. Even the exciting fact that
Mr.. Philip Allardyce, the owner of some
property In the parish, and hitherto con-
sidered unapproachable where subscrip-
tlons were concerned, had sent check
Ior 5lOo pounds Tor the school fund, was
powerless to divert popular attention
| from the distressing excitement of the
hour; and 1t was agreed at more than one
female conclave that it was extremely
possible, no other conceivable solution of
the problem presenting itself, that the al
most profane opposition to the vicar
evinced by that Mrs. Cotgreave" was at
the bottom of the sad loss sustained by
the congregation.
'WhV GhOul6 ho ond bur J,i,ooa1f
among miners" demanded Miss Adams,
bitterly, ''it it is not that she has dis
gusted him with her sex and class? 1
said from the first that she was an abso-
lutely unprincipled woman."-All the
Year Round.