The Dickinson press., 1895-03-02
Katherine BloQnt'S love.
BY THE DUCHESS.

1Ausn' a1lss Blonnt Interrupted
him quickly, eagerly, laying her hand
with unconscious vehemence upon his
arm. whit a spasm Of intense pain shot
across her face. 'Hush, Blackwood-
you must not speak to me like that! I
Will not have it. You are my cousin
my brother-the dearest girl could
have. but nothing more-ncver any.
thing more"
The expression of Blackwood's eyes
changed
DO not pretend to make any mis-
take.' he said, almost sternly, unloos-
ing her fingers from his arm and hold
ing them firmly between his own.
You know as well as I do that, for
everything the world contains, would
not be your brother. You know also
that will be to you all or nothing"
1T must be nothing, then," the girl
answered very sadly, though firmly.
but not daring this time to raise her
eyes to his; after which she walked
away slowly toward the door without
another word. Arrived there, however,
she lingered-woman-lik the
handle in her hand. to see If he would
eeSS A~AssANN
ell speech: but She waited in vain.
Blackwood made no reply: and
Glancins involuntarily toward the
window, where the autumn sun was
cleaning brightly upon the upright fig
ure, she could see that the dark hand
some, loyal face was white to the very
lips.
Blackwood Craven was Miss Blounts
first cousin. as far us relationship went
but i'll reality he Ind ever been far
more to her than that term generally
signifies; III her babyhood he had been
her companion. in her :.irlllood !, BROTH
er, and ever since She had reached the
age OF scvcntccn-.,ow three years
since-hcr steady and constant lover.
His father mad died when the boy
was still in his infancy. ana the mother,
dying some fcw years later. had ctll-
1ided the Ghil,l on her dcath-bpd to her
erly brother. Archibald Elount, toycth-
er With Il few hundred po! ads, and an
earnest prayer that lla would do the
best he c5u'd for the little one. THIS
prayer Mr.. Blount attended to as care
fully as it was III his nllolant. .c!tish
nature to attend to anything
uncol nectcd With his own personal i'll
tcrests. sending his nephew to school.
and from school to college. with the
money intruSttd to his care. until the
lad Lad finished his education. and hid
come hom' ut last. only to fall madly
In love with his b auiful cousin. Then
it is hard to sly what would nave
become Of the hands me. restless fcl-
low had not n brother of his fathers
come forward and obtained for him
q commission in Line rcgmnnt-a
profession very much suited 10 the
, young mans tastes and inclinations.
| This same relative, dying soon after,
left his nephew two hundred n year
whereas lie might quite as easily have
left him two tlousand-upon which,
and his pay rs lieutenant, Blackwood
Craven found it excessively difficult 10
get through his days and live rrspccta-
bic without incurring too numerous lia-
bilities.
His attachment to Katherine Blount
was the one ruling passion of his life.
She was part of his existence. He
worshipped the girl with blind idola-
try, pouring out on lcr generous
wealth of love Of which she was scarce
ly worthy. In his eyes, however, she
was perfection, no flaw ever appearing
to his stricken sight powerful enough
to dim the faultleSsness of his idol,
while he ever dreamed fondly, unceas-
ingly, of the time when this woman,
who was to him Il very goddess, should
be his wife.
ills poverty was an 'nslrmountable
barrier in the pres it was true, but
in time, if she would only consent to
wait a little-and something whispered
to him that he was surely moe 20 her
than all the other men who thronged
around her and baskcd in her sweet
smiles-he would conquer fortune
bravcly, and claim her honorably for
his own. So lie argued; and not all
Katherine's chilling speeches or hasty
frowns could entirely check the mad
longing Of his heart.
Such scenes as that Just described
had become Of late very frequent be-
tween them-l warfare in Which some
times ono, sometimes the other. came
off victorious. To-day indeed the game
was In Miss B!ount's small hands, h)w-
ever it might be tomorrow; and yet
somehow, in spite If her triumph, the
girl felt Il certain heavy weight lying
cOldly upon her heart, Us she closed
the library door and walked forward
into the hall.
"What can be the matter With mc?'
she asked herself, irnpatiently, pushing
back her hair YEARLY FRI m her fore.
head. "Blackwood's face is haunting
me, and seem to have lost all longing
for this ball WAS so ready to cry about
not five minutes ago. 1 want air,
suppose, to dispel my fancies, so ]
shall just order my horse and go over
to Harriet Chqtteris to see If she can
not rouse me from this strange depres
sion"-having come to which decision
she gave her orders to a passing serv
ant, and went slowly and listlessly uI
the stairs to exchange her morning
dress for her habit.