Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-01-31
NON-SUITED.

at is no use Edith, we can never
be more to each other than we are
now. We are both penniless, and, in
addition, am up to the collar-bone
in debt"
"But-but you love me?" she asked
timidly,
Love! Bah! What is love? A
nonsensical caprice. Born to-day,
dead tomorrow. Perhaps L did love
yod once; but-well, one can't live on
sentiment. One day our feelings lead
us astray; next, stern circumstances
compels us to be more philosophical.
We have both been wrong; you for
loving me, and L for being foolish
enough to encourage it. But Edith,
our ciandestine cOurtship must cease
from tonight. You are but the gov
erress, you know. whilst well, So
ciety expects great things from me.
You must see how absurd thought
of marriage is for u.s."
- bSl rd!' she murmured. scarcely
realizing that such levity and cruelty
Were possible from the man whom
she had confided her trust some
months before.
Yes, utterly absurd Now, be sensi-
bic. Look ut the matter in Il reason
able light | don't want to hurt your
feelings, you know. but you are aware
that your position in my uncle's house
would of itself ridicule the idea of
marriage between us. OF course, you
will always have Il friend in me. L
shall always be glad to advise, and"
'FraTkr she interrupted.
Don't be hysterical. Edith. There's
really no need for any fuss, you know.
You are poor; so am |. But | have
position to maintain. You haven't.
Come, let us put an end to our fool
ishnesS. There's George Markham,
the curate, you know. He's head over
ears in love with you, and-and you
wouldn't have any difficulty with him.
He'd n.ake Il good husband, and-and
all that sort of thing.
The poor, deluded girl hung ner
head in silence. Her breast heaved
tumultuOusly as she endeavOred to
suppress her emotion. She trembled
in every limb, and for brief moment
the tears stood in her fair blue eyes.
But Edith Malvern, the poor, friend
less little gOVerness, had more phil
CSCphy in her nature than the heart
less II al walking by her side in his
mcleS grounds gave her credit for.
This was a staggering blow TO her.
To have her hopes dashed to the
ground and her heart stabbed with
one sudden, unexpected lunge. was
torture in the extreme. But there was
that within her which enabled her to
hold her feelings in check. Such
words were concentrated cruelty and
bitterness. But they had unlocked
and Opered Il capacity within her
heart which she had previously been
unaware existed there. 1t was the
power to feel and to be thankful for
what she had escaped from. A man
whose opinions of love and Of mar
riage-the most sacred passion and
bond in the univCrSe-were so ALSO
lutely debaSed, must be worthless TO
have been compelled to call such a
man husband" would have been to
one of her nature more fearful than
this sudden Shattering of. her hopes.
Had she discovered his hateful, true
inwardneSS after she had been ire
Vocably yOked to him, her life would
have been one prolonged misery.
Calmly she withdrew her hand from
his arm. Her grief seemed suddenly
asSuaged. She paused by his side,
and. looking steadily into his face,
said:
ut shall be as you wish. Yes, have
been foolish. l am, as you have said,
poOr and of no account in the world.
l am parentlesS as we'll as pennileSs.
Tit would be-absurd to think Of
marriage. Let us forget the past
be as though we had never met. Your
words have forever Ohliterated the
past in my mind. | could not, | would
not. hc your wife. though all the world
urged Inc to it. But syOur debts, your
position! How are you going to eXtri-
cate Yourself from the one and main
tain the other?'
"How uDsophisticated you are,
Edith"
But you do lot surely intend 10
make marriage your emancipation"
she asked
He smiled at her earnest, plying,
semi-credulouS look, and then replied:
'Well. perhaps such Il proposal
Seems-a-pcculiar to you; but, my
dear girl. look at things sensibly.
There's Mary, for instance, my cousin.
She's an heiress. I believe she-well,
thinks u great deal about me. You
must have seen it, Edith. Now
"But, for PHYS. sake, think of what
YOU are going to do. Do not deceive
and betray Miss Mary. Pause before
you attempt to win her love for such
sordid ends. Is it not enough that
you should chill one heart, without de.
liberately breaking another? She is
of such a disposition that when she
discCvered-as she undoubtedly would
some day-that you had more regard
for her wealth than for herself, it
would kill her. l entreat you, consid-
err. For myself, care not; can bear
the revelation. But Mary-no, she
shall not be thus deceived. Oh, con-
sider!'
There was a great deal of cOnsidera-
ton in Frank Vaughn's nature. He
was full of it. But, unfortunately, ii
was all for himself. He did consider
Mary, truly, but not in the manner en-
Joyed by the feeling girl he had de-
ceived. He considered his cousin Il