The evening times., 1895-10-31

runs"
II hesitate, and / want you to reflect"
looking down with sweet shyness. Have
you ever thought what mill stone around
mans neck a man. mean who is strug-
CLING upward) q penniless wife must be?"
'Yes. If he hadn't foothold; but when
he has gained tolerable firm one and has
decent prospects he will find the best back
ing up TO lie a happy home with the woman
he loves n real helpmate."
Then am afraid am rather useless"
and her voice snunded trenulous
You see. belonged to people who were
well Off and 1 never learned anything
useful"
You are too intelligent not to be use
full. Probably you shrink from begin
ming with bristling difficulties, and cramped
by small means"
NO. nu, nor she exclaimed, eagerly,
Il only dread being burden and you ysu
must not lightly throw away fortunei II
Is perhaps treachcrous Of me. yet / betray
no confidence. for i truly guess from an
pearances; but think Miss Ogievie was IN.
clined to like you from the hour you came
TO our rescue when those boatmen At
Cadenabbia tried to impase upon u.s.
Il know nothing abnut that. 1 dare say
Miss Ogleyie is a good woman. 1 see she
is fine one. but she Is not the womanI
love. Come. be mercIful, and say IL you
could care for me, or tell me to go"
give me-give yourself till to-morrow-
1t is most serious question:" Her voice
faltered. Forgive me II am too eager.
my little darling. You, you believe love
you" and so ON for some glowing seu-
tences.
IF 1 were not SO poor" faltered his
hearer.
That is my concern"
..And how dreadfuly angry your aunt
will be-" she resumed.
That is impossible returned waring,
and he laughed pleasantly. ''poor Aunt
Effie, she has been very good TO ME, but
she loves the snlcr However. am not
going to let her mammon worship Interfere
with my happiness, nor shall ask you to
write. To-nIurrow afternoon 1 shall pre-
sent myself and ask for yes or no.
Think could make You happy, for don't
believe ] should love you as 1 do IL
there was not something answering within
the external force of your tremendous
prudence"
Il wish you had a little of it, Mr..
Waring."
In spite OF her wise words she stole an
upward glance of happy tenderness at hef
lover that made his heart throb the hope
of joy.
1T is late. / must run away home, OIL
l shall get a scolding'
II shall follow more deliberately and
ask my aunt for sume dinner. Then, al
least, / shall be able to see you Ah
Well, to-murrow " shall end all masqueradina
and doubt"
Yes, it shalE" she returned in a low,
but decided tone, and having left her hand
for minute in his, she turned and walked
quickly toward Lexmore terrace.
Waring did not receive a very cordial well
come from his aunt. However, his spirita
seemed quite unaffected by her chiliness-
and after dinner lie ventured to ask iittls
Miss Ridley to sing them Scotch ballad
which she did with much sweetness and
expression. Miss Maclaren, nevertheless.
insisted on a hit at backgammon, a game
she loved. Never had she made so much
noise over it-rattliDg the dice viciously
as if TO drown the music. Miss Ridley
so soon as she had finished the song, slipped
noiselessly out of the room;-the words:
II want to ask you a question or two,
Max" catching her ear as she closed the
door.
When she reached her own rather bars
little chamber on the third floor, she set
forth her writing things on the end OF
her dressing table, and wrote a brief
note. which she addressed to John Sim
monds, esq Messrs. Simmonds and
Jackson, Lincoln Inn Fields" Then she
put down her pen and sat thinking.
Then do you intend to refuse him."
Miss Maclaren and our heroine were In
conversation.
..Oh, no, certainly not, and hope to be
help to-
Then madame, you shall quit my house
to-morrow. 1 have not tried myself to say
what 1 think of youT conductr said Miss
Maclaren.
You shall be obeyed,' replied her SEQ
retary, bursting into tears. You have no
right to speak to me so rudely-so unkindlyi
You may yet regret it" Miss Maclaren
prepared to pour in another volley, but
Miss Ridley beat a rapid retreat-and her
angry employer was left to beat the air.
The next day was bright and crisp, and
Miss Maclaren set out early to take counsel
hardly gone before waring arrived. ex-
cusing his premature appearance by saying
that he felt sure there had been a "joIlyrow"
and his anxiety to extricate his sweetheart
from a painful position.
And you love me little enough darling to
brave the first rugs ged steps of the road with
me-" said Waring. After long delightfal
talk and theiiscussion of their simple plans,
and We're now standing on the hearth rug his
arm around her and her head resting on his
shoulder she looked up and smiled with a
curiously mischievious laughing glance. IF
You love me-" she said, Il fear nothing"
His reply can be imagined by any ardent
lover. When the door was noisily opened
and Miss Maclaren strobe in.
Il imagine you have been playing a game
that viii be found out, Miss Ridley" she
exclaimed
There's a gentleman at the door wishing
to speak to Miss Oglevie, who wrote to him
to meet her here. What does this mean"
Pray let him come up" said Miss
Ridley calmly. Il think know him."
Il never saw such brasst' remarked
Miss Maclarcn soto voce. Another minute
and an extremely " ell-dressed, we'll
groomed elderly gentleman of professional
aspect, announced as 'Mr. Symmonds,
walked in and made general bow to the
then advancing exclaimed: my
dear Miss oSlevie. 1 am here in obedience
to your orders. May I ask what's the
matter2'
Miss Oglevle?" exclaimed Euphemis
Maclaren.
Miss Oglevie?" echoed waring.
Yes" said the little secretary, foresee-