Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-12-09
ALMOST PARTED.

panion in loud aside.
"For her-yes," was the curt reply.
''He is wealthy enough in any case;
but what would half of old Campoell's
property be for one brought up as she
has been? I hear the place is mort
gagged heavily, and the old man lost
by speculation before he died; so his
niece is not the heiress we fancled.
Yes, it would be very lucky thing
for her if Colin Delorme should ask
her to marry him, and [ have no
doubt she would jump at the chance"
MADAME" said clear voice at the
Woman's chair, which made ner start
and glance hastily at the fair young
face above her-'smadame, you honor
myself and my affairs too greatly"
Voice and face belonged to the girl
of whom they had been speaking,
Honor Campbell; and as the gossip
stammered forth some sort of apollo
gy, she turned and glided from the
room, every pulse in her body CULVER
ing with anger, wounded pride, and
perhaps a far keener pain.
Why had she allowed herself to be
coaxed into appearing among the
guests of her cousin, to whom the old
man SO recently laid in his grave was
nothing, while to her he had been
dear as father?
| Why had she brought her mourning
robes and her mourning heart forth
from retirement, even when friends
| pleaded with her to do so?
And they thought her poor enough
s'to lump at the chance" of marrying
Colin Delorme, because he was to
share her uncle's possessions with
her. and had wealth Of his own
Colin Delorme, with his frank, hand
some face and his CHEEKY voice, and
his heart of gold, which any living
woman might prize more than the
crown of king!
How heartless and material people
we're! she told herself, as she went
hurriedly out of the little garden, which
sloped down to sheltering spot-a
dell often visited by her.
In the path, with it's checkered
light, she came face to face with the
object of her thoughts Colin Del
| Orme.
Chow pale you are, Honor" he
said to her, looking with eyes the
tenderness of which she did pot see,
into her young face. care you I'LL"
"Thank you-nO."
ELTl,o, foil Won Wh at I've
been thinking of. Honor, our uncle
divided all he had between US. Let
US make no division, dear-and let us
ioin our lives and leave the old place
as it is. Do you think [ could make
you happy as my wife, Honor, my
darling. would try hard. think |
could succeed. Will you risk your
life in my hands? Honor, you are
as white as death, Have [ startled
you? I thought you knew my heart
this long time. know that uncle did,"
Had he said such words to her the
previous day-but an hour before
how gladly she would have put out
her hands to him and said:
ayes, Colin; I know your heart, land
I will trust my life in your hands. II
has known no love save that which
you have taught it, and L am ouly
happy when you are near"
But the words of the gossip were
fresh in her memory, the humiliation
which they reused sill raged hotly in
her breast.
With low little laugh she turned
from him to gather up the long trair
of her black dress, and her gray eyes
grew bitter.
"You are far too generous" she
said, coldly. 81 learned to- day thai
YOU are quite expected to ask me tt
marry you, Colin, by our kindly &C
quaintances. You have not dlsap
, pointed them-you have asked me
, but I am not yet SO poor i'll soul if
} am in purse. I will not marry yor
: for the sake of keeping the old home
dear as it is. Thanks, Colin, for you
: generosity. [ am not tempted; l take
: no advantage of it,"
His face was quite white as sh
n spoke those cold, hard words-sh
who had ever seemed so sweetly gen
9 tie, so softly womanly to him.
"You put it in very singular way
- but suppose you mean that sine
= YOU have no love for me, you will nc
2 marry me for any more material rea
!. son. he said at last. 81 am glad {
g that; would not buy wife. Blu
: when you do accept the h md of som
q other man, Honor, my beautifr
darling, pray heaven that he may Low
you as truly as do. The old place
10 vours: I would not touch leaf o