The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-01-14
ALMOST PARTED.

"If Colin Delorme would only fal
in love with and marry Miss Campbell
how nice it would be !" said stout, goot
natured Mrs. Gay TO her companion in
loud aside.
For her-yes, was the curt reply
HE is wealthy enough in any case, but
what would half Of old Campbell'l
property be for one brought up as she
has beeni hear the place is mortgaget
heavily, and the old man lost by specu
lation before he died, so his niece is moi
the heiress we fancied. Yes; it would
be very lucky thing for her il Colin
Delorme should ask her to marry him,
and have no doubt she would jump q,
the chance"
Madam" said clear voice at the
| woman's chair, which made her star,
and glance hastily at the fair young
face above her. Madam, 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 apology she turned
and glided from the room. every pulse
in her body quivering with anger,
wounded pride and perhaps far keener
pain.
Why had she allowed herself TO be
coaxed into appearing among the guests
| Of her cousin, TO whom the old man laid
so recently in his grave was nothing.
while to her he had been dear as q
| 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
Ito jump at the chance" of marrying
Colin Delorme because he was to share
| her unole's possesslors With hen SS2 Sa had
wealth Of his own-Colin Delorme,
with his frank, handsome face and ms
CHEEKY voice and his heart Of gold
which any living woman might prize
| more than the crown Of a king,
How heartless and material people
| were, she told herself, as she went hur-
| riedly out to the little garden, which
sloped down to sheltered spot-a dell
often visited by her.
In the path, with its checkered light,
she came face to face with the object of
her thoughts-Colin Delorme.
How pale you are, Honor y he said
to her. looking with eyes of tenderness
which she did not see into her Young
face.
care you ill?"
THANK you. No"
"Then let me tell you what have
been thinking Of, Honor. Our uncle di-
vided all he had between us. Let us
make no division, dear-and let MS join
our lives and leave the old place as il is.
Do you think could make you happy
as my wife. Honor. my darling? Iwould
try hard. think / could succeed. Will
you risk your life in my handsf Honor.
you are as white as death. Have star
tied youf thought you knew my heart
this long time. know uncle did"
Had he said such words to her but the
previous day, but an hour before, how
gladly she would have put ont her hands
to him and said:
eyes, Colin. ! know your heart, and
will trust my life in your hands 1t
has known no love save that which you
have taught it. and am only happy
when you are near mel"
But the words of the gossip were
fresh in her memory, the humiliation
which they aroused still ragged botly in
her breast.
With low little laugh she turned
from him to gather up the long train Of
her black dress, and her gray eyes grew
bitter.
lyon are far too generous, she said
coldly. II learned today that you are
quite expected TO ask me to marry you,
Colin, by our kindly acquaintance.
You have not disappointed them-you
have asked me. but am not yet so poor
in soul if am in purse. / will not
marry you for the sake Of keeping the
old homo, dear as ii is. Thanks, Colin,
for your generosity. am not tempted
take ne advantage Of IL.
His face was quite white as she spoke
those cold. hard words--she who had
eyer seemed SO sweetly gentle, SO softly
womanly to him.
lyon put it in very singular way,
but suppose you mean that. since you
have no love for me. you will not marry
me for any more material reason" be
said at last. II am glad Of that. I
would not buy a wife. But when You
do accept the hand Of some man, Hon.
or. my beautiful darling. pray heaven
he may love you as truly as l do. The
old place is yours. would not touch .
leaf on q tree there. Goodby. dear
Forget that have spoken to you in this
way-forget that I, loving you, have
been fool enough to fancy you cared for
me-"
he turned from her and was gone be-
fore she could control her voice.
And when she stretched out her arms
and cried; Colin, my love. my dar-
ling, come back Do not 60 from mel !
love you'll love your' he was too far
away to hear or heed. and only bird.
perched ON branch far above her head,
saw the girl fling herself down among
the grasses Of the May time and sob M
II her heart would break.
IL did not comfort her 90 very much,
after all 40 Iooxw that nov M ~<sun{v