The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-11

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successfully to withdraw het wrist from
his iron grasp.
| That you have been thrilling with
me-" Missed Severance. THAT you have
led me on and on. meaning nothing.
mat you have been pretending to care
Ior me when Fin reality yon merely
wanted to add one more to the many
proposals you have received. That is
the alternative. Now which Is the fact
are you In love with me. or have you
been fooling me?"
~ told you was not in love with
YOU, put did think you were n gen
tieman; Now that see you are ruff
nan. nate you. Let go my wrist; you
are hurting me-"
Very good; very good. Now we
nave the truth at last and will teach
you me danger of making plaything
OF a human hea rt'
severance let so her wrist and seized
ner around the waist. Bessie screamed
anu called for help while the man who
held her a helpless prisoner laughed
sardonically. With his free hand he
trust aside the frail pine pole that
of the cliff. It fell into the torrent and
disappeared down the cataract
what are You going to do?" cried the
girl. her eyes wide with terror.
II intend to leap with you into this
abyss: then. we Shall be united for
ever"
oh. Archid. Archis, love you
sobbed Bessie. throwing her arms
around the neck of the nstonishcd young
man. who was so amazed at the sud-
zen turn events had taken, that In
stepping back he nearly accomplished
he disaster he had moment before
threatened
Then why-why." he siammcrcd,
DID you-why did you deny ~"
Oh ! DON'T know; suppose because
am contrary or because. as you said
u was so seilf-evident SIN | don't
believe I would ever. have accented Won
III you hadn't forced me to- have be-
come SO wenried with the conventions
form of proposal"
YES. l suppose II does get rather
tlresomc. said Archie. hopping his
prov. Il see n bencl II little further
,own: sunpose we sit there and inif
the matter over"
&c gave her his hand ana she trlpne.,
un,n,iiy down to the bench where they
sat down together
You didn't really believe I wae suci,
rniiian as pretended to be." sai9
Archie at last
why, yes. Aren't your" she askaa
SIMPLY GiaNcing at him sideways VIE
her most winning sr!le.
! gu surely didn't think | was actual
" gS.ns TO throw you over she cliff q
| pn nave often heard or read of +
ins2" Ne'eo
WHAT'S nll., 1t was really a lnt,,
matter of revenge. thought You ough
TO he punished fo, the Way Won In,
used those other fellows. And Sander
son was such a. good hand Mt billiards
| could Just beat him"
1on-you said-yOu cared for me
Was THAI pretense loo?" asked Bessie
with n ca tcll in her Voice
NO: That was all true. Bessie, an,
There IS where my scheme OF vengnanc
goes lame. You see, my dAar Gill.
never thnu4ht'S0u would look MT me
some OF the cahcr fellows are ever :
mnch tstteri than ! am ana of conn
! dlh not inra glne ] had any chance.
hope you Will forgive me and t,r:
YOU won't inslst Oh having real ~
venge by withdrawing what you hay
said"
II shall have revenge enough O.
N2Nl, Archie, YOU poor deludel ypun
man, all your life. But never say any
ming more about the other fellows
| ha YOU call iilenn. There never wa
any olidncr fellow bust You pcrhars
VIII show you Il little look some da
that will eSpln!n everything, altlNlup
] am not so adre. If YOU saw Fl. "
might Nhink worse Of me Tran ever.
think perhaps ut is my duty 20 show
| to You before lit Is too late TO ,,;,.,
| hack Shall I?r
~ absolutely refuse to look q. h.
| POW or any either time" said Arch'
magma n'nomsly drawing her toward
! him and kissing her
And Bessie. with sigh of relief, won
Keyed why 1t was thnt men have !.
much less curfHslty than women. Sl
was. sure that If he had limited at ~,
Suo1 secret, E1he would ncvcr hay
| rested until she knew what II was.
w.