The Van Buren press., 1896-05-23

self. Had not her self-complacent rela-
tons been careful to point it out to him
most considerably, no doubt-four
years ago? Certainly, there was little
likelihood of his forgetting now No,
there could be no real risk in the meet
ing should they chance to meet No
possible risk for her, and for himself
he would gladly give the ten best years
of his life just to hear her voice again;
Just to meet her gray eyes once more
with the old frank smile in them that
he knew so well. No possible risk-no;
he had been fool and coward ever
to think of it; and his resolution to
keep out of her way-the resolution
that he had thought so wise and so good
was entirely foolish and unnecessary.
She need never know the reason of his
brief visit "home.' Why should not he
have business in England as well as
another man; and how should she sus-
pect the mad desire to see her face to
face once more that had brought him
from the other side of the world?
Thus thinking-if, indeed, the rapid
stream of recollections. suggestions
and reassuring convictions that rushed
through his mind could rightly be dig
nlfied with the name of thought he
strobe boldly out into the corridor; .
noticeable figure enough from his COM
handing stature and grand breadth of
shoulder. Many eyes followed him rs
10 r,accp1 10 ho E uo,,..,,..
with which the wide corridor was lined
on either side, and many were the spec
ulations as to who he was, and why he
was at the ball; since he spoke to 10
one, and nobody seemed to know him.
But he passed on, unconscious alike of
admiring eyes and fruitless specula-
ton.
Meantime Maud had suffered her
partner to lead her to wide window
seat at the farther end of the corridor
from that where her old friend was
seeking her. The girls face looked
strangely pale now that the flush
dancing brought to it had died
away; and there was an expression of
something very like despair in her wide
gray eyes as she listened to her COM
panion's eager words.
you know you promised me my
answer tonight, Maud, and we mayn't
have such a chance again. No one has
found out this corner yet; but it won't
escape the observation of the crowd
long. I've waited patiently, and haven't
bothered you bit, and now-at last
times up. You won't ask me to wait
any longer?" A look of sudden dis
may elouded the boyish brightness of
his face as he spoke, but only for mo-
ment.
mo, l won't ask you TO wait any
longer" the girls words came slowly,
and with an evident effort; "but-why
do you want me 10 say yes, when you
know that l don't care for you? No,
hear me OUT as he would have inter
rupted her. 81 like you, but don't
care for you in that way, and l never
shall"
"But you will, Maud; you must when
you see how awfully fond /"
mo, l never shall, know. If you
insist on marrying me, you shall at
least do it with your eyes open, Mr..
Melbourne"
"Oh, don't speak TO me like that!"
But l feel to you like that, and l
must speak as feel. Fell with swift
self-scorn. "What have l to do with
feeling at all? If | marry you it will
be to escape from my present life; TO
get away from myself-from the ever
lasting, purposeless round of dances
and dinners. have told you this be-
fore"
"Yes, and I have told you that l love
you"
"And yet you don't hesitate?"
"For myself, no." lie wos silent
moment, look of most unusual indie
cision on his face. But you put things
differently tonight" he said, at length.
"You say you know you shall never
care for me. l don't see how you can
know that unless"
"Unless-?" she faced him bravely,
though a sudden flush showed she al
ready grasped his meaning.
"You care for some one else" he said,
very deliberately. DO you, Maud?'
For moment he thought she was go
ing to break into indignant denials,
then all at once her face softened and
changed, and the light of a wonderful
Joy flashed into it us she sprang to her
feet. eXclaiming:
"Denzil! At last!"
Young Melbourne turned in astonish
ment, Who was this stately-looIling
man that Maud should go to meet him
with outstretched hands of welcome
and brilliant, rapturous smile?
No matter who he was, the boy felt
that his question was answered. lie
took his dismissal quietly, and left
them without word; nor did anyone
see him again that night
And Denzil?
At the sight of Maud's- eager eyes,
and sweet, well-remembered smile, he
forgot all his stern resolutions and
carefully-cultivated convictions. lie
had never even dreamed of the posi-
bility of such n meeting as this, and the
glad recognition that rang in her voice
fairly swept him off his feet. strong,
self-contained man though he was.
For she loved him; he saw it in her
eyes, heard il in her voice, knew it at
last-astonishing, wcli-nigh impossible
fact though it was; and this being so,
nothing could come between them; no
proud, disdain{ul relations could part
them any more, and when Denzil Cax-
tnn ret1lrned to Australia inter his