Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-02-21
al presume YOU wonld have no objection

Certainly not, | replied, and lao
seemed 10 think better of me, but Miss
Lynn might.
"And why Miss Lynn. prayY'
Really, MIR Brent l said most snccr-
inPly, u cannot undertake. 10 explain 10
you why Mis- Lynn is particular about
whom she associates with
thought thi, would crush him, but it
didn't
"Seeing thar you are one of her associ.
ates Mr. Ilitc, and he swept scorniul
salaan before Ine, Il should think not
"Mr Brent 80 | said, eXasperutod almost
beyond control for ! saw he was bent on
interfering with my plans for the evening,
"if You will permit me TO explain, Will
say TO you that am here ny design"
"And So am |, sir
Miss Lynn | continued, has an en-
gagemcut wiki ne for this evening, made
yesterday, and ] may add that from what
she said TO me al the time and from what
have said TO her az moro than a dozen
times during the past two weeks that en-
gagement will very probably be made
permanent one
"In other words, Mir Hite, you and
Miss Lynn will be an engaged couple after
this evening"
exactly, Mr. Brent
Citizen, Mr. Hitc ne went on, "let me
inform you. that ! am also a sutton for
that young lady hand -
"Her fortune, you mean, l sneorod
"Pleaso don't interrupt he said. II
was more polite when you were talking
As l was saying. | am also a sutton for her
hand, and she does not, l fancy, look cold
ly upon me. Indeed had an engagement
with her myself this evening
He was telling me cruel lie, and
knew it, bat I could not tell him SO. /
had my engagement TO keep with Ethyl,
and | could not risk fight and - 10 her
covered with gore and victory, and much
less with gore and defeat, for Brent was
an athlete, while wasn't.
"But You do not love her as ! do, )" /
said half plcadmcly.
"Love her, NAM and his tones were
fierce and lcryid Love herr Why, YOU
could no moro love that woman a. / love
here than IA huuming bird could fly with
an eagle All my hopes aud my ambi
tious, my present and my future, what |
have and what | am or ever expect to be-,
are in Ler hands, and If | thought they
were To he thrown back upon me would
cast myself into the sea ON the instant.
Love her, man; Loyeher; Why, my love
for her pa,sc, he comprehension Of dozen
men like you.
This was painful and personal, but l
preserved my balance.
lit is easy for you TO talk be was u
awycr-i replied but you are not select
ing the proper text Ethyl Lynn for
week, has been TO me the one woman in
the world, and would give my life gladly
to win her Already we have talked over
the future that is opening 80 happily be-
fore us, and l have gnzcd rlpturoUsly
along he rose lealed path which we shall
follow hand in hand TO the end Of our
days
/ am sure Brent thought l was lying 20
him but fortunately he did not say 50.
At that moment was desperate and il
would have taken very little for me to be-
como a factor i'm "a twilight tragedy down
by the sounding sea.
Mr. Brent ! Said, depressing my in
dignation. you have traduccd this lady,
and do not want TO hear any more from
you
Il have not ,raduccd her any more than
YOU have, sir. lac rctortcd. 1t does not
traducc n woman for an honest man to say
ne loves htr.'
"Thank you " said |, much to hi, sur
prise at the neat turn | had given hi, II
| mark.
And why shouldn't have hankcd himf
I, at least, was an honest man, and l loved
| Ethyl Lynn with all my soul
Brent was an iutclopcr, and | was Ger
tain of it, He had the ,pecious manner
of the man OF hat character.
Mr. Eront, J continued. seeing tha'
he was silent, "you have mado certain
! statements This evening concerning lady
| which must bc shown To bc true or yOu
will have 30 answer for them 10 me.
This was almost a declaration Of war
and / made il with some degree Of merry
! business but il had 10 he done
every well. sir. he replied confidently,
Il think / can satisfy you that am speak
| ing thctruth. And lac took from his peck
ct IA delicate little note and handed it 10
me 1t was from Miss Lynn-from Ethyl
and it appointed a meeting with Mr.
| Brent that evening Ut ) o'clock.
Was it possible that l had made a mis-
take in understanding her To say that she
would also meet me that evening at the
same timcy
This was possible, for know that when
! she told me to como was I'm such state
of rapture as scarcely TO be rcsponSihic
This note, said after | had glanced
over it by the light Of Brent cigar. for it.
was already dark, "sccm, tocnlitlc you To-
some rights IN the promises. but there are
others TO be satisfied in this matter.
q" Rather, / should say ho said with
the air of triumphant conquercr. Can
you show cause why you are here, Mr.
IIite?'
None, sir, / said, Drawing it out as
best l could except my verbal statement,
and | hardly think Mr. Brent will say that
l am liar.
1T is not necessary for Mr.. Brant to
say what he believes, " he replied, and
never felt so like hitting a man in my life,
but | restrained my hclligerenCy.
% Neither is it necessary for two gentle
men within sight of "a lady'S house TO be-
come common street brawlers, l retorted
with great dignity.
Another time is better. 4" And there was
o threat in his voice
"Quite so, Mr.. Brent. Now let us go on
20 Miss Lynn's cottage and submit the
matter 10 her. -
AS YOU please, Mr. Hite"