The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-09

an would-but II you don yourself
His kisses silenced her, and he told
her that tomorrow his engagement to
Miss Carstairs, and all pertaining to
Miss Carstairs, would be thing OF the
past, a folly to be buried in oblivion.
Tomorrow" he said, II shall make
clean breast of il, and we need
never speak of her any more. AS
things are, / don't see why we should
be remorseful bit"
Kate Drillingham hesitated long
time.
Arnold" she said at last, that was
my idea too; this afternoon j also
thought thatl j thought that If you
could answer me as you have, | should
be satisfied 10 allow you TO go TO her
and break off your engagement But
can't. ! have been considering, and
considering. / have made you love
me. Whether / cared for you the day
/ saw her, or whether didn't, the fact
remains that you were not in love with
me then. Don't you see, dear; don't
you see?"
81 see love you now, at any rate"
said Hopetoun. doggedly. THAT Is
quite enough for me-
"No, il is not enough, not enough
for YOU to break il of if she is un-
willing. /, am not heroine, no Donna
Quixote, but see quite clearly that
our duty is for you 20 ask her TO re-
lease you, and no more. If she won't,
you must marry her."
"Oh, / am contented," cried Hope
toun. "NVhat woman would insist on
holding a man against his will? An
adventures, perhaps, but not"
IL am not so sure" returned his
cousin. slowly. "Frankly-.I may say
IL now-I do not like Miss Carstairs,
and / have not a very high opinion of
ber. Her chances of marriage are few,
and you may he certain she realizes il.
Indeed. ] think il quite possible that.
rather than lose you altogether. she
would even be pleased to go with you
to Canada. If she does hold you to
your word, Arnold, you must keep it"
81 can't" he declared.
AT least l should not marry you
then" said Miss Drillingham. Come,
promise me you will do as beg"
81 would promise you anything you
asked of me-" he said, reluctantly.
And so it was decided.
But Hopetoun did not sleep that
night because of the new doubt that
had been instilled into his mind.
The question harassed him until
daylight stole into the room. Would
Miss Carstairs refuse to release him or
not? The more he pondered. the more
he was convinced now that Bella would
decline TO take things easily. "She
would even go to Canada rather than
lose YOU altogctheri The words re-
Cured 10 him impressively. He had a
presentiment that his mission was go
ing TO fail, and the ominous sensation
ieepcned when he rose.
Breakfast was tasteless to him. His
train left the Deercourt station at IL,
and he spent the interval endeavoring
to persuade Kate to reconsider her de-
termination.
She would not listen, or, at any rate,
she would not heed.
"Go 10 town." she repeated, "and
speak to -her-If she consents, come
back to me. II you fail, do not! Idon't
want TO see you then--it would be bad
for both of u.s."
They were hard instructions; he
seemed predestined to failure indeed!
He stepped into the train gloomily.
When he arrived he went into the buff
fet at Easton, and had a brandy and
soda with a double allowance of bran
DIV. He felt better after that, but il
chagrined him TO reflect that the i'm
provement would have evaporated be-
fore his hanson reached the house.
He hailed one, and told the man to
drive rapidly. He WINS dismayed be-
yond words to learn that the ladies had
not come back from the country yet.
They were expected tomorrow, the lit
tie servant said. She would say he
called.
Say l will come again Tomorrow"
he said.
He bade the man stop ut the Swiss
Cottage station, and from there he dis
patched telegram to Deercourt.
After he sent il, he drove to his
rooms, and tried TO make himself COM
Portable there. 1t was not successful
attempt.
The rain was coming down still.
What on earth should he do with HIM
self? lie might have stayed another
day at Deercourt as things had turned
out; he wished he had returned there
instead of wiring. by jove, why should
lac not do so nowi
lie caught the afternoon express,
and walked in upon her where she was
dreaming beside window. The sun
was shining at Deercourt; here every
thing was bright.
She welcomed him with cry OF as
tonishmcnt;
''lou,"
81 couldn't stand It," he explained.
after ! had sent of your telegram /
went TO my place, and suffered an eter-
nifty of tediousness that lasted at least
two hours. You know those eternities!
Then this inspiration struck me and
here | ami"