The Monitor-register., 1896-02-14
ALMOST PARTED.


natured Mrs. Gay to her companion In
loud Voice aside.
"For her-yes," was the curt reply.
HE is wealthy enough in any case, but
what would half old Campbell's property
be for one brought up as she has been 2?
hear the place is mortgaged heavily. and
the old man lost by speculation before be
died, so his niece is not the heiress we
fancied. Yes; it would be very lucky
thing for her if Colin Delorme should
ask her to marry him, and l have no
doubt she would jump at the chance"
MADAM" said clear voice at the
woman's chair, which made her start 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 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 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 ''to
jump at the chance" of marrying Colin
Delorme because he was to share her
uncle's possessions with her and had
wealth of his own-Colin Delorme, with
his frank, handsome face and his CHEEKY
voice and his heart of gold, which any
living woman might prize more than the
crown of king!
How heartless and material people
were, she told herself, as she went
hurriedly out to the little garden, which
sloped down to sheltered spot-a dell
often visited by her.
In the path, with it's checkered light,
she came face to face WITH the object of
her thoughts-Colin Delorme.
"How pale you are, Honorw he said to
her, looking with eyes Of tenderness
which she did not seq into her young face.
"Are you i'll ?'
"Thank you. No."
'Then let me tell you what Ihave been
thinking of, Honor. Our uncle divided
all he had between us. Let us make no
division, dear-and let us join our lives
and leave the old place as it is. Do you
think l could make you happy as my wife,
Honor, my darling2 would try hard.
think could succeed. Will you risk
your life in my hands? Honor, you are
as white as death. Have l startled you
thought you knew my heart this long
time. I know Uncle did"
Had he said such words to her but the
previous day, but an hour before, how
gladly she would have put out her hands
to him and said:
"Yes, Colin. know your heart, and
will trust my life in your hands. Ithas
known no love save that which you have
taught it, and am only happy when you
are near me!'
But the words of the gossip were fresh
in her memory, the humiliation which
they aroused still ragged hotly 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,
"You are far too generous" she said,
coldly. II learned day that you are
quite expected to ask me to marry you,
Colin, by our kindly acquaintances. You
have not disappointed them-you have
asked me, but l am not yet SO poor in
soul if l am in purse. I will not marrv
you for the sake of keeping the old home.
dear as it is. Thanks, Colin, for your
generosity. | am not tempted. l take
no advantage of it.''
His face was quite white as she smoke
th ose cold, hard words-she who had
ever seemsd so sweetly gentle. so softly
womanly to him.
"You put it in a very singular way. but
! suppose you mean that, since you have
no love for me, you will not marry me
for any mere material reasou," be said at
last. II am glad of that [ would not
buy wife. But whea you do accept the
hand of some man, Honor, my beautiful
darling, pray heaven be may love you as
truly as | do. The old place is yours. I
would not touch leaf on tree there.
Good bye, dear! Forget that 1 have
spoken to you in this way-forget that l.
loving you, have been fool enough to
fancy that You cared for me.''
He turned from her and was gone
before she could control her voice,
Aud when she stretched out her arms
and cried: Colin, my love, my darling,
come back! Do not go from me! / love
you-I love yon?' 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 aud sob as if her heart
| would break.
1t did not comfort her so very much
after all, to know that now no possin
could say she had dumped at the
chance" Of becoming Colin Delorme,s
wife.
How very poor thing the pride which
she had vindioated by rejecting him
seemed to her as she wept passionately.
for tbe CHARGE of happiness flung awav
for words from the lips of pair of
vulgar women, who were no more to her
than any other disagreeable strangersl
II will tell him the truth tonight. !"
she whispered whom she was calmer
HE loves me. He will forgive me for
my folly"
Bus when she reached the house she
was told that Colin Delorme had gone to
the city on urgent business and would
return the following evening by the seven
O'Clock train.
Such long night, such long day as
those were to poor Honor in her misery
of remorse! But at last they were over,
and in a few moments the whistle which
announced the arrival of the train at the
| small station below would shrek out on
the evening air.
From window of her room she knew
she could see the smoke from the engine