Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-04-09
CHAPTER XII.-tCosrrsuEp.'

CHAPTER XIII.-tCoNTINUED.,
Alexandrine stood moment In tht
ioor. looking at the lovely picture pre-
sented by her young hostess. A pans
vague and unacknowledged. wrung mel
heart, and showed itself on her coun'
tenance. But she came forward WIFI
expressions of admiration.
"You are perfect, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
perfect! Poor gentlemen! how l pi's
them tonight! How their wretchea
hearts will ache"
Margie laughed.
Nonsense, Alex, don't be absurd
Go and dress yourself. / am gong u
the opera, and you must accompany
u.s."
"Us-who may that plural prohouh
smbody?"
"Myself-and Mr.. Trevlyn."
"Ah! thank you. Mr.. Trevlyn may
not care for an addition to his nice lit-
lie arrangement for tete-a-tete.
Don't be vexed, Alexandrine. we
thought you would pass the evening a'
your friends. and Archer only Came
| IN 10 tell Ilt Il lSW houio .o
"of course I am not vexed, dear
and the girl kissed Margle's glowing
,heek. Lovers will be lovers the world
over Silly things. always. and never
Interesting company for other people
How long before Mr.. Trevlyn Is coming
for you?"
Margie consulted her watch.
| tc gavpn. IN HI
hour"
"In an hour! An hours time! Long
enough to change the destiny OF en-
pires!"
"How strangely you talk, Alexan.
drine! What spirit possesses you!
asked MargIe, filled, In spite OF herseii'
with curious premonition OF evil.
Alexandrine sat down by the side OF
her friend, and looked searchingly into
her face, her great black eyes holding
MargIe with sort OF serpent-like fas-
cination.
Margaret, you love this Archer
Trevlyn very dearly. do you not?'
Margle blushed crimson, but she an
swered. proudly:
| w nN Hetu DS ushhLhNa ~
1t? do. ! love him with my whole
SOUL"
"And you do not think there is In
you any possibility Of changer"
"a change! What do you mean. Ex-
plain yourself"
"You do not think the time will ever
come when you will cease to love Mr..
Archer Trevlyn?"
at will never come! Margie replied,
Indignantly. never. while l have my
reasonw'
"Do you believe in loves immortal
Ity?"
"I believe that all true love is change
less as eternity! am not child, Alex
andrine, to be blown about by every
passing breeze"
mo, you are n woman now. with n
woman's capability Of suffering. You
ought, also. to be possessed of woman's
resolution Of womans strength TO
endure sorrow and aflliction."
81 have never had any great afIlic-
ton, Alexandrine. The death of Mr.,
Linmere was horrible to me, but 1,
was not as II had loved him: and
though loved Mr.. Trevlyn, my guard
ian, he died so peacefully, that I can
not wish him back. And my dear pa
rents-I was so young then. and they
were SO willing to go! No, do not
think / have ever had any great sor-
row. such as blast peoples whole life
times"
But you think you will always con-
tinue to love Archer Trevlyn?"
How strangely you harp on that
string! What do you mean? There is
something behind all this: l see 1t In
your face. You frighten met
"Margie, all people are blind some
times, but more especially women
when they love. Would 1t be n mercy
to open the eyes of one who. in happy
ignorance, was walking over precipice
which the flowers hid from her view ?''
Margie shuddered. and the beautiful
color fed from her cheek.
81 do not comprehend you. Why dc
you keep me in suspense?"
Because dread to break the charm
You will hate me for 1t always, Margie.
We never love those who tell us dis
agreeable truths. even though 1t be for
our good
81 do not know what you would tell
me, Alexandrine, but I do not thinI,
I shall hate you for it."
Not If tell you evil of Archer Trey
lyn?"
~ will not listen to it," she cried, in
lignantly.
81 expected as much. Well, Margie
you shall not. I will hold my peace,
but II ever, in the years to come, the
terrible secret should be revealed to
you-the secret which would then de-
stroy your happiness for all time-re-
member that l would have saved you,
and you refused to listen"
She drew her shawl around her shoul-
ders, and rose to go.
Margie caught her arm.
What is 1t? You shall tell me! Sus-
nense is worse than certainty"
And II tell You, you will keep ST.
lent? Silent as the grave itself?"
"Yes, II you wish it."
"Will you swear it?"
81 cannot; but will keep It lust as
sacredly."
Il want not only your promise, but
your oath. You would not break an
oath. And this which I am about to
tell you, If known to the world, involves