The Forrest City times., 1896-07-03
A SUMMER NIGHT.


 down on the long white streets and making the flowers on the balconies droop, and even the leaves of the lime trees hung listless and motionless in the great heat. Not single soul was to be seen in the usually crowded An drassy street in BudaPesth, and the cid porter of the Hotel Esterhazy sat half asleep, his chair we'll drawn back into the shade; he knew very well that no one would disturb him at that hour.
 Esme St. Maur lay down on the sofa, lamenting that her fate had made her spend this grilling afternoon in Buda Pesth. However shall I stand three week of it? At any rate, l shall not be in town after to-day, and l hope the country house of the embassy is cooler. What time is it, klimja? ??
 Half past four, milady; but the gentleman mademoiselle expected is waiting downstairs, and wants to know if you will receive him."
 Certainly" said Esme, lazily, fasten- ing a pink rose into her belt; bring some more tea, Klimja, and take those cigarettes away; shall not want them now"
 A few minutes later tall, sunburnt man came into the room.
 ''So sorry, Arthur" said the lady: "rm positively too tired to move; this heat is killing! I'm so glad to see you," she went on, looking up at him. "Let me see, it is nearly three years since we saw each other; what are you doing here?"
 The man hesitated a moment and then became pale, and his mouth twitched.
 'I was hurrying to England, Esme." he said, "because l heard report about you that could not credit; that you were going to be married
 Well" said the girl, nervously pick ing off the leaves of her rose, Tit is quite true. No, no, Arthur, it's no use. she continued, sitting up and putting her hand on his arm; "sit where you are end listen. You see, dear, it had to come to this some day, and l may as we'll tell you here as anywhere else; we cannot fight against fate, and the fates are against us. Look! It would be ten years at least before you could marry me, and then l would be mid- dle-aged woman. And even if l could wait, what am to do during those ten years? Grandmamma, you know she went on, turning her face, now appall- ing in its pallor, toward him, "and left me $50 year, and since her death l have been living, yes, living on my sis ter's husband, Think! The proud Esme St. Maur actually living on charity!"
 But surely,' Arthur broke in' "surely-"
 .'Of course they don't say so, but l know, I know. They have three chil- dren to educate, and look at the posi- tion they have to keep up! l know Franks income is by no means large, and I feel I've no right to be burden to them when I've g good offer
 "Who is the man" he said, dryly.
 Lord Hillborough," she answered. her eyes down.
 "A man almost old enough to be your crandfather," he said, getting up and standing beside her. Do you care tor him?"
 .No." she answered, lowering her eye lids wearily; mo, but I respect him more than-than anyone but you"
 "Esme." said Arthur, hotly, "how different you are! How calculating and worldly you have become! l re- member my little Esme holding forth fiercely that love was the one thing Tn all the world, that to marry a man without love was the greatest wrong a woman could do him; that
 "Arthur," she said, what can do' intend, if I marry Lord Hillborough'