Evening star., 1896-01-04

| lady's mind. She smiled sweetIy when
Archie happened to come out Of the Billiard
| room. but then she always greeted her
friends in. a kindly manner.
| Are you off for walk this morning.
| asked Archie. in the innocent tone of one
who didn't know and really desired the in
formation.
He spoke for the benefit of the gossips
but they were not to be taken IN by any
| such transparent device. They shifted with
contempt. and said it was brazen of the
two to pretend that they were not meeting
there by appointment.
YES, said Bessie with a saucy air Of
! defiance as If she did not care who knew
t. II am going by the upper road to the
them?".
| No. Are they pretty?''
Pretty! They are grand at least the
gorge is, although perhaps you would not
visiting"
How can 1 tell until 1 have visited
them? Won't you be my guide there?"
i shall be most happy to have you
come, only you must promise to speak re-
Spectfully of both ravine and fall"
Il was not the man who spoke d.sre-
Spectfu1ly of the equator, you know" said
Archie as they walked off together amid
the scorn of the gossips. who declared they
had never seen such a bold-faced action in
| their lives. AS their lives already had been
somewhat lengthy. an idea may be formed
OF the Nervousness of Bess.e'S conduct
1t took the two rather more than
hour by the upper road overlooking the
town of THIN and the lake beyond, to
reach the finger board that pointed down
into the kohieren valley.
They ZigZagged aiorg rapidly falling
path until they reached the first Of series
of falls roaring into a deep gorge surround
ed by dense forest Bessie leaned against
the frail hand-rail and eazed into the
depths, Severance standing by her side.
Severance was the first to speak, and
when he spoke it was not on the subject
of the cataract.
Miss Durand," he said, Il love YOU I
ask you to be my wife,
"Oh, Mr.. Severance replied Bessie with
out, lifting her eyes from the foaming
ehasm, Il hope that nothing in my actions
has led you to"
Am I to understand that you are about
to refuse me?' cried Archie in a menac-
ing voice that sounded above the roar of
| the falling waters. Bessie looked quickly
up at him and seeing dark frown on his
brow. drew slightly away from HIM
Certainly l am going to refuse yoa. I
week"
THAT has nothing to do with It. 1 tell
you. girl. that l love you. Don't you un-
derstand what I say?'
I understand what you say well enough,
| suiicient?'
1T would be sufficient if it were true
1t Is not true You do love me. 1 have
i seen that for days, for although you may
|
me. yet it has been evident to everyone,
and more especially to the man who loved
YOU Why then deny what has been patent
to all onlookers? Have 1 not seen your
Have not seen welcoming smile on your
lips that could have had but one mean
ing?"
Mr.. Severance" cried Bessie, in un-
mad? How dare you speak to me in this
| fashion,"
Girl" shouted Archie, grasping her by
the wrist: is 1t possible that am wrong
In supposing you care for me, and that the
only other inference to be drawn from your
actions is the true one?'
what other inference?' asked Bessie, in
trembling voice, trying unsuccessfully to
withdraw her wrist from his iron grasp.
That you have been trifling with me-"
Kissed Severance; that you have led me
on and on, meaning nothing; that you have
been pretending to care for me when in
reality you merely wanted to add one more
to the many proposals you have received.
That is the alternative. Now, which is the
fact? Are you In love with me, or have
you been fooling me?'
Il told you I was not in love with you
put did think you were gentleman.
Now, that 1 see you are ruffian, hate
you. Let go my wrist; you are hurting
Very good; very good. Now we have
the truth at last, and l will teach you the
danger Of making plaything of a human
heart"
Severance let go her wrist and seized her
around the waist. Bessie screamed and
called for help, while the man who held
her helpless prisoner laughed sarfoni-
taay; tha WIN ms iree hand he thrust aside
the frail pine pole that formed a hand-rail
to guard the edge of the cliff. 1t fell into
the torrent and disappeared down the cat
aract.
What are you going to do?" cried the
girl, her eyes wide with terror
Il intend to leap with you into this abyss;
then we shall be united forever
"Oh. Archie, Archie, 1 love you" sobbed
BESSIE throwing her arms around the neck
of the astonshed young man, who was so
amazed at the sudden turn events had
taken. that, in stepping back. he nearly
accomplished the disaster he had q mo-
| ment before threatened.
Then why-why," he stammered, did
yeu.why did you deny it?''
"Oh, 1 don't know. I suppose because
am contrary. or because. as you said, it
was so self-evident. Still, don't beNe,-e I
would ever have accepted you If you hadn't
forced me to. 1 have become so wearied
with the conventional form of proposal"
Yes. 1 suppose 1t does get rather tire
some," said Archie, Inopping his brow, IL
see bench a little further down; suppose
we sit there and talk the matter over"
He gave her his hand, and she tripped
daintily down to the bench, where they sat
down together.
'"You didn't really believe I was such
| rufiian as pretended to be- said Archie
''Why. yes. Aren't you?" she asked
simply, glancing sideways at him. with her
most winning smile.
You surely didn't actually think I was
going to throw you over the Cliff"
"Oh, I have often heard or read of it
being done. Were you only pretending?'
That's all. 1t was really little matter
| of revenge. I thought you ought to be pun
| ished for the way you had used those
other poor fellows. And Sanderson was
such good hand at billiards. 1 could Just
beat him."
"You-you said-you cared for me- Was
that pretense, too?' asked Bessie, with
catch in her voice.
NO That was all true. Bessie; and
there Is where my scheme of vengeance
goes lame. You see, my dear girl never
thought you would look at me; some of the
other fellows are ever much better than
am, and of course did not imagine had
any chance. 1 hope you will forgive me-
and that you won't insist Oh having a real
| revenge by withdrawing what you have
said"
4 shall have revenge enough on yetr
Archie, you poor. deluded young man, ali
your life. But never say anything more
about the other fellows as you call them.
There never was any other fellow but you.
Perhaps l will show you a little book some
day that will explain everything, although