Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-30
would be back in town.

Nevertheless her doubt obtruded |
itself constantly, and lastly new
terror came. Had she the right to let |
Arnold iilt the girl?'
She could not determine.
AS a result, she resolved to leave the |
decision to the man. She would ex-
tenuate nothing, and setnaught down in
malice. If he could say: 81 love you:
don't care what you have done--you
are the only woman | Gun be happy
With" she would be his wife; If he re-
preached her, and said: at was un-
womanly, petty. it was not worthy Of
you, Kate" nothing should ever induce
her to marry him.
The pauses In the conversation of the
cousins became painfully frequent, and
woefully prolonged. 1t was relief to
both when Drillipgham broke In upon
their tetc-a-tete, and then a semblance
Of cbeerfulness returned until dinner
time, when Kate said to Arnold:
afterwards l want to speak to you
come into the drawing-room as soon rs
you canl" Her face was very pale as
she whispered the words. He wondered
if anything was amiss.
When he Joined her, she WAS standing
on the hearth-rather desolate figure
| in the big room, ii struck him all at
once. She did not respond to his smile
I ofinquiry; obviously she was disturbed.
Had something happened?
"What is the mattcr?' he asked; "is
| anything wrong?"
Arnold" she said, 81 have some
thing to say to you-somcthing 1 owe
/ TO you and to myself to Miss
/ Carstars."
"To Miss Carstairs?" he echoed.
She nodded. Her lips trembled, and
he looked at her with dismay.
Kate" said Hopetoun, you are
talking mysteriously, uncomfortably,
child. What's it all about?"
Arnold, you remember when went
to Miss Carstairs and didn't tell you?'
81 remember" he answered. "WcllP'
81 did not tell you because did not
like her. am anxious not to say any
thing in her disparagement, but in
justice to myself--to make my eXplnua-
ton clear-I must say that l found her
ungracious, that II did not seem to me
she cared for you as much as she did
for herself. She--she got on my
nerves"
II suspected it," said Hopetoun,
"ves?"
when / left her II made a vow all
to myself in the cab. l swore 1 would
take you away from her."
"What?"
IL swore would take you away from
hcr-that things should happen just as
they have! I've done it, and now I'm
ashamed"
She stood looking at the carpet in ST.
lcnce. Hopetoun crossed over to her
before he replied.
"Why," ne said; why, what was your
motive?"
She hesitated. Say 1t was vanity, if
you like" she murmured, cor petty
spite! What do you think of me?"
Il shall not say it was either" he said
at is for you to say what it was. You
do not wish me TO believe you have only
been playing with me-that you aren'.
really fond of me, Kate?"
She lifted her eyes and answered him
dearest" he exclaimed, tell me-
|
the day you went to herT
"Yes." said Kate, 81 loved you with
all my heart"
lie clasped her to him. "You poor
little SOUL" he cried; land did you i'm
agine that l was going to be horribly
angry with you? Why, you are crying
And for nothing, Kit, nothing!"
"You aren't angry with me? l am for
given?"
"Forgiven!" laughed Hopetoun
"What is there to foreive?"
81 have felt so guilty" she faltercd
81 have been afraid you would think n;
i so meant She would, dear-any WON
an would-but if you don't Yourself
: His kisses silenccd her, and he TOLD
her that tomorrow his engagement t.
Miss Carstairs, and all pertaining tt
Miss Carstnirs, would be thing of thu
r past, folly to be buried in oblivion.
y Tomorrow" he said, 81 shall MAKE
u clean breast Of il, and we ncet
i never speak of her any more. A.
things are, don't see why we should
be remorseful a Bit"
Kate Drillingham hesitated a LONG
time.
i arnold" she said at last, that wa.
n my idea too; this afternoon | also
thought that! l thought that il 20,
: could answer me as you have, l shoult
be satisfied to allow you TO go to he
Q and break off your engagement. Blu
I can't! l have been considering, an(
~ considering. l have made you low
s me. Whether | cared for you the da,
| saw her, or whether didn't, the fac
t. remains that you were not in love will
d me then. Don't you see, dear; don
r you sec?"
e 81 see I love you now, at any rate,
n said Hopetoun, doggedly. THAT i
n quite enough for me-"
"No, it is not enough, not enough
/, for you to break it or If she is un
/, willing. l am not heroine, no Donn
Quixote, but | see quite clearly tina
our duty is for you TO ask her to re
lease you, and no more. If she won't
10 you must marry her.
is "Oh, ] am contented," cried Hope
A toun. "What woman would insist OF
d holding a man against his will? Al
adventures, perhaps, but not"
4 ~ am not so sure" returned hi
+ cousin, slowly. "Frankly-I may sa,
it now-I do not like Miss Carstairs
n and have not very high opinion O
\. her. Her chances of marriage are few
10, H.. A