The news boy., 1896-05-09
Iy ditferent surroun(ingsl His dresa,


hood had been passed.
And even if she did know him, what
then?
lie was surely capable Of keeping his
secret still, as he had l,ept it in the old
lays. She was little likely to guess
II now in all the pride of her trium-
phant youth and beauty; now
when so many younger, richer men
were at her feet. Oh, he knew his |
place! And he smiled grimly to him
self. Had not her self-complacent rela-
tons been careful to point it out to him
--most considerably, no doubt-four
years ago? Certainly, there was little |
likelihood Of his forgetting now. No,
there could be no real risk in the meet
ing should they chance to meet. No |
possible risk for her, und for himself
he would gladly give the ten best years
of his life just to hear her voice again;
just to meet her gray eyes once more
with the old frank smile in them that
lie knew SO well. No possible risk-no;
he had been fool and coward ever
to think of it; and his resolution to
keep out of her way-the resolution
that he had thought SO wise and SO good
was entirely foolish and unnecessary.
She need never know the reason of his
brief visit 'home." Why should not he
have business in England as well as
another man; and how should she sus-
pcct the mad desire to see her face to
face once more that had brought him
from the other side of the world?
s,,J. -, L. Il
stream of recoileclions, suggestions
and reassuring convictions that rushed
through his mind could rightly be Dig
nified with the name of thought--he
strobe boldly out into the corridor; o
noticeable figure enough from his COM
manding stature and grand breadth Of
shoulder. Many eyes followed him as
he passed between the banks of flowers
with which the wide corridor was liled
on either side, and many were the spec
ula'ions as to who he was, and why hc
was at the ball; since he spoke to no
one, and nobody seemed to know him.
But he passed on, unconscious alike Of
admiring eyes and fruitless specula-
ton.
Meantime Maud had suffered her
partner to lead her to a wide window
scat at the farther end of the corridor
from that where her old friend was
seeking her. The girls face looFed
strangely pale now that the flush
dancing brought to it had died
away; and there was an expression of
something very like despair in her wide
gray eyes as she listened to her conf
panion's eager words.
You know you promised me my
answer tonight, Maud, and we mayn't
have such a chance again. No one has
found out this corner yet; but it won't
escape the observation of the crowd
long. I've waited patiently. and haven't
times up. You won't ask me to wait
any longer?" A look of sudden dis
may clouded the boyish brightness Of
his face as he spoke, but only for mo-
ment.
"No, I won't ask you TO wait any
longer;" the girls words came slowly,
and with an evident effort; "but-why
do you want me to say yes, when you
know that 1 don't care for you? No,
hear me out" as he would have inter
rupted her. II like you, but 1 don t
care for you in that way, and never
SHALL"
"But you will, Maud; you must wheI
you see how awfully fond L"
mo, never shall, l know. If ypu
insist on marrying me, you shall at
least do it with your eyes open, Mr.
Melbourne"
"Oh, don't speak to me like that!"
"But l feel to you like that, and
must speak as feel. Feel!" with swift!
self-scorn. "What have l to do witt
feeling at all? If marry you it will
be to escape from my present life: tc
get away from myself-from the ever
lasting, purposeless round of dances
and dinners. I have told you this te
fore"
"Yes, and have told you that lovt
you."
"And yet you don't hesitate?"
"For myself, no. He was silent {
moment, look of most unusual indie
csion on his face. But you put thing.
differently tonight" he said, at lens tn
You say you know you shall never
care for me. 1 don't see how you ca,
know that unless"
"Unless-?" she faced him bravely
) though a sudden flush showed she al
ready grasped his meaning.
: "You care for some one else," he said
very deliberately. do you, Maud?"
Did she?
For moment he thought she was go
ing to break into indignant denials
then all at once her face softened an,
changed, and the light of wonderful
( Joy flashed into it as she sprang to he
: feet, eNclaiming:
: "Denzil! At lasti"
Young Melbourne turned in astonish
2 ment. Who was this stately-look.n
+ man that Maud should go to meet hir
L with outstretched hands of welcom
9 and brilliant, rapturous smile?
No matter who he was, the boy fel
that his question was answered. II
1 took his dismissal quietly, and lef
: them without word; nor did anyon
I see him again that night.
"A And Depzil?
At the sight of Maud's eager eye:
t and sweet, well-remembered smile, b
r forgot all his stern resolutions an
observation-disclosures convictions. II
S had never even dreamed of the poss
n bility of such meeting as this, and IN
e glad recognition that rang in her voic
4 fairly swept him off his feet, strong
self-contained man though he was.