The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-03-27

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The colonel told her that and grea'
deal more. If his desire was to make
her laugh he certainly succeeded.
After that he plunged suddenly into
a discourse on the first person singu
lar-for which it was obvious that hi
had great respect and esteem; thrilled
her with the account of his search
for gold amid savages of the remorse
less, semicivilized type, and his emo
tions when the first nugget pointed tbs
way to fortune; dilated on the big
house which he intended to build on
his own plans. and how dreadfully
lonely he expected to find it when once
the thing was finished and he was
obliged to live in it.
You should marry" interrupted
Lady Caro-, still smiling at the vision
| of the parade of Belgravian bellies who
would eagerly turn out for inspection
if the millionaire showed The smallest
desire for such a review.
Il do not think that I shall ever
marry" he replied, gravelY.
"And pray, why not? Society will
expect it of you"
Il should not marry for that reason.
There is only one thing that would
induce me to marry
'And that is"
Love-" replied Col. FitzDominick,
and his voice sank to such a melan-
choly cadence that Indy Caro- scented
tragedy in the past.
"You mean," she limited in the softest
murmur, "unless you can love again"
There was significant emphasis on
the last words which drew Col. Fitz-
Dominicks eyes at once upon the speak
CT. Not that it can be said that they
lad shown any Discrimination to seek
that object hitherto.
'Then you have heard? Some one
has told you?" he inquired.
Il have heard nothing" she replied,
looking straight into his eyes.
Then how did you know?"
"Oh, womanlil1e, I jumped to a con-
clusion. And can see it is right. You
had better tell me the whole. l shall
only imagine all sorts of stupid things
if you don't"
There was a momentary silence, dur
ing which he gazed at her with eyes
that seemed to search her very soul,
and may have incidentally appraised
her beauty to the full. Then he spoke
with measured accents:
Yes, I will tell you, for you, too,
have suffered, and you have known the
sorrow which is too great for words.
Besides, there is something sympa
thetic in you to me. ! feel as if knew
you really better than people whom
l have known for ages longer. Hither-
to have shrunk from talking about it.
1t would have been like tearing open
half-healed wound. But l will tell it
to you, and you will respect my conf
dence, will you not?"
mot word shall pass my lips" re-
Piled Lady Caro-, eagerly. "You may
trust me like sister,"
MAY say "a dear friend?'"
Woman Of the world as she was, Lady
Caro- could not prevent the warm blood
from rising over cheeks and brow at bis
pointed refusal to accept 1he prosaic re-
lation offered him. She had no intention
of marrying again, and, Of course, she
could not even consider such total
stranger from that point of view, but
if he had tacitly disclaimcd all interest
in her attractions at the very outset the
would probably not have
advanced.
''It was when l was travelling in Rus
sia," he began, that vile country where
blacker deeds are done daily under the
mask of civilization than all the hor-
rors which are laid to the charge of the
Turk. Twas staying at hotel in Odes-
sa. One night l awoke with start and
the echo of loud scream ringing in my
ears. At first thought that had been
but as 1 sat up listening for
what believed was merely the creature