The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-01-04


IF Colin DeiOnmt would uuir fall
in .ov" with and marry Miss Campbell.
how nice II would he said stout, good
naturei Mrs. Gay to her co,:,&nirn il
A loud aside.
For her-yCS,' was the curt reply.
"He is wealthy enough iii Any case. but
what would half Of old Campbell's
property be for one brought up as she
has been: / hear tho place is mortgased
heavily, ana the old lnan lost ~ sjecU-
iatiOn before he died, 50 His niece is not
the heiross We fancied. Yes it would
he a vely lucky thing for her if Colin
Delorme should ask her to marry him,
and ! have no doubt she would Jump 1t
The chaice.
Madam, . said Il clear voice at the
woman's chair, which, made her start
and glance hastily at the fair young
face above her. Madam, You honor
myself and my affairs too greatly"
Voice and face belonged to the girl
of whom they had been speaking, Honor
Campbell, and as the gossip stamlnered
forth some sort of apology she turned
and glided from tho room. every pulse
in her body quiveriug with anger,
wounded pride and perhaps Il far keener
pain,
Why had she allowed herself TO be
eoaxed into appearing among the guests
Of her cousin, to whom the old man laid
so recently in his grave was nothing.
while to her he had been dear as a
father?
Why had she brought her mourning
robes and her mourning heart forth
from retirement, even when friends
pleaded with her to do so?
And they thought her poor enough
Ito jump at the chance of marrying
Colin Delorme because he was to share
her uncle's possessions with her and had
wealth Of his own-Colin Delorme,
with his frank, handsome face and his
CHEEKY voice and his heart Of gold,
which any living oma might prize
more than the crown of king!
How heartless and material people
were, she told herself, as she went hur-
riedly ont to the little garden, which
,S]oped down to a sheltered spot-a dell
often visited by her.
In the path, with its checkered light,
she came face to face with the object of
her thoughts-Coiin Delorme.
How pale you are, Honor u he said
10 her, looking with eyes Of tenderness
which she did not see into her young
face,
Are you ILL.,"
"Thank you. No"
"Then let me tell you what I have
been thinking of, Honor. Our uncle di
1ided all he had between us. Let u
make no division, dear-and let Us jOiI
our lives and leave the old place as it is
Do you think l could make you happy
as my wife, Honor, my darling? Iwoul(
try hard. l think I could succeed. Will
you risk your life in my hands? Honor
you are as white as death. Have 1 star
tied you? l thought you knew my hear
this long time. l know uncle did"
Had he said such words to her but tn
previous day, but an hour before. how
gladly she would have put out her hand
to him and said:
Eyes. Colin. l know your heart. all
l will trust my life in your hands.
has known no love save that which 20
have taught it, and l am only happ
when you are near mel"
But the words of the gossip wer
fresh in her memory, the humiliatlO
which they aroused still ragged hotly
ner breast.
With a low little laugh she turDe
from him to gather up the long train {
her black dress, and her gray eyes gre,
bitter.
"You are far too generous" she sal
coldly. II learned today that you al
quite expected to ask me to marry yor
Colin, by our kindly acquaintance.
You have not disappointed them-yo
have asked me, but l am not yet 80 poo
in soul if l an in purse. I will nj
roorrv vor, FOR tho sako nf kaoDin0 RI