The Red Cloud chief., 1896-06-05

DelnG 80 u'IgillUi.
NO, you have not understood
SAYS he. now. "Dulcic. don't YOU
know why ! don't want to lcave?-
why ! would rather be an invalid for
ever than leave? Don't you-don't
YOU know
"No,' says ono. shrinking from him
a little. and growing pale beneath :hc
freight.
"Oh. YOU must know -ays he. We
hemently. ''For a whole week | have
believed YOU knew. Las, Monday.
when you brought me those Christmas
roses and | took them
and you YOU blushcd; .
and. Dulcic''-
lie breaks oil suddenly. and rising
to his icct. ono over to her. Dul.
Gle. ! love you"
'Oh. no, Oh. no. cries she
sharply. rising in turn aud drawing
back from him. ''lou must not. You
cannot. Don't you know about me-"
know about you"'
''lcs. No man must love me-" says
the girl. putting out both her hands,
rs if in remuneration Of all affections.
Bot, why? Darling, why?'
because I'm engaged to be mar
ricd." rcturns she. with terrible
solcinnity.
Being a young man Of the world.
this declaration might. on another &C.
cdsion, have given him food for
mlr,h; being. however, II young man
of the world for once honestly in love.
il only gives him food for con,tcrna-
ton.
''Eugagcd.' is all he can say.
'lc,. yes. Indeed hanging her
mead.
There j. so little Joy in her an
nouncemcnt-so little OF anytime but
grief in the hanging of her dainty
little head, that grand courage comes
to him.
"An engagement! What is that?"
cries he, eagerly. IAN engagement
can be broken. Blessed thought.
Now, If you had been married though
even so well; but an engagement"
''Ah. you don't know says she.
This one can't be broken"
why not? And-who-? Oh.
Dulcic. | think you might have
told me, before, something about il"
1T didn't occur to me. says Dulcie.
opening her fingers in her explanatory
way. Never. not for "a moment"
What didn't?' in a puzzled tone.
''your engagement? But really you
must have thought ABOUT that some
times. any way; and besides
THAT. Nonsense" says she what
didn't occur to me was. that you were
were" she glanced at him
shyly and s~hamefacedly, well were
you know
''Dulcic." cries he.
''Oh. no. cries she. Don't touch
me. II is 80 absurd. You couldn't De
in love with me in IA month, could
you?'
Couldn't L. cried he.
well. even If you could say-
she. shaking her head dismally, I'll
isn't Of any use. Father has made VI
his mind | am TO marry him.
.'Who?'
Sir Ralph Anlictcll."
"Ankctcll?'
Yes"
"Why, he's twice your age"
"Oh. no, he isn't says Mis-
McDcrmot. quickly. ''lIc is thirty
four"
Looks more like ninc,y-four
in my opinion, and as ugly Ia sin"
81 have rcad ii somewhere that sin
is always beautiful says she scntcn-
tiously.
Then Anketell is as ugly as some
thing else. He gazing at her
anXiously, lis ugly, isn't he?"
II don't think he is so ugly as you
think him, says she cvasivcly.
IL believe YOU are in love with
him says Eyre, somewhat sulkily.
Silence.
.Well, are you in love with him.
demands the young man presently.
with open ire.
I'm in love with nobody" rc,orts
She, with crushing meaning; ''bu,
father thinks it would be n good
thing Tor me to marry Sir Ralph
And he-Sir Ralph-does he know
you are being cocrccd into u marriage
with him?'
Il don't know what he knows"
"lf he does he must be "A mca.
hound" cries Eyre, with passionate
contempt.
lie is not Il mean hound" says the
girl quickly. IL may not want 10
marry him; | may have been per-
suaded to engage myself to him; |
may not care Tor nm IN the very
least; but he i, not mean, and he is
one of the kindcst, best men | ever
met
Well, never mind what | have
said puts in Eyre quickly. Her
sudden defence Of the man whom she
50 plainly does not love has struck him
n, a touch Of nobility in her character.
lie can admire it the more as it seems
to prove to him that love has no part
in her defence. The thing do
want to know is Dulcie. look
at me! Tell Inc il You will try to love
me-"
"Why should ! try to love you9''
say, she, tears rising in her eyes.
why should ! try to love any one? !
tell you | am bound Ia marry
Sir Ralph, and must fulfil my
PROMISE
surely not, if you yourself object
to it,"
TO what
so the promise