The Delta independent., 1896-07-08

spell over the young man. and he re-
solved to live . better life and be
worthy Of the girl he had chosen, or
rather, that fate had chosen for him. lie
paused q moment leaning over the
fence near to the Howard homestead.
for he had not yet settled in his own mind
the details of the meeting. He would
not go in, for in that case he knew he
would have to talk, perhaps for hours,
with every one but the person he
wished to sec. II he announced him
self and asked to see Margaret alone,
his doing SO would emba-rass her at
the very beginning. Yates was nat
urally too much of . diplomat to COM
mcncc awkwardly. As he stood there,
wishing chance would bring her out of
the house, there appeared o light in
the door window of the room where he
knew the convalcscent boy lay. Mar
garets shadow formed . silhouette on
the blind. Yates caught up q handful
Of sand and flung it lightly against the
pane. It's soft patter evidently At
tracted the attention of the girl, for
after . moments pause the window
opened carefully and Margaret stepped
quickly out and closed IL, quietly
standing there.
Margaret" whispered Yates, hardly
above his breath.
The girl advanced toward the fence.
SIS that you?" she whispered in re-
turn, with an accent on the last word
that thrilled her listener. The accent
told rs plainly rs speech that the word
represented the one man on Garth 70
her.
yes" answered Yates, springing
over the fence and approaching her.
''Oh!" cried Margaret, starting back,
then checking herself with . catch in
her voice. ''You-you startled me
Mr.. Ystes-"
mot Mr.. Yates any more, Margaret,
but Dick. Margaret, wanted 70 zee
you alone. You know why have
conc" He tried to grasp both her
hands, but she put them resolutely be-
hind her, seemingly wishing to retreat,
yet standing her ground.
Margaret, you must have seen long
ago how 1t Is with Inc. love you, Mar
garet, Loyalty AMI truly. II seems as
II had loved you all my life. I GER
tainly have since the first day saw
you"
''Oh! Mr.. Yates, you must not talk 70
me like this"
my darling. how else can I talk 70
you? It cannot be . surprise 70 you.
Margaret. You must have known it
long ago."
IT did not. Indeed did Motif you
really mean It."
"Mean II? never meant anything
rs I mean this. It is everything TO me,
and nothing else is anything. have
knocked about the world . good deal.
admit, but never was in love before
never knew what love was until l
met you. tell you that"
please, please, Mr.. Yates, do not
say anything more. II II is really true,
I cannot tell you how sorry I am. I
hope nothing have said or done has
made you believe thst-that-oh, I do
not know what to say. never thought
you could be In earnest about any
thing"
You surely cannot have 80 mis-
judged me, Margaret. Others have.
but did not expect IL of you. You are
far and away better than I am. No one
knows that better than I. do not
pretend to be worthy Of you, but l will
be . good husband 10 you. Any man
who gets the love Of a good woman" !"
continued Yates, earnestly. plagiariz-
ing Renmark, gets more than he de-
serves; but surely such love as mine Ii
not given merely to be scornfully
trampled under foot"
~ do not treat your-you scornfully.
I am only sorry II what you say 10
true
why do you say II il Is true7 Don't
you know Il In true?'
Then I am very sorry-very, very
sorry, and hope Il In through no fault
of mine. But you will noon forget me.
When you return TO New York"
Margaret" said the young man, Bit
terly, II shall never forget you Think
what you arc doing before IL is too
late. Think how much this means 70
me. II you finally refuse me you will
wreck my life. am the sort Of man
that woman can make or mar. Do
not, beg Of you, ruin the life Of the
man who loves you."
81 an not . missionary" cried Mar
garet, with sudden anger. ''1f your
life IL 20 be wrecked Il will be through
your own foolishness, and not from any
sct Of mine. ! think it cowardly Of
you 70 say that I an TO be held respoa-
sible. I have no wish IN inAoence yOar
future one way or another"
''Nos for good. MsrgsretT eaksd
Ystea, with tender repruech.
mo. A msa whose good o. baA coa-
duct depends On anyone elss bat hin
self 10 not ny IDEAL Of . msa-~
Tell nc what your Aea1 h, % thet
may try 70 sttsin t."
MarInrVt was silent.
''Yoa think Il win b ssslsss Scs -
- try?-