The Somerset reporter., 1897-08-05
THE DEMAINE DYE.

"Oh, y She interrupted pettishly. II
am sick of hearing that cant about your
honor You only promised your father,
and | am sure if he had known me he
would have told me, but you-you are
rs hard as adamant. You can't care for
me properly, or you would do what |
ask you-the very first thing | have
ever asked you, she ended pettishly.
Alan Domaine smiled at the pretty
exhibition of childish wrath. Then he
said gravely, yet firmly:
" 1t Is no use, Elsie. You are causing
both yourself and me needless pain by
constantly teasing me on this matter
Once and for all | cannot tell you. so
now let us talk of something pleasant
What Is the last new gown like?' he.
ended, smiling lovingly down at her.
The girl looked at him. curious
glance, half menace, half malice, then,
yelling her eyes. dropping before his
ardent glance, she allowed herself to be
coaxed, f1attered and petted into a SEEM
ingly forgetful mood
II wonder why the little witch is so
eager to know the secret-a trade secret
too?' thought Domaine to himself that
night as he smoked quiet cigar. "A
childish whim, suppose, or woman's
curiosity
And, so thinking, he dismissed the
subject from his mind.
But be would not have dismissed it
quite so easily If he could have looked
into distant chamber i'll another part
of the house and seen little fury ex-
citedly pacing the floor and murmuring
to herself:
Il Will get to know it yet, whether
by fair means or foul it matters little
but | will get 1t, and them
Il must be off TO the works at once, "
Alan said next morning to his mother
and sisters. Tell Elsie, when she
comes down, that l am awfully sorry
not to be able to take her for "A drive, as
we arranged yesterday, but something
unexpected has turned up, and am com
PEELED to attend to it, No eye like the
master Sch, mother?" he finished
laughingly.
Mrs. Domaine looked fondly at her
son.
"You are just like your father, " she
said proudly. ut was aye duty before
pleasure with him, but I'll tell the
lagsie, Alan, and maybe you'll be
home by dinner time y
II can't say mother, he answered
oheerily; only wait for me. "
And then they heard the hall door
close and knew he was off The day
wore away. Elsie declined Enid De-
maine's offer to drive her in place Of
Alan and went off for long walk by
herself. Enid and Cicely looked curl
ously after her as she walked down the
drive, and then Cioely said half dream
lily:
Il do think there is something odd
about Elsie. wish Alan had not fallen
i'll love with her. Do you know, low
ering her voice to an awestricken whis-
per, Pm afraid she is not trust
worthy"
When Alan came home that evening,
be seemed in uproariously good spirits.
He laughed and chatted and joked and
leased until his mother declared that
he was FEY" After dinner he invited
Elsie out on to the terrace, to see the
moonlight, be declared mendaciously.
Very fair and sweet the girl looked
III her pretty white gown of some SHIN
mering material, and so her lover evi.
IDENTIFY thought, for he suddenly caught
her to his breast and rained passionate
kisses on her brow and lips. Then, just
as suddenly, he thrust her from him
and Stood facing her in the moonlight
The girl was half frightened at his man
ner.
What is the matter, Alan?" she
asked timidly.
Nothing my pet, a." he replied in his
old manner; "only you looked SO be-
witching think lost my senses.
Il think you did, =" she retorted Co
quettishly Allan" she continued
earnestly, do you really and truly love
me?"
He looked at her curiously, then,
recollecting himself, replied:
What foolish question to ask
How many hundreds of times have
told you :he old, old story"
" But, she persisted, raising her face
to his, Il noy yer, never can believe it
until you tell me that secret. "
His face darkened at her words.
Did | not tell you last night that
your persistency was worse than use
less?" ne retorted, looking coldly down
at her.
We'll, then, " she answered passion
ately, until you do tell me | will
never marry you-neverr
There was long silence between
them. Finally the man broke it.
Do you mean what you say?" he
asked in a low, tense voice
Certainly, she responded in hard,
determined tone. Then, changing her
manner to one Of winning sweetness:
But / know you will tell me You
could never, never be so cruel as to re-
fuse. "
He turned away and began pacing
the lawn in an undecided, wayering
fashion, quite unlike his usual firm
step. The girl followed him and laid
one hand on his arm.
Tell me, ;" she whispered beseech-
ingly. Then she raised herself on tiptoe
and kissed him.
II cannot resist, he murmured, then
stopped suddenly and whispered some
thing into her ear.
SIS that all?" she asked, in evident
surprise. He nodded
The next afternoon Elsie refused all