The times., 1897-11-21
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She tried 20 smile, but her eyes had
a fixed and CLASSY look, and she seemed
TO be Ins sUerng herself 50 that she might
speak.
/ think that she had a speech prepared
in her heart, for several times she strove
TO begin, and the words Were always the
saline. But at last all that she could say
was no more than his, = You love herr
And with a little hand she pointed To
where the Lady Mary mad disappeared.
could see it shaking ss she held IL out.
Jean. - said l. kindly as l could, what
brought you so Tar from home on such q
bitter day. 1t is not fit. You viii get
your deathof cold"
i have gotten my DEATH She said,
with a little gaspinE laugh; Il nave gotten
my sentence DO not / take IL well?'
And she seemed To smile again.
Then / Went quickly TO her and caught
her by the hand, and put my arm abouther
For / feared that she would fail prostrate
where she stood. Notwithstanding, she
kept on smiling through unshed tears, and
never for moment took her eyes off my
face.
Il heard what you and she said Yes,
I listened. A great lady would not have
listened. But l am but little cot-houSe
lass, and 1 spied upon you. Yes, l hid
among the broom. You VIII never forgive
me-
tired to hush her with kind words, but
somehow they seemed to pass her by. /
think she did not hear them.
''YuU love her." she said; yes, know
IL. Jonita told me that from the first
told me that L could never be your Wife.
though l had led you on Yes, 1 own it.
l tried to win you. A great lady would
not. But | did. / threw myself IN your
way. Shamelessly, 1 cast niyself-JOnita
sa VS. it-intO your a rms -
..Ah, Godr' she broke off with a little
frantic cry, sinking her head between
her palms quickly and then flinging her
arms down. And would | not have cast
myself under Your feet as readily, that
you might trample me? L know l am
not for this world. / ken that 1 have bar
tered away eternity for naught. / have
He'd To God. And why not Tell me
why not Would not / gladly barter all
heaven for an hour Of your love on earth?
You NAV despiSe me, butt loved you. Yes.
she IS great, fair, fun of length OF days,
and pride OF life-the lord Of Earlstoun' 5
daughter. Yet, and yet, and yet-she
could not love you better than l. In that
i defy her.
-'Ano she shall have yOu-I viii give you
up To her. For that is the one way an
ignorant lass can love. They tell me that
by tomorrow you VIII be- no longer minister.
You VIII be put out OF the nanse like d bird
ont OF a harried nest. And at first ! was
glad when ! heard il. For, thought l, 'he
VIII come and tell me. We shall be poor
together she said the truth, for indeed
she knoweth somewhat, the Lady Mary:
Love Is not possesSiOns!' No, but il is
possessing. And l had but one-bUt one.
And that she has taken away from me-
She lifted her 'kerchief TO her lips, Tor a
fit of coughing had taken her.
In a moment she drew II away, glanced
at il quickly. and To- # " as stained with a
clear and brilliant red.
Then she laughed abruptly, a strange
hollow sounding little laugh.
Il am giad-glad," she said; "ah, this is
my warrant for departure. Well do l ken
the sign For / mind when my brother
Andrew saw it first. You VIII get her yet
and with honor"
Come, Jean, saidI, the air is strewd.
You are III ana weak. Lean upon my arm
and VIII take you home"
She looked up at m- with dry, brilliant
eyes. There was nothing strange about
them, save that the lids seemed swollen
and unnaturally white.
'.Quintin,' she said, lit was foolish
from the first, was it not, lad o my love;
Did you ever say a sweet thing 10 me like
one that comes courung q lass in the
cleaning? Sayit now 70 me viii you not.
l would like to hear how IL would have
sounded
was silent. I seemed to nave no word.
to answer her with.
She laughed a little.
u forgot. Pardon me, Quintin. You are
in trouble today deep trouble. should not
add to il. 1t is ] who should say loving
things to you. But then tben--yOu would
care more for flouts and anger from hel
than for the naked sweetness Of poor JeaI
Gemmell's heart"
And the very pitifulness of her voice
drew a cry Of anger out Of my brea ST.
AT the sound Of il she stopped and leaned
back in my arms 70 look into my face
Then she put up her hand very gently and
matted me tenderly on he cheek, ike one
that comforts a fretful child.
Il veN YOU she said, you that have
overmuch 10 veX you But / shall not veS
YOU long. See, she said, there is the
door. Yonder is my father standing by ii
BE is looking at US under bis hand. There is
JOnita, too, and your brother Hob. Shal
we 20 and tell them that il is all a mis-
take. that there Is to be no more hetweeI
us2 That we are free -free-bOth OF us
you 70 wed the Lady Mary; | 10 keep my
tryst-to keep my tryst-with heath.'
at the last words her voice sank TO Z
whisper. Something broke in her throat
and seemed 10 choke her. She fell bacl
IN my arms with her kerchief again 10 hel
mouth.
They saw US from the door, and Alex
ander-J Jonita came flying toward US ovel
the short grass Of the meadow.
Jean TOOK her kerchief away without
looking al 1t, this time. She lifted hel
eyes 10 mine, and smiled, very sweetIy
i am glad-glad," she whispered, "dt
not bc sorry, Quintin. But do just thi,
one thing for me, lad-buU only this one
thing. DO not tell them. Let us pretend
Would IL be wrong, think you, TO preUen,
d little that you love me- You are Z
minister, aud should know, But, IL yol
could why, & would be SO sweet. And il
would not be for long, Quintin."
She spoke coaXingly, and withaI mos
tenderly.
Jean, l DO love youl'' l cried.
And FOR the first time I meant it, She
seemed TO be like my sister a ma 10 me-
By this time, seeing Jonita coming, sh,
had recovered herself and taken my arm
Al my words, she pressed it a little anC
smiled.
90" she said, you need not BegiI
yet! Only before them. / went then
70 think that you loved me little yOu
see. Is it not foolish OF me?''
bat I do do truly love you, Jean
I cried. did you ever know me to tel
a lie?''
She smiled again, like one who smile
at a child who has wei learned his les
son.
AleXander-Jonita came rushing up.
Jean, Jean, where have you been
What is the matt err
Il have been meeting Quintin," sh,
said, smiling He has been telling IN.
that he loves me-
XXK.
JEAN GEMNELL's BARGAIN WITF
GOD.
Yet more grimly bitter than the day o.
December the thirtieth fell the night
wandered by the bank OF the river, wher,