The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-26

| H~"y y" sP Pon0 WHofe they iblBHb
GROSS.
mo use," mid Paul ct last. eve could
not even swim across without almost
ocrtssnly loaAng our lives. No, we must
simply make the best Of a bad matter Miss
Lisbon, and put up with our unpleasant
situation as philoeophioally as we can 4"
Then thoughtfullya moment after: Cant
we lind shelter of some kind, do you
Think 1t will kill you to be exposed to
this chilling storm all night"
IAN nightf Mae echoed in low, tense
| whisper. Yet not so low but that Beres-
ford caught it, as well as the little gasp
| lag break in the breath that uttered 1t.
There ia an empty miners cabin not
very far from here, she said very quietly
aloud. III had NOT been 60 foolish as to
inger to explore 1t, l shonld have not been
caught in this awkward dilemma.
LET us go there, then, he answered
gently. ut will be some slight protection
for you at least and as for mel
His low voice died into silence, and In
silence they went ON until the little,
empty, desolate cabin was reached.
Fortunately Paul had some matches In
his pocket, and equally SO Mae remembered
having seen quantity of pine fagots scat
tered about the hut. So it was but few
minutes until bright fire was blazing
upon tho neglected hearth, and the I'M
canny darkness fled before its CHEEKY light
Having thus made her as comfortable as
no could, Paul rose to his feet and hastily
began buttoning his coat close about his
chin.
For an instant Mae watched him in
tently, a strange softness yelling the luster
of her hazel eyes. Then:
mo, Mr. Beresford," she said, with
gentle frmness, laying one little hand-a
touch as light as falling snowhake-on
his sleeve, "you must not-shall not-go
outside and spend all this long, dreary
night in the pitiless storm. You have as
much right as to the shelter of this roof
and the comfort of this cheerful fire. Do
not leave them and 60 out into the storm
unless you wish to make me more unhappy
than am
He turned and looked curiously at her
for good half minute.
Then, seeing in her clear, honest, hazel
eyes that she meant Just what she said, he
answered simply:
Then will stay here, Miss Lisbon"
And throwing himself down upon the
opposite side of the glowing hearth, tho
two talked or fell into troubled silence as
their moods inclined them.
Tho morning sun vas bringing out all
the golden glints in Macs pretty chestnut
hair by the time they found it possible to
cross the treacherous gulch.
AS they rode homeward both were
strangely silent, and Paul's face was white
and tense with the flerceness of some in.
ward struggle.
After little he turned to her abruptly
and said in husky tones:
- Miss Lisbon, after last nights adven.
ture l suppose you know that there is
only one course for us to take. You un.
derstand mo, do you not?''
II think do, Mr.. Beresford, she an.
swered after brief silence in accents loud.
er than a whisper.
"Then"-more hoarsely still-"I ask
you to become my wife ut once. We can
ride to the Rev. Mr. Martins and have
the ceremony performed before we 90 |
home at all, and then no one dare say
word against your name"
If he had only been looking at her then,
he must have pitied her
That finely chiseled, strong, yet dain.
tily lovely face of hers crimsoned painfully |
snow, and she tremblcd SO violently that
she seemed in danger of falling to the
ground.
But she soon rallied, and then her low,
clear silyery voice startled him from his
painful reyeries.
Your proposal is a generous one, Mr..
Beresford, " 1t said, with sweet, touch
ing little wayer in its aceents-''it is man.
ly, noble-and it is like yourself. But,
with full understanding of all that it i'm
plies, cannot accept it,"
He turned, with look of amazement
in his dark, despairing eyes.
Miss Lsbon-Mae," he CALCULATED,
do you know what you are sayiDg9 Do
you realize the peril to your pure reputa.
ton from the vile harpies who will be only
too ready to attack it? My God, have you
counted the COST
81 have" she answered, turning to him
1T last, with brave, sweet smile on her
ovcly face. II was doing that all through
he long, dragging hours of last night. l
know that your love is given elsewhere,
Paul Beresford, and will not permit you
o wreck the happiness Of your own life
d-another's-simply that you may thus
hield the honor of mine. Let those talk
Who will'-lifting her bright head with
GESTURE of infinite pride. my character is
IS stainless as it ever was, and l do not
iced a forced marriage to maintain its
,urity."
God bless you, Miss Lisbon" he MUIR
nurcd, leaning over to clasp and kiss the
retty hand which rested lightly on her
orse's neck. "If ever you need a defend
r, am ready to serve you to the last
hrob of loyal, grateful HEARTH
Of course the story of Mae terrible ad-
enture was already broadcast throughout |
he social world. And, though Paul Beres-
ord did not let any one remain in igno-
ance of Macs refusal to marry him, nor,
ldeed, of any other fact in regard to her
urity and herOism, still there was plenty
malicious slander, and poor Mao often
lit most keenly the bitterness of her po-
tion.
But what was Paul Beresfords surprise
nd disgust when one day ho found that
lise Hurley, the woman hc had loved,
as among the prosecutors Of the girl who
ad sacrificed so much for her and him.
And ono day he electrified Mae Lisbon
y saying to her bluntly:
Mae, ask you again to be my wife,
al ask you now because l love and
lnor you above all other women on this
nth. Don't refuse me, darling, after
ealing my heart away in that lonely hill
dc cabin where l had no chance against I
10 witchery of those lovely, hazel eyes" s