Connecticut western news., 1897-09-02
THE DEMAINE DYE.

"Tell," the girl pleaded coaxingly, with her soft cheek against his.
 "Ask me anything but that and I will grant it," answered her lover. "That is matter which concerns my honor, and so not even for you can I''--
 ''Oh," she interrupted pettishly. "I am sick of hearing that cant about your bonor. You only promised your father, and 1 am sure if he had known me he would have told me, but you-you are as hard as adamant. You can't care for me properly, or you would do what I ask you-the very first thing I have ever asked you," she ended pettishly.
 Alan Domaine smiled at the pretty exhibition of childish wrath. Then he said gravely, yet firmly:
 "It is no use, Elsie. You are causing both yourself and me needless pain by constantly teasing me on this matter. Once and for all I 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, fattered and petted into seem- ingly forgetful mood.
 ''I 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 a. quiet cigar. "A childish whim, suppose, or woman s curiosity.'
 And, so thinking, he dismissed the subject from his mind.
 But he would not have dismissed it quite so easily if he could have looked into distant chamber in another part of the house and seen little fury ex- citedly pacing the floor and murmuring to herself:
 "I will get to know it yet, whether by fair means or foul it matters little, but will get it, and then"-
 ''I must be off to the works at once, !" Alan said next morning to his mother and sisters "Tell Elsie, when she comes down, that I am awfully sorry not to be able to take her fora drive, as we arranged yesterday, but something unexpected has turned up, and ] am com pelled to attend to it. No eye like the master r's-eh, mother?" he finished langhingly.
 Mrs. Domaine looked fondly at her son.
 "You are just like your father, {" she said proudly. "It was aye duty before pleasure with him, but I'll tell the lassie, Alan, and maybe you'll be home by dinner time." 1T can't say, mother" he answered cheerily; "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- 1 maine's offer to drive her in place of Alan and went off for long walk by herself Enid and Cicely looked curi- ously after her as she walked down the drive, and then Cicely said half dream fly:
 1T do think there is something odd about Elsie. Iwish Alan had not fallen in love with her. Do you know,'' low ering her voice to an awestricken whis- | per, "I'm afraid she is not trust worthy"
 When Alan came home that evening, | he seemed in uproariously good spirits. | He laughed and chatted and joked and l leased until his mother declared that l he was "fey" After dinner he invited Elsie out on to the terrace, to ''see the I moonlight" he declared mendaciously. | Very fair and sweet the girl looked in her pretty white gown of some shim mering material, and so her lover evi. dently thought, for he suddenly caught l 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 timiudiy.
 Nothing, my pet, " he replied in hil old manner; "only you looked so be witching I think lost my senses. :"
 1T think you did," she retorted CO quettishly. "Alan.' she continued earnestly, "do you really and truly love me?''
 He looked at her curiously, then
 recollecting himself, replied:
 "What a foolish question to ask
 How many hundreds of times have
 told you the old, old storyp"
 But, "she persisted, raising her fac
 to his, 1T never, never can believe i
 until you tell me that secret. :"