The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-22
THE DEMAINE DYE.


Ask me anything but that and
will grant it., answered her lover.
That is a matter which concerns my
honor, and SO not even for you can r.
"Oh," she interrupted pettishly. ct
am sick of hearing that cant about your
honor You only promised your father,
and l nm sure if he had known me he
would have told me, but you-you are
rs hard as adamant. You can't care for
mo properly, or you would do what
ask you-the very first thing 1 have
ever asked you," she ended pettishly.
Alan Domaine smiled at the pretty
exhibition of childish wrath. Then no
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 l cannot tell you, SO
now let as 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 SEEM
ingly forgetful mood.
81 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 he would not have dismissed it
quite so easily if he could have looked
into distant chamber in another part
of tho 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 it, and them
II 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 for a drive, as
we arranged yesterday. but something
unexpected has turned up, and am COM
PEELED to attend to it. No eye like tho
master Sch, mother?'' he finished
laughingly.
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
II can't say, mother" he answered
cheerily; "only wait for me.''
And then they heard the hall door
close and knew he was off. Tho 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 Cicely said half dream
lily:
II 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 wills
per, "I'm afraid she is not trust
worthy
When Alan came homo that evening,
he 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" he declared mendaciously.
Very fair and sweet the girl looked
i'll her pretty white gown of some SHIN.
mering material, and SO her lover evil
IDENTITY thought for he suddenly caught
her to his breast and rained passionate
kisses on her brow and lips Then, Just
as suddenly, ho 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, he replied in his
old manner; "only you looked SO be-
wltching 1 think lost my senses. -
II 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 foolish question to ask!
How many hundreds of times have
told you the old, old story?''
But. she persisted, raising her face
to his, II never, never can believe it
until you tell me that secret.'
His face darkened at her words.
did [ not tell you last night that
yonr persistency was worse than use
less?" he rctorted, looking coldly down
at her.
We'll, then" she answered passion
ately, until you do tell me | will
never marry you--never!"
There was long silence between
them. Finally the man broke it.
''DO You mean whit You sap2,, he