The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-05-08
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AW0MAN5 Mt UENCE


Margaret coIored and desisted from
her occupation.
Il beg you pardon, she said. Il did
not intend to send it in your direction.
1t is vent for my overcharged feelings.
l suppose that is childish acknowledge
ment, but shall not recall it. l read Of
a piece Of injustice this morning, and 1t
has filled me with indignation. be-
lieve Pm in constant state of rebellion
a1ainst the accepted order OF things.
Why do you laugh?'
Not at you, certainly. Seriously, L
am half afraid of you-your bad opinion,
l mean. What influence you could exert
over some men. Do you like me, Mar
garrett"
The name slipped uneonsciously from
his lips, and he drew nearer to her. She
averted her head and answered in the
tone of one measuring her words care
fully.
The degree Of my liking depends
upon yourself.
Brian was evidently not we'll satisfied
with this frank admission.
You couldn't like me we'll enough TO
be my wife?" he persisted, drawing more
closely to her and endeavoring to take
her hand, an action she resolutely OPP
posed.
do you mean what you say?" she
said, in slightly repressed voice, con-
scious of something wanting in his man
ner.
He hesitated at her words.
DO / mean that I love you? Yes,
Margaret, do, from the first moment I
saw You. II l could only make yol
understand my position, my longing to
win your love and make you my wife:
But"
His pause was eloquent.
But whatf" she repeated, in quick,
changed voice.
why, how you look az me, Mar
garrett
At this complaint she turned her face
aside and allowed her eye to follow the
motion of bird.
you see," he went on, more at case in
the absence of those searching gray
eyes, marriage between US is quite out
of the question If you we're"
If / were rich, suppose, you mean,
she interrupted, in a somewhat hard
voice; but, admitting I'm poor, what
/ them
@You must see how 1t is; we couldn' t
| live on two thousand a year.
And your profession. she supple
mentad. 1t seems to me you might be
much worse off. Any one with an econ
| omical turn"
Il hate people with an economical
| turn, and don't intend to work myself
to death trying to cure lot of migrate
full people. My first years allowance
won't much more than pay my debts.
4
obliged to live in certain style.
@Oh, dare say, even If he sacrifices
everything else In the effort. You love
me, but you love money better. Have
/ stated the case correctly
| He'glanced at her cold, impenetrable
face.
How hard you are. Margaret" he
sail, reproa chfully. You don't under
stand the difficulty. Love in cottage
is we'll enough in theory, but no fun In
practice. l could not be happy under
such circumstances. l love you dearly
and If only had little money, should
like nothing better than to marry you,
Thanks" was the quiet rejoinder
Your assurance is quite eonsoling, bu
l don't believe l quite appreciate the
honor you would confer upon me. Oh
course the idea of my possible objection
has not entered your mind. Under the
circumstances l may regard your loss a.
my gain.
How truly his loss was her gain sh,
did not pause to reflect
You are excellent at sarcasm" he re
joined with reproach. Il was only
speaking OF my wishes. If you hat
told me two weeks ago, how thoroughly
you despised me might have been I
wiser man to-day"
Margaret understood his meaning
She felt that he had no right to speal
to her In this way, yet his words
panied her. In Imagination she wen
back to the first hour Of their meeting
She remembered how glad she had fel
that they would be thrown together TO
a short time in this quiet place. Sh
remembered what faith she had places
in the existence of those good qualitie
; Miss Hilton had mentioned, and wha
hopeful longings and eager expecta
lions had filled the hours of her com
: partnership with him, and now her dis
appointment was both keen and bitter
1t lent new sharpness to her answer
You dare not blame me for any &C
ton of yours, she said, endeavoring +
speak quietly. Il have endured you
company. Could l do otherwise? 70
have tried to win my affection by all tn
arts In your power. Isuppose you foun
the pastime amusing. and probably yo
imagined that you had so far succeeded
that II it suited your pleasure to homo
me with proposal of marriage, woul
, accept it with thanks. hope you hav
, discovered your mistake. / would no
marry you to save myself from starva
ton. : You have insultcd mo quit
: enough
Not insulted. Margaret. he said, re
proachfully, looking into her passionat
i. face. Believe me, have intended, n
insult I respect and admire you to
much, and / love you far more than
can ever love my cousin. Yet, hav
no alternative. must marry her c
starye.'
Margaret's lips moved. She was abou
, to make an angry rejoinder, but with a
effort she controlled the impulse.
. You will starve royalty, she sale
! somewhat bitterly. Il consider marry
, ing for money contemplate. You hav
different views. We have learned some
! t'thing new of each other. Money stand
above love in your estimation. 10
i cannot forego the Injuries OF life Tor "a
sake OF one you pretend to love Wit
sueh deyotedness. Now, II L loved
man. she continued. with sligf
, tremor in her quiet voice, would sac