Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-05-05

CHAPTER XIV.

Muriel feels utterly silenced by his re-
Ioinder. and the grateful tenderness and
shy girlish alteration of her heart for him,
which have been blossoming into passion
ate love. are suddenly crushed back from
all exprl Sion or revealing. She con-
ducts hin up stairs to little sitting room
| which sAS has used since Miles illness.
There is . bright fire burning. and the
lamp light and candle light makes the
| rOzy little room look exceedingly COM
Portable. not to mention the fact that a
little round table. covered with snowy
| damask, is daintily laid for dinner-din-
| ner for one-in front of the bright fire.
There il even n pretty bouquet of pale
pink monthly roses. white chrysanthe-
| NUNS and scented geranium leaves in the
center of the little round table.
"YOur room IL quite ready for you.
Muriel says. gravely, "and dinner will be
ready In about = quarter of an hour. and
I hope you won't mind dining alone. un-
| der the circumstances"
The dinner passes over In rather con
strained silence and formal talk, as he
| does not wish to begin on the distressing
topic Of Miles illness. When Hannah
has put the wine and brandy and dessert
| on the crimson cloth, Nuriel rises to re-
turn to her brothers room.
"Wait q minute. Muriel-I am coming
with you," Eric says. smiling, and as he
rises from the table he pours out glass
| Of port and comes beside Muriel with IL.
You must drink this" he says. With
gentle authority, which first makes Mu-
riers eyes fash. and then droop. and then
| she obediently takes the " inc and tries to
drink.
81 must go to Miles-I have been away
| so long" she says, confusedly, her heart
huttering wildly: for she knows that Eric
Llew ellyn's arm is around her lissome
waist, and Erics chestnut brown mus
| taches are touching her brow
"In a minute we will both CO." be says.
tenderly drawing her closer. land then
Twill stay with him for the remainder OF
the evening, and let you rest-you must
be tired out. my darling! My poor little
darling! Tell me you are glad to see me
glad for my own sake, Muriel."
Il am glad, very glad" Muriel says. in
the lowest of whispers.
DO you care little for me-" he per-
sists, even if you would rather die than
marry me? What an odious monster |
must be"'
.You don't think you are at all events,
Muriel says, instantly. with a satirical
glance which somehow startles him a lit
tie: it implies much more than the jest.
and reveals to him a glimpse of Muriel's
deeper and keener perception of his true
character than he perhaps quite knows
himself.
Would you rather die than marry me.
dearest?'' he asks. and laughs softly at
her girlish confusion, and her struggle be-
tween yielding and resistance. "You must
tell me, Muriel," and the other strong arm
enfolds her, and locks her in his-embrace.
Il will not let you go until you tell me
truly. Sweet, don't you care a little for
me!"
YES" Muriel says, timidly but clearly.
"More than little. MurielY"
"Yes," rather indistinctly.
"And, are you willing to marry me with
out much reluctanceT" he questions. and
Muriel hears the irony in his tones.
"Why do you want to marry me?" she
demands, quickly and sharply. trying to
wrench herself away, unsuccessfully.
however "You must have seen girls q
hundred times better suited to you than
am! Is it for Miles sake, and-because
you pity me, and think l shall be left
alone?'
And her words end in a spasm of bitter
weeping, subdued, restrained, but as If the
depths of her hearts sadness are touched
and are flowing out in tears.
(TO be continued.