The Portland daily press., 1898-01-03
GALL RIGHTS RESERVED

His mind has been weakened by his
terrible sufferings. l can see that You
have evidently obtained Il very considera-
BILE influence over him, and what I had
hoped was that, on my representing
things to you, l might have counted upon
your generosity to go to him yourself and
tell him he must consider his engagement
with you at an end. But If you refuse to
do this, and to withdraw from position
which you no longer have any right to
I'LL, she cried, with momentary out
break of passion. "then | must appeal to
Cecil, and ask him to break off the-the
false engagement; yes, l say false engage
ment, for neither of you had any right
to make it under such circumstances .
"And suppose he refuses to do sosn said
Marian, who in true womanly spirit be-
came cool and almost tantalizing in man
ner, as she perceived that her adversary
was growing hot.
WHAT" exclaimed Clara in q voice
that Quivered with Indignation at the
suggestion.
II say suppose he refuses to break off
the engagement"
Marian, my dear, this is I'M Christian
like" interrupted her aunt mildly. for
her own sympathles went rather with
Clara Lambert, as the injured one in the
singular complication which had arisen
though of course she knew only the truth
OF the matter as she gathered it from the
girls talk, and had no more suspicion
than Clara herself at that time of the
actual state of Rawdon's feelings. "Do
not add to the unhappiness which this
poor young lady must already have suff-
cred, by attempting grievously to wrong
her.
"What is it that you wish me to do?"
said Marian turning towards Miss Lam
bert.
"No, Miss Marston,' exclaimed Clara,
81 would rather put it thus: What do
you think you ought to doP'
"You know quite well the kind of an
swer you expect me to make to that ques.
ton"
'Then since you will force me into
plain speaking, and oblige me to dictate
to you what l should have thought your
own sense of fairness would have suggest
ed, q you as lady, to break off your
engagement with Cecil on your own ac-
count, and SO relieve the poor fellow of
what he admits is a painful embarrass
ment, brought about-Well, you know
how even better than /.
land suppose, Miss LAMBERT an
swered Marian, that l have already
proposed such course to him, and he re-
fuses to hear of any such thing?"
Impossible! ~ gasped out Clara.
"You think so. 1t is not for me to say
anything likely to wound or erieve you.
But I heartily wish that before coming to
discuss the matter with me you had
talked it over with Ceoil. If he wants
the courage to tell you the truth himself,
it is hardly fair to expect that you should
get it from me. +"
What do you mean? Will you please
explain yourselfY' exclaimed Clara In
low agitated voice.
"Miss Lambert" answered Marian.
steed Oily meeting her gaze. "you no doubt
think me acting very dishonorable part
for not at once withdrawing from the en-
gagement which have contracted with
Cecil. But / can see that you do not
know the truth of the matter, and it
would pain me TO have to be the one to
tell it you. Will you do this, although
you little know what it costs me to make
the proposal; go yourself to Cecil, ask
him whether he still loves you, and is
prepared to marry you? If he SAYS YES.
depend upon it that shall not stand in
your way"
"But you talk as though you had reason
to believe he might not say yes" said
Clara, peevishly.
you are certainly very mysterious,
Marian, exclaimed her aunt. "To be.
gin with. you evidently knew before of
the existence of this young lady, yet you
have never mentioned her name to me-"
Miss Marston can only have known of
me within the last twenty-four hours"
to tell me why she wishes me to 20 to Mr..
Rawdon with q question which I should
have thought it an insult to his senti.
ments and his honor to ask? I am sure
there must be some reason in it. Is it,
Miss Marston, that you have cause to be-
lieve Cecil may have changed in his
affection9'
81 can only repeat that it is not for me
to answer for one who is now quite able
to answer for himself, - replied Marian.
81 must go to him again at once, -"
cried the poor girl, starting up. "Can it
be possible, then, that the suspicion
which half came into my mind whilst he
was talking to me just now is truep
Goodbye-forgive me for having troubled
you"
She made for the door Marian brushed
past to let her out, feeling heartily sorry
for her. But love, as the old poets found
out even before they knew bow to write
down the truism they had discovered, ia
the most selfish of all emotions; and as
Marian Marston stood watching Clara
Lambert climbing into the saddle of her
horse, her feeling of sympathy was to
very large degree neutralized by the sub
tie workings of that passion to which the
world has given the name of jealousy.
(To be continued.)
CAMNHc RANK MEM