Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-11-17
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| lilS lllSSllOl1 lul SolllC ollS ShSts 4-ASAS
would rate him ut his true value and
| spurn him accordingly
| But had She the power to win him
| back! There were women who won
| men by a glance. or word. or Il smile.
| she had heard: but she was not one OF
| these fortunate ones. Was it worth
| tlying-was she bound TO so humiliate
| herself?
Turning. with a half-wistful half.
| doubling smile. to look at Captain Her
| bert. Judith met his intent gaze.
II am sure you have something on
your mind,' he said. in the cold. con-
strained tone that had characterized
his speech Of late.
II have-l good many things she
accused me of one evening"
NO? Then l suppose it is other poo
| pies business you think of? For in
stance. when Townsliend scowled at
his Wife and quilted the room Just
now. you looked quite sad. anticipate
ing Il matrimonial quarrel. no doubt!"
NO: because don't think Elsie and
Claude ever quarrel. though certainly
there is 4 cloud of some sort between
them LOW
"An6r-woman-likc- sympathy
is all for the man with Il sheer.
''Townshends welfare seems TO be 4
sort of passion With YOU.
Naturally" She answered. with dig
nified quietude. He is my sisters
husband his welfare means Elsies,
and l am very fond OF her.
He looked ut her douhtfullv. and.
perhaps. because her quiet good sense
and thoughtfulnesS We're in such strong
contrast to Elsie's. his face and man
ner softened.
You are an extraordinary girl" he
observed. why don't you leave peo-
pie to look after themselves. and let
them go to perdition in their own
way?'
"That is {. very selfish creed, Cap
tam Frederick Herbert. But you are
in bad humor."
"How do you know?" he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders laugh
ingly.
There are little signs
But you don't know me so we'll as
all that; and you will not credit me
with the smallest Of virtues. l am sure
Of that
Then. if you are sure. why do YOU
look at me in that questioning way?
You know YOU are waiting for Inc to
say something fiattering.
II should have to wait until my hair
turned gray if I expected you to say
something that would be Il tlattering
truth. 1 believe you hate me- Judith
do yo?'-and she glanced into his
eyes with a smile.
Yes, l do: for you conveyed hatred
in your look once, and l shall never
forget it,
"When was that?" she queried, start
led by his tone.
ut is not worth recalling to your
memory: but have wondered many
times it. had you known it, you would
have done me the good turn you I'M
consciously did" Judith looked so as
tonished that he proceeded to explain.
1T was all owing to you that had
the money
ITO me: What money: l don't I'M
derstand."
You remember going with Margery
to see Miss Laramy. my godmother,
and also that 1 offended the old lady!
Yes? Well. she took a great fancy to
you, and she told my sister that if
were to marry you. she would take me
back into her good graces again, for
she thought YOU would be the making
Of ME. Margery told her afterwards
that you had rejected me, and the old
lady was SO sorry for me that she left
me all she had. because. in her Opin-
ion. l needed all the compensation l
could get for the loss Of so good a
wife,
is that the TRUTH" demanded Jul
dith. with a hot blush.
Thanks for your very compliment
airy doubt, Miss Hatfield it is the
truth. What do you think of it?'
THAT you ought to be very grateful
to me. instead Of resenting my rejec
ton of your suit" she said, laughing
ly.
You think, then, that 1 must prefer
money to you: Untruthful -mercen-
ary-despicable flirt? What is there
left for you to call me-"
Il have not called you anything!
You seem to take a delight in pervert-
ing my s>narks."
IF l do, it is because 1 do not I'M
derstand you, and l cannot heup see
ing that your eyes look what your lips
do not say"
Judith said nothing to this for very
shame she did not hate, but neither
did she love him, SO that he might
have read that her liking was not suf-
ficient to prevent the bare thought Of
his becoming her lover being more
than distasteful to her Hating her
self for her intended deception. she
rose ard moved to the window; he sat
on. mLodily watching her until, drawn
by some irresistible influence, he rose,
too. and followed her.
Judith, | don't think you realize
what you are doing for me. l have
never been what one could possibly
term Il good man; but / have never
been disposed to do anything really
evil until lately-since | have known
you. If you had cared for me, you
might have
He checked himself. because she had
turned to look at him, and there were
tears in her eyes. In spite Of his re-
solve to the contrary, he allowed him
self to be moved by them, and, in an
other instant, held her in his arms.
Tears. Judith! What are they for?"
| he asked in Il tone OF passionate re-
grrt. Have ! made you cry? Oar
| ling. forgive me! love you still
always shall. Take back your refusal
| al