The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-11

less The extraordinary announcement
held her bewildered, Quickly she glanced
through the long lines of formal words,
reassuring herself that he had spoken the
rruth. She was to receive twenty bhOus-
an mounds if she woul marry the man
before her, while he, on his part, would
become possessed of substantial sum
Sufferers to keep them comIorIaSly Ior
was inclined to doubt the genuineness of
the document: but it bore the signature
of the firm of solicitors and was attested
by them to be true copy OF the original
will. 1t held her dumb in asfonishment..
ssThen we are to marry?" she observed
amazedly, when at last she again louno
voice.
.sThs offer is to be made to you, !" he
au<vserad eyasiyely, Gas you have seen,
IF Won refuse. or il you are already mar
RED. / am to receive half the amount =
81 am not married" she answered,
with a slightly coquettisn smile, ner chin
resting rpon her palm in reflective at
titude as she gazed Mt him. Marriage
vritb Won will mean that We have together
tha s,1hstautiel sum of one hundred and
twenty thousand pounds.
.sTbet is So he said gravely. If we
msrried we certainly should have
money.
In q low tone. You can never love Inc,
and she sighed.
Hs did NOT answer. The look upon his
face told her the truth. He feared lest
she should accept this curious offer.
knowing that he should then be drawn
into marriage with her. She regarded
him critically, and saw that he was tall,
pood-looking, muscular, and in every way
q thorough type of the good -natured Eng
lishman. Twenty thousand pounds was,
she reflected, SUM that would prove
very acceptable, for she lived extraya-
gantly, and the Villa Fortunee itself was
an expensive luxury.
SIT is very dull living alone, 4" she ex-
claimed. with little touch of melancholy
in her voice. Then, with laugh, she
added. 40 be perfectly frank. I should
not object to you as my husband a.;an hatvosn
u.s. he exclaimed, quickly.
aOnly Lame. And she can never
al love her. I cannot love you." he an
swered. Her effort at coquetry had sick
ssIt is not question of love-" she an
swered, coldly, toying with the fine mar
ouiss ring upon her white finger. 1T is
question Of one hundred and twenty
thousand pounds.
ssWould either of us be one whit the
better for it, even if we married.? he
oueried. 81 think not. at present we
are friends. If we married should hate
s.Neyertheiess should obtain twenty
thousand pounds" she argued.
sis il worth while to risk ones future
happiness for that?'' he said.
II have not yet sufficiently considered
the matter" she replied, with her eyes
still fixed upon him. At present I'm
cilnea to think that it is. But I must
We time to reflect One cannot accept
an offer without due consldera-
hen you are inclined to accept" he
vsd. blankly.
h. hesitated Slowly she rose from the
crossed to the window and pushed
en- the sun shutters, allowing the golden
-haset to stream into the room from over
The clear blue-green sea.
YES she answered, standing gazing
ut upon The far-off horizon, where the
hire sailed racing yachts, Ailsa and
britannia, were passing, ST am inclined
e. accept"
rigid and immovable. ''My future is en-
tirely in your hands.
She passed her hand YEARLY across her
brow. With the sunset falling full upon
hsr, he saw how heavy-eyed she was, and
how arti ficial was the complexion that
had looked so well in the dreamy half .
light when the jaIousies had been closed.
Yes. She no doubt bore traces of faded
beauty, but she was old; there were lines
In her brow, and crows feet showed at
the corners of her eyes. She was passee.
and all the vivacity and coquettishness
she had shown had been carefully feigned
90 assume an appearance of youth. The
thought Of it nauseated him.
Again she turned towards him. Her
momentary gravity had vanished, and
she commenced a commonplace conversa-
tfon. At last, however, he rose to go,
but she would not hear of it.
'sEo; remain here and dine" she said,
in a low, persuasive tone 'sAfter wards
we can go over to Monte Carlo for an
hour or SO, and you can catch the rapide
back to Nice at eleven"
But you must really excuse me. L"
ST will take no excuse, she said, laugh
ing. ''You must remain and she rang
for the servant and told him that m sieur
would dine.
Together they stood at the open window
watching the succession Of lights and
shadow upon the purple mountains, how
the rose of the afterglow grew deeper over
the sea until it faded, and the streak of
gold and orange died out behind the dis
tant rocks Of Cap d'Aggio. Then the
mists rose, creeping slowly up the m oun-
tain sides, the dusk deepened, chill
wind blew in from the sea, and just as
they closed the windows the door opened
and the servant announced dinner.
The table set for two in cosy little
sslie-a-msnger, glittered with its cut
glass and shining plate, and was rendered
Dflg0t ny lIS sudu6u Cduulos anu bluull
silver repousse stands filled with choice
flowers. Throughout the meal she was
gay and viyaoious. speaking but little of
herself andtcarefully avoiding all refer
ences to Lame He found her a pleasant
hoste IS, unusually well-informed for a
woman. They discussed art and litera
ture, and IN all her criticisms she eXhib-
tied wide and intimate knowledge of
men and things. Then, when they rose,
she opened door at the further end of
the room and he found himself in a
spacious conservatory, where she invited
him to moke while she dressed to go to
the Casino.
Together they entered the open cab
awaiting them, and descending the long
winding road to the shore, drove rapidly
through La Condamine, and assembled tie
steep incline which brought them round
20 the main entrance to the Casino.
The night was brilliant, and the broad
Place, with its palms and flowers it's
gay, laughing crowd of promenaders and
us snowy Cafe de Paris, where the band
WAS playing Mattel S mon yer." lay