Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-05-06
CHAPTER VII.

This premature declaration of feel
ings which l had sworn to myself to
suppress was brought about partly by
the spring fever aforesaid, partly by a
youthful and excitable temperament
and partly by the encouraging words of
Mark Gerard that same afternoon.
Upon his own confession he had antici-
patcd some such explosion; and was
not The man to balk his fancy.
81 thought" my companion faltered,
'that you were in love with another
woman-the goddess?"
"You are the goddess" said, fcrvent-
~. aud began to worship at your
shrine the very moment we met"
"Oh!"
"You seem surprised. If you had
fallen in love with me, Nancy, that
would indeed have been surprising; but
that | should fall in love with you is
the most natural thing in the world"
"You must fall out of it again." she
answered, gravely.
"Never!"
"Mr Livingston, say you must.
Please don't be ridiculous"
81 can't help it," / replied. "You
would make a craven image love-
sick"
"And we were such good friends"
she murmured.
81 don't want to press you" con-
tinued.
~ should hope not" she returned,
her absurd sense of the ludicrous up
nermost. as usual "Mr. Livingston, I'll
try and forget this-this indiscretion.
I've no love to give you. It's better TO
he frank. isn't It? Don't frown, and
don't sulk. You are such hice boy"
"Boy!" I calculated. 81 am 20. Do
Won know that Nalerns Corvus was con-
sui at 20? Boy, indeed"
"you provoke me, Mr.. Livingston.
Let's suppose for an instant that l
could return this love Of yours; are
Won in position to support wife"
~ swear | could support dozen
rpon the terms you mention. Your love
yould SOUR me to Titanic efforts
She laughed outright. And lost my
temper. ~.
III YOU look at this from dollars
and cents point of view, Miss Gerard l
have nothing more to say
"That is spoken like a man. She
soid mockingly. Truly, the fend OF
,.e ,,occoeced her
"Nancy," I cried, cut to the quick by
,or scornful words, "why are you so
aruelq Is mans love so small thing
thot YOU can afford to fling it aside"
Her mood suddenly changed, and
hating, she confronted me win 'iash'
ing eyes. .,o so;d with die.
n;tv 81 made light of your love. we
ore here together, living in the same
Lorse meeting q dozen times DAY.
aid nv best to patch up the wool OF our
friendship, but you have chosen 10
,,.st the stitches. tried to spare you
"a n man of tact would have appreci-
.'.ad NV effort. / have no love to give
Won. Mr.. Livingston,
INV life is already pledged to anotneI I
nitv YOU from the bottom OF my heart
Good night" ohoshed
She walked away, leaving me apashed
and speeches. o,.,r "ro,ors
"Hugo," murmured' softiy' you afe
fool" e. .,
Having registered myself among tn1
vast majority of my fellows truogeo
,poodily towards the island. MY
thoughts followed Nancy but my 1901.
steps pointed in the opposite direction y
S' fact which furnished me with meat
"a detection. Was ] destined to love
~. .b,s fair woman and leave her? Nor
a,lv and intellectually Nancy had De
any an,ne the magnet which swayed my fac
s .,,ios. what if my wretched body were
u nnstrained to bear me henceforwarc
from--not to--her? ),
Oh Chewing this bitter cud, rapidly ap
-oacbed the island. Already l hat
pine pine to the margin OF the lake I'm