The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-27


much as you hate me-" she said, look
ing curiously at him. 81 think this is
your method of revenge. You will
make me thoroughly uncomfortable for
three months, and then, you think your
shall give in. And you know that if
such thing should happen, the whole
of my future would be Swallowed by
this. A forced love such as you de-
clare you will produce in me cannot
satisfy woman's life. 1t isn't true
love in you that insists on making such
an experiment. You are passionate
and selfish, and too proud to give up.
Besides, 1 tell you now, Mr.. Beverly, 1
shall never love you, and if by any
chance 1 should, l should never tell
you'll"
He laughed grimly.
sThat is truly feminine position"
he said. "Since plain speaking is the
order of the evening, why, 1 don't be-
lieve all you say, and-I will make you
love me-"
She rose and held out her hand.
"Good night, Mr.. Beverley" she re-
turned. "To tell the truth, am rather
tired of this, and I shall be very glad
when our acquaintance ts put upon a
different basis. The atmosphere is a
little too electric for me tonight. I'm
der the circumstances you can hardly
expect me to wish you good luck, you
know, but at least 1 can offer you my
sympathy"
He did not take the hooking hand.
Instead, he bowed distantly, from the
door.
"Goed night, Miss Hastings" he
said, and went out.
Three months is very shsrt time, in
spite OF all that may happen during it's
passage. In an intimacy like theirs, a
fair seeming erection of conventional
ism, built over the sullen, smouldering
embers of passion and defiance and
will, ignored and yet making them
selves always felt in the stimulating
though threatening warmth of the at
mosphere, three months went very rap
idly indeed. And yet it seemed long
time later, when one night he entered
her drawing room, and found her evil
IDENTIFY waiting for renewal of the re-
lations they had sustained towards each
other one other night three months be-
fore. But he was not quite ready to
break down the barriers and stir up the
fire. He began to take them down one
by one.
"The three months are over, Miss
Hastings" he said. She surveyed her
foot in its shining slipper, for mo-
ment before she answered.
eyes, at last" she said finally. "You
have been quite considerate, Mr.. Bev-
erly. 1t hasn't been half as uncom-
Portable as anticipated as regards you"
~ don't think you have been 80
abominably nice to 80 many other men,
either" he went on.
"Wasn't II" she asked, with q lift of
her eyebrows. "The change was an
unconscious one, am sure. l like
them just as well, and thought treat
| ed them the same as ever"
"No, you didn't" he said decidedly
"In short-well, in fact, Miss Hastings,
/ said would make you love me,-and
Pve done it," He leaned back in his
chair and looked at her in silence. She
put her head on one side and studied
the effect of her slipper. Finally she
looked across at him.
"What makes you think that, Mr..
Beverly" she asked.
81 have watched you," he answered.
"You are proud, and your will is strong,
and you probably won't acknowledge
it at first, but know that my love has
kindled yours, and sooner or later my
will will conquer yours" She was still
looking at him curiously.
81 wonder what makes you 30 con-
fident?" she said.
my love for you," he returned.
"And my will. L never give up till
have fulfilled my desire"
There was silence for some time.
and she twisted her foot back and forth /,
looking intently at it, while he still
leaned back in his chair and watched
her, as if waiting. Finally, he got up
and came and stood before her.
"The three months are up" he said
again. "Miss Hastings, will you be
my wife2"
"No," she answered, without looking
at him. mo-" she repeated, as he did
not speak, and as the silence continued,
she looked up. He was smiling at her
in confident, incredulous way. She
rose suddenly, compelling him to take