La Junta tribune., 1898-06-04

| ne CCulu not Delleve tne eSlueuSc "a
his senses; 1t was incredible that the
laughing voice belonged to his cold.
'Qproud wife-the girl who had swept
silmperiously from the room when he
Daw her last He looked at her In
8mazement. She would not see the
ourprise on his face or make the least
Inference because OF it.
# you have the very pick OF the gar
den here" she said: every spray has
Dts own special beauty"
d He reused himself. and tried to re-
Seover from the wondering stupor that
bad overcome him.
"You really remembered, Hildred.
+ What said?" he began, with pleased
look.
n Yes, and I think you showed good
haste" she replied. II know no flow
SSer lovelier than fragrant mignonette."
az 'M "And you really think that have
%kood taste?" he said.
E Yes Why should that surprise
You ?" she asked. with smile.
Sa His face flushed. and his eyes droop-
90.
III "I fancied," he said. hurriedly. that
n You considered me altogether grace
Ness, and without one redeeming quail
4ity."
Y Indeed. do not" she replied. earn
estly. thinking OF all that Sir Raoul
had said in his favor. THAT Is q
great mistake of yours"
There is one thing" he confessed.
Gin low voice-"I have shown the
Eworst side of my character to you"
I She felt frightened and inclined to
Erun away.
v you will not lose my flowers or
throw them away!' she said. And
ESthen she was startled. for his hand
some indolent eyes were looking into
Shers with new expression In their
fblue depths.
"Am I so wanting In chivalry and
Hildred?" he asked her. Il
this is the frst thing that you
have ever given me OF your own free
will. is 1t not?"
NO" she replied. quietly. sit is
Bnot"
y "Ah. pardon me-" he said. with
quick change of face and voice-"you
v gave me your fortune!"
There was hot rebellion for one mo-
ment-hot. bitter rebellion. Then
she remembered Sir Raouls words.
VT was for her husbands good
She trampled down the hot impulse
of angry pride-she stilled the bitter
hanger and contempt. Her victory over
herself was SO great that she was even
|3surprised at it. She laid her hand on
&his arm.
n Nay, Lord Caraven." she said. gent
Wy, "you are quite wrong. was not
thinking of money. Gold is dross-I
despise it, could almost hate 1t for
Z the mischief that 1t makes. l was
thinking OF something very different
from money-something that money
could not buy"
He was looking at her with keen
curiosity.
Something that money could not
buy" he repeated. "I declare that you
puzzle me- thought gold was omni-
4 potent"
II do not think SOL do not like 1t.
Omnipotent? Why. Lord Caraven. all
/the wealth in the world could not buy
Ehappiness or love-"
NO" he said. quietly, sit could
mot: yet. Hildred, money has cone
something for me-"
II do not intend to depreciate II"
Eshe remarked: but 1t is not omni-
/ potent: and there are many things in
this world OF far higher value than
money"
1T is true" he said, thoughtfully.
She laughed again. and, II he had
known her better. he would have de-
tected tears in the sound Of that laugh.
1--WE are positively agreeing. Lord
Caraven," she said.
He was looking at her with intense
curiosity in his face.
"Hildred, what have you given me
that money could not buy?"
The dark eyes cleaned softly.
"T will not tell you. Lord Caraven, :"
she answered.
But must know. You have excited
my curiosity-you must crafty 1t. You
have enumerated three things that
money cannot buy-happiness. virtue.
love. It was none of these. Then
what could It be?"
II must go, Lord Caraven," she said,
her face growing hot and her heart
beating quickly. II II you weigh ev-
cry word that say. shall have to
be very careful"
"Hildred. tell me what you mean ?"
he requested. What have you given
me?''
Il will tell you" she replied. laugh.
ingly. when you have counted all
those tiny leaves on the mignonette."
She turned to go, but he put out his
hand to detain her. She eluded him,
and, with light laugh. disappeared.
leaving him by the veranda alone.
You look astonished at something"
said Lord Caraven's friend to him